INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) Wil Lutz kicked a 19-yard field goal with 5:07 left, lifting the Denver Broncos over the winless and error-prone Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday.
Lutz’s 36-yarder with 1:08 remaining extended the lead and ended a streak of 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the Broncos (3-2).
Denver earned its first division win and first victory at SoFi Stadium since 2023 with coach Sean Payton calling the plays. He took those duties away from offensive coordinator Davis Webb earlier in the week. The Broncos won without injured cornerbacks Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs).
The Chargers also started 0-5 in 2023, the year before coach Jim Harbaugh took over. They came in with a decimated offensive line made up of four rookies trying to protect quarterback Justin Herbert, who was 14 of 24 for 121 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception while getting sacked five times.
Courtland Sutton caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix, tying the score at 17 midway through the fourth. The Broncos got the ball back after Herbert failed on fourth-and-1, and the Chargers stuttered the rest of the way.
The ensuing Los Angeles drive fell apart when Herbert was sacked for an 8-yard loss at his 24-yard line by Zach Allen, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Que Robinson.
After Lutz’s field goal, Herbert fumbled but recovered, then scrambled up the middle for a 12-yard gain before being intercepted by Brandon Jones on fourth down.
The Chargers took a 17-10 lead late in the third quarter on Kimani Vidal’s 42-yard TD run on the first play after Tuli Tuipulotu forced and recovered a fumble when Nix tried to rush.
Nix was 16 of 27 for 123 yards and a TD.
The Chargers tied the score at 10 on Hayden Rucci’s first career touchdown, a 7-yard pass from Herbert on third down. Playing in his 100th career game, Herbert set up the score with a quarterback sweep. With Charlie Kolar blocking, Herbert raced 23 yards to the Denver 7 for the first down.
The Broncos took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Kolar’s first career fumble. After a facemask penalty by the Chargers, JK Dobbins scored a 2-yard touchdown – his first rushing score of the season.
The Chargers cut the lead to 7-3 on Cameron Dicker’s 42-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Lutz’s 42-yard field goal gave Denver a 10-3 lead on its next possession, when Jim Harbaugh twice unsuccessfully challenged the calls, making it 16 of 45 on challenges in his NFL career.
Broncos: S Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) went out in the third quarter and did not return.
Chargers: WR Tre’ Harris exited in the third quarter. … LB Bud Dupree (neck) left in the second quarter and did not return.
Broncos: Host Seattle on Thursday.
Chargers: Visit AFC West-leading Kansas City on Sunday.
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