Broncos at Chargers Open Thread/Live Blog

The Denver Broncos are in Los Angeles to take on the Chargers. Both teams sit at 5-9 and are playing for pride.

The Broncos are hoping to sweep the Chargers for the second straight year. And Drew Lock is hoping to silence the QB-envy in Broncos Country by going 2-0 against Justin Herbert.

Meanwhile, we're going to be breaking this game down live and we want you to join us. We'll live-blog and discuss DENvsLAC here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply scrolling to the bottom of this page and click the orange 'JOIN NOW' button.

You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your takes and observations with our staff, subscribers, and fellow members of the MHH community as we react to the game in real-time.

Inactives

Royce Freeman is ACTIVE for #DENvsLAC.

👀 our inactives » https://t.co/n0dVQdGbqz pic.twitter.com/LDZFEAbsuG
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 27, 2020

#DENvsLAC Inactives:

Easton Stick
Keenan Allen
Joshua Kelley
Tyree St. Louis
Trey Pipkins
Joey Bosa pic.twitter.com/Cbol52pOTX
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 27, 2020

First Quarter

Chargers received.

Nasir Adderley returns the opening kickoff 53 yards to the Broncos' 39-yard line. Herbert in business.

Herbert hits Stephen Anderson on first down for a 14-yard gain.

Austin Ekeler picks up three yards on the ground.

On second down, Herbert hits Kalen Ballage for a 3-yard gain.

On 3rd-&-4, Herbert targets Mike Williams but it's incomplete.

Michael Badgley hits the 37-yard field goal. Chargers draw first blood.

Chargers 3, Broncos 0

Diontae Spencer returns the kickoff to the Broncos' 23-yard line. LeVante Bellamy flagged for holding on the return, backing the Broncos up.

Lock hits Jerry Jeudy on first down for a 6-yard gain.

Melvin Gordon picks up eight yards on second down, moving the chains.

Gordon again for a 6-yard gain on first down.

Lock hits Tim Patrick for a 5-yard gain, picking up the first down.

Bellamy gets his first career carry, picks up seven yards.

Bellamy gets the give again on second down but is stopped for a 1-yard gain.

On 3rd-&-3, Lock hits Patrick on the slant picking up seven yards and moving the chains.

On 1st-&-10, Lock scrambles up the gut and picks up six yards.

On 2nd-&-4, the give is to KJ Hamler on a jet sweep and he picks up three yards but is shaken up on the play. Trainers help him off the field.

Lock dives forward on the QB keeper and picks up the first down.

Gordon picks up 17 yards on first down.

Gordon picks up four yards on first down.

Lock targets Noah Fant down the ride sideline, looking for the end zone. Incomplete.

Lock is picked off on 3rd-&-6 from the Chargers' 16-yard line as he scrambles right and throws behind DaeSean Hamilton, tipping the ball up and into the arms of Casey Heyward. No points for the Broncos on this red zone drive.

This marks the 11th-straight game with a turnover. He hadn't thrown an interception since Week 13 but lost fumbles helped extend his ignominious streak.

On 3rd-&-5, Herbert throws incomplete but De'Vante Bausby flagged for illegal contact, moving the chains.

Herbert scrambles on first down, picking up four yards.

Herbert's pass tipped by Shelby Harris at the line of scrimmage. Incomplete.

On 3rd-&-6, Herbert throws incomplete after Alexander Johnson gets pressure up the middle. Punt.

Ty Long's punt goes 50 yards but Spencer returns it 15 yards to the Broncos' 45-yard line.

Gordon picks up five yards on first down.

On 2nd-&-5, Gordon dives for a 2-yard gain.

On 3rd-&-3, Lock hits Fant for a 5-yard gain, moving the chains again.

Lock goes deep for Fant on 1st-&-10 but it falls incomplete.

Lock runs the read/option but the Chargers sniff it out and stuff him for a 1-yard gain.

End of quarter.

Chargers 3, Broncos 0

Second Quarter

On 3rd-&-9, Lock throws a bullet to Jeudy over the middle picking up 17 yards.

Gordon stuffed for 1-yard gain on first down.

On 2nd-&-9, Lock scrambles right but there's nothing there so he throws it away.

On 3rd-&-9, Lock targets Jeudy but Mike Davis makes a nice play on the ball to break up the pass. Incomplete.

Brandon McManus attempts his first kick since Week 14 and promptly misses the 42-yarder, wide left. But wait, the Chargers are flagged for jumping offsides.

On a 37-yard attempt, McManus hits the left upright again. No good. Broncos fail to get points.

Ballage picks up five yards on first down.

On 2nd-&-5, Ballage gets three yards.

On 3rd-&-2, Herbert hits Williams on the slant but he proceeds to pick up 25 yards, moving the chains, and cutting into Broncos' territory.

A few plays later, Herbert hits Ekeler on a well-designed play, who beats Josey Jewell to the pylon. Touchdown. The extra point is good.

Chargers 10, Broncos 0

Lock hits Jeudy for a 2-yard gain on first down.

The screen goes to Bellamy on 2nd-&-10, who picks up nine yards but the yellow laundry flies. Block in the back on Lloyd Cushenberry.

On 2nd-&-13, Lock targets Jeudy but it's incomplete.

On 3rd-&-13, Lock hits Jeudy on the bubble screen but picks up 10 yards, coming up well short of the sticks. Punt.

Sam Martin's punt goes 44 yards out of bounds. Broncos flagged for Alijah Holder running out of bounds. Chargers start on the Chargers' 35-yard line.

Herbert scrambles for five yards.

On 2nd-&-5, Herbert hits Anderson for a 5-yard gain.

On 1st-&-10, Herbert hits a wide-open Jalen Guyton for a 31-yard gain. Michael Ojemudia can't tackle him and Will Parks cleans up his own mess.

Ekeler picks up two yards on first down but Tre Turner flagged for illegal hands to the face.

On 3rd-&-11, Herbert targets Williams down the right sideline but Justin Simmons breaks it up.

Badgley hits the 43-yard field goal. Chargers extend lead.

Chargers 13, Broncos 0

Spencer returns it to the 25-yard line.

Lock hits Fant on first down for a 10-yard gain.

On 1st-&-10, Gordon picks up 12 yards.

Two-minute warning.

Jeudy drops two passes in a row.

Brings up 3rd-&-10. Lock fires for Hamilton, but the ball is high and Chris Harris, Jr. is there. Hamilton should have caught it. Three drops in a row.

Martin's punt goes 38 yards and is fair-caught on the Chargers' 15-yard line.

Chargers cross the 50-yard line but can't get in position for a field goal.

End of quarter.

Chargers 13, Broncos 0

Third Quarter

Spencer returns the opening kickoff 19 yards to the 28-yard line.

Jeudy drops another pass.

Lock targets Patrick on the left sideline. Incomplete.

On 3rd-&-10, Lock finally connects with Jeudy.

Gordon picks up three yards on first down.

Lock dumps off to Spencer for a 10-yard gain to move the chains.

On 1st-&-10, Gordon stuffed for a 1-yard loss.

Lock fires into the ground on second down, flagged for intentional grounding.

On 3rd-&-20 from the Chargers' 47-yard line, Lock hits Fant for a 10-yard.

Instead of attempting a deep field goal, Vic Fangio opts to punt. The return has a chance to down inside the 5-yard line but it bounces into the end zone. Touchback.

Broncos get the Chargers off the field after Herbert hits Anderson for a 6-yard gain on 3rd-&-16. Punt.

Spencer returns it 21 yards to the Broncos' 47-yard line.

Lock hits Hamilton for an 18-yard gain.

Lock hits Hamilton again for a 7-yard gain.

Royce Freeman picks up 10 yards on his first carry of the day.

Gordon picks up five yards.

Lock sacked by Nick Vigil.

On 3rd-&-5 from the Chargers 12-yard line, Lock hits Jeudy in the back of the end zone but once again, it flies through his hands incomplete.

McManus pounds through the 30-yard field goal to get the Broncos on the board.

Chargers 13, Broncos 3

Herbert answers, hitting Donald Parham for a 26-yard gain on first down.

On 3rd-&-19, Herbert hits Ekeler for an 11-yard gain.

Chargers opt to go for it on 4th-&-8 on the Broncos' 40-yard line. Herbert breaks contain, gets to the left perimeter and outruns McTelvin Agim for the sticks. First down.

Herbert hits Anderson on the ensuing play, who inexplicably breaks tackles up the right sideline, including one from Pro Bowler Simmons, but Simmons manages to shoe-string tackle him, saving the touchdown.

End of quarter

Chargers 13, Broncos 3

Fourth Quarter

Three plays later, Parnell Motley breaks up the Herbert pass targeting Williams in the end zone. Chargers settle for the chip-shot field goal. It's good.

Chargers 16, Broncos 3

Lock opens by hitting Hamilton for a 12-yard gain.

Bellamy picks up a 3-yard gain on first down.

On 2nd-&-7, Lock scrambles, picking up six yards.

On 3rd-&-1, the reverse goes to Spencer who picks up nine yards.

Lock hits Fant on first down for a 15-yard gain.

Gordon picks up three yards on first down.

Lock fires incomplete down the left seam to Troy Fumagalli.

On 3rd-&-7 from the Chargers' 31-yard line, Lock throws deep down the left sideline to Hamilton but Jessie Lemonier breaks it up.

Fangio opts for a field goal. McManus connects from 50 yards, extending his single-season franchise record for the most all-time.

Chargers 16, Broncos 6

Chargers go three-and-out after Shelby Harris tips Herbert's pass on third down. Harris' second tip of the game and this time on the money down. Punt.

Long punts 32 yards to the Broncos' 28-yard line.

Lock targets Jeudy deep down the middle. Another drop. Incomplete.

Lock hits Jeudy two plays later for a 10-yard gain to move the chains.

On 3rd-&-7, Lock targets Jeudy again but it's incomplete.

Going for it on 4th-&-7, Lock Patrick for a 27-yard gain.

Lock targets Hamilton near the goal-line and connects for a 15-yard gain but is tackled short of the pylon.

On 1st-&-Goal from the 1-yard line, Lock sneaks it in and scores. Touchdown. Fangio mulls a two-point try but sends McManus on for the extra point. It's good.

Chargers 16, Broncos 13

Adderley returns the ensuing kickoff to the Chargers' 24-yard line but L.A. is flagged for holding.

Ekeler gets two yards on first down.

On 2nd-&-8, Herbert targets Williams but Harris hits the QB as he throws, tipping the pass.

On third down, Herbert fires incomplete over the middle. Jewell shaken up on the play. Chargers go three-and-out. Punt.

Spencer returns the punt 10 yards to the Broncos' 42-yard line.

Lock hits Fant deep right for a 19-yard gain. Phenomenal throw.

Fant flagged for false start on the ensuing snap.

On 1st-&-15, Lock scrambles and slides for a 1-yard loss. Will go down as a sack.

Freeman picks up six yards on the second-down carry.

On 3rd-&-9, Lock hits Freeman but he's tackled well short of the sticks for a 4-yard gain.

McManus hits the 52-yard field goal. This game is tied.

Broncos 16, Chargers 16

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback.

Ekeler picks up 11 yards on the ground on first down.

Herbert hits Guyton for a 23-yard gain to the Broncos' 41-yard line.

Two-minute warning.

Ekeler gashes the Broncos on first down for a 24-yard gain. Could be the dagger.

Broncos call timeout.

Ekeler stuffed for a 1-yard gain on ensuing first-down run with Kareem Jackson knifing throw the O-line.

Broncos call time out.

Justin Jackson gets four yards on second down.

Broncos call final timeout, bringing up 3rd-&-5.

Herbert lines up in the shotgun empty. Chargers don't like what they see, so Anthony Lynn calls timeout.

Dre'Mont Jones sacks Herbert on third down, losing seven yards. The clock is ticking.

Badgley connects from 37 yards out. Chargers re-take the lead with 00:41 left.

Chargers 19, Broncos 16

Lock is flushed from the pocket and fires incomplete.

On 2nd-&-10, Lock fires deep down the right seam to Jeudy, a perfect pass, but the receiver drops it.

On 3rd-&-10, Lock fires to Spencer who almost catches it. Incomplete.

On 4th-&-10, Lock fires to Hamilton, it's tipped up in the air by Chris Harris, Jr. and caught by Hamilton. With :12 seconds to go, the Broncos rush down and spike the ball with one tick left on the clock.

With the ball on the 50-yard line, the Broncos line up for the hail mary. Chargers call timeout.

The ball goes deep to the end zone and it's picked off.

Chargers win 19-16.

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