Chargers overcome illness to Jim Harbaugh plus injuries to defeat Broncos

DENVER — In the end, concerning though it might have been in the moment, it didn’t matter that Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh departed the sideline for the locker room briefly in the first quarter because of an illness. It also didn’t matter that players seemed to be dropping left and right because of injuries.

The Chargers simply had too much jump for the Denver Broncos to handle, roaring out of their bye week with unmatched energy to record a 23-16 victory Sunday at Mile High Stadium. The Chargers ended their two-game losing streak as well as the Broncos’ three-game winning streak.

There was a downside to the Chargers’ third victory in five games this season.

Right guard Trey Pipkins III was sidelined by a shoulder injury in the first half. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey suffered a head injury, returned to the game, left again and returned again. Tight end Hayden Hurst injured his groin. Defensive back Deane Leonard aggravated a hamstring injury. Cornerback Kristian Fulton was sidelined in the second half by a hamstring injury.

The Chargers had sufficient depth to dispatch the Broncos, however.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw for a season-high 184 yards in the first half alone, and that wasn’t the most unusual development in an eventful two quarters that almost defied description. The Chargers built what looked like a commanding 20-0 lead despite a string of injuries.

Herbert picked apart the Broncos’ secondary after standout cornerback Pat Surtain II suffered a concussion on the Chargers’ first offensive play, an incomplete pass to Ladd McConkey. He completed 18 of his first 26 passes and hit rookie running back Kimani Vidal for a 38-yard touchdown.

By game’s end, Herbert completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown, showing a mobility unseen since he sprained his right ankle during the third quarter of the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and aggravated it during their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.

Herbert’s previous high this season was 179 yards in the Chargers’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.

Running back J.K. Dobbins scored on a 4-yard run and Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 20 and 33 yards as the Chargers played keepaway with the ball. They led in time of possession by an astounding 21:13 to 8:47 by halftime. They had 16 first downs to three for the Broncos.

The Chargers outgained the Broncos 246-60 in the opening half.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix, like Herbert, a standout former University of Oregon quarterback, was hounded into 3-for-10 passing for 22 yards and one interception. Javonte Williams’ fumble, forced by the Chargers’ Khalil Mack and recovered by Teair Tart, set up Dobbins’ 4-yard run with 1:00 left in the half.

The Chargers had two drives of 10 or more plays, including one for 20 that netted Dicker’s 33-yard field goal that made it 13-0 with 6:21 remaining in the half. They did not punt once in the opening half. Their only possession that didn’t result in a score was Herbert’s kneel-down with 8 seconds left to end the half.

The Chargers blanked the Broncos until Nix completed a touchdown pass of 2 yards to Troy Franklin with 10:06 remaining in the game, and he then found Courtland Sutton with 5:22 left. The Broncos’ two-point conversion try failed after Sutton’s diving catch, however, and they trailed the Chargers 23-13.

Wil Lutz’s 40-yard field goal made it 23-16 with 59 seconds to go.

More to come on this story.