FULL BOX SCORE

Kevin Patra’s insights:

1. Justin Herbert gets off to a fast start as the Chargers outlast the Broncos in Denver. After consecutive losses, Jim Harbaugh’s club ended the bye week and put the ball in the hands of its quarterback. Herbert came out of the gate and fired, targeting all of his targets and tearing apart the Denver defense, which then suffocated their opponents. Herbert was sharp and dropped a dime on a wheel route to the rookie running back Kimani Vidal for a 38-yard touchdown that goes up double digits. LA scored on its first four possessions to open a 20-0 halftime lead. The QB totaled 237 passing yards with a TD, the first time this season he has surpassed the 180-yard passing mark. Herbert was particularly good on third downs, with the Chargers converting 11 of 15 on the decisive down through three quarters. The offense stalled in the second half, but it was enough for LA to get the QB going early
2. The Broncos offense came too late. It took three full quarters Bo Nix and crew to do pretty much anything. On its first seven possessions, Denver hit five punts and turned the game over twice, totaling five first downs. Entering the fourth quarter, Nix had more rushing yards (33) than passing yards (27). Denver made things interesting in the final quarter with back-to-back touchdown attempts and a field goal that came within one before a botched onside kick. Early on, Nix missed a number of throws and never felt comfortable in the pocket. He did a good job of escaping sacks and using his legs to provide stamina, but the Broncos’ offense was a disjointed mess for three quarters. Credit to Nix and the Broncos for fighting back late, thanks in part to a few slack plays from LA’s D. But you can’t go through three quarters with 88 total yards and expect to win games.
3. The Chargers defense swarms early. LA’s defensive front, even without it Joey Bosadominated Denver’s undermanned offensive line for much of the contest. The Chargers nullified the Broncos’ ground game and flew after Nix. For the game, LA generated 25 QB pressures, led by, according to Next Gen Stats Khalil Mackis game-best six. Mack also added a forced fumble. If the Chargers’ defensive line can dominate, everything will fall into place for coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit. Things got a little messy late on, but the early confusion was enough to get us out of trouble. With Bosa back on the field at some point, LA’s defense will become even stronger, especially in games where opponents are in passing mode.

Next-Gen Stats Insights for Chargers-Broncos (via NFL Pro): Against the Broncos’ man-heavy, blitzing defense, Justin Herbert was most effective through the air against zone coverage, going 12 of 14 for 114 yards (+22.4% CPOE). The Broncos’ Week 6 man coverage rate of 52.6% was the unit’s highest in a game in the last three seasons. Denver lost Patrick Surtain II on the Broncos’ first defensive play due to a concussion.

NFL Research: Bo Nix was 4 of 14 for 27 passing yards, one interception and a 9.8 pass rating through three quarters, but finished with respectable numbers due to a hectic fourth quarter. He had the second-most completions (15), passing yards (189) and passing TDs (2, tied) of any player in a fourth quarter this season, and a passer rating of 143.2 in the fourth quarter increased his game rating to 84, 9, an increase from that single-digit figure.