Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh Impress NFL Fans as Chargers Rally to Beat Nix, Broncos

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIDecember 20, 2024

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 19: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter in the game at SoFi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Chargers scored 21 unanswered second-half points en route to a 34-27 comeback victory against the AFC West rival Denver Broncos on Thursday in L.A.'s SoFi Stadium.

Bolts quarterback Justin Herbert completed 23-of-31 passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to lead the 9-6 Chargers, who find themselves on the doorstep of clinching an AFC Wild Card berth after this win.

Chargers running back Gus Edwards rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns. His second score, from five yards out, cut the Broncos' lead to 24-19 in the third quarter.

L.A. missed the two-point conversion, but the Chargers then forced a three-and-out and marched 78 yards down the field capped by a beautiful 19-yard Herbert dime to Demario Davis.

NFL @NFL
Derius Davis with his first career receiving TD!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsLAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsLAC</a> on Prime Video Also streaming on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/sBTZ9t4Csp">pic.twitter.com/sBTZ9t4Csp</a>

That throw got people talking.

Brett Kollmann @BrettKollmann
That is one of the best throws Justin Herbert has ever made and that is saying something

Mina Kimes @minakimes
That TD….freaking ridiculous throw from Herbert, man.

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Field Yates @FieldYates
Holy crap what a throw by Herbert on the touchdown

Josh Norris @JoshNorris
crazy good from herbert

James Palmer @JamesPalmerTV
What MF throw by Herbert. Good grief.

Herbert then connected on a two-point conversion with Josh Palmer, who made a circus catch to give L.A. a 27-24 lead with 12:23 left.

NFL @NFL
Josh Palmer taps it to himself and secures the two-point conversion!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsLAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsLAC</a> on Prime Video Also streaming on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/m5dYaLWOHB">pic.twitter.com/m5dYaLWOHB</a>

The Chargers' defense continued its tremendous second half, stonewalling the Broncos on their next two possessions. L.A.'s offense then took care of business thanks to three big plays: a 16-yard Herbert scramble, a 43-yard Edwards run and a 34-yard flip pass to Hassan Haskins for a crucial touchdown with 2:27 remaining.

NFL @NFL
GUS BUS INTO OVERDRIVE!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsLAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsLAC</a> on Prime Video Also streaming on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/DrO7L2NFY6">pic.twitter.com/DrO7L2NFY6</a>

NFL @NFL
The flip pass. The juke 😮‍💨... The <a href="https://twitter.com/chargers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chargers</a> TD!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DENvsLAC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DENvsLAC</a> on Prime Video Also streaming on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/a5XDe9gfqM">pic.twitter.com/a5XDe9gfqM</a>

Denver snuck in a 55-yard Wil Lutz field goal with 57 seconds left, but the Chargers recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to earn the win.

Credit, of course, goes to a Chargers defense that settled down after letting up three first-half touchdowns.

L.A. kicker Cameron Dicker also became the first player since 1976 to make a fair catch free kick, nailing one from 57 yards out to cut the Broncos' lead to 21-13 at halftime.

NFL @NFL
A rare fair catch free kick results in a Cameron Dicker 57-yard FG for the <a href="https://twitter.com/chargers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chargers</a> 🤯 It's the first free kick FG since 1976! <a href="https://t.co/yb0cyPuKnR">pic.twitter.com/yb0cyPuKnR</a>

Herbert's performance guided L.A. to victory, but head coach Jim Harbaugh, in his first year with the Chargers, has successfully turned around a team that hasn't made the playoffs in six years.

There's a little more work to be done on that front, but in the meantime, Herbert and Harbaugh received well-deserved praise.

Mikey O'ver @MikeyOver1
Justin Herbert when literally every part of his body is injured <a href="https://t.co/eLH7uDD41v">pic.twitter.com/eLH7uDD41v</a>

Dan Orlovsky @danorlovsky7
This is one of the best games I've ever seen Herbert play He's been absolutely fantastic

Matt Harmon @MattHarmon_BYB
Huge night from Justin Herbert. Really fun team that I've enjoyed watching all season but hard to not have an eye toward next year when they add a few more pieces on offense.

"The Standard" @t_billygoat
Herbert second half masterclass don't speak on my qb no more

Chase Daniel @ChaseDaniel
This is one of the best "big games" I've seen Justin Herbert play. Completely took over the game on a bum ankle when Chargers needed it the most. Herbert: 23/30 284 yards & 2 TD's 1 INT & 45 rush yards

jules 🫵🏼 @nfljules
JUSTIN HERBERT YOU ARE A TOP THREE QB AND NO ONE WILL EVER CHANGE MY MIND

Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak
Man, what a performance from the Chargers. Down 21-10, Broncos had look unstoppable. Defense settled in and got far more aggressive at the LOS to plug the run and hassle Bo. Herbert has been nails under duress. Statement comeback.

Alex 👋 @Dubs408
How special is Jim Harbaugh

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
Chargers move to 9-6, and need one more win to get into the playoffs with the Patriots and Raiders up next (they could get in before then, too, if the Dolphins and Colts lose on Sunday). Jim Harbaugh's got his team on the brink of a postseason berth in Year 1.

Gina⚡️ @ginabren
I think the biggest impact to this team under Harbaugh is ENERGY. But you know what I think the second biggest is???? GOOD HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS. Having a team that can make appropriate halftime adjustments is LIFE CHANGING. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoltUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoltUp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFL</a> ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ <a href="https://t.co/ndvtnG2Kwi">pic.twitter.com/ndvtnG2Kwi</a>

Joey Richards @LTB_Joey
Broncos defense was really bad today. Have to give credit to Harbaugh.

alex katson 🇯🇵 @alexkatson
think this was easily the best coached game of the year by the Chargers. masterclass by Jesse Minter. Ryan Ficken knowing the free kick laws. Jim Harbaugh managing the game correctly. Greg Roman scheming up 34 points on the #1 defense in the league. big spot for it. good shit

David Faux Cover 1 @DFauxy
This is how you know Harbaugh has an impact. Almost every other year in Chargers history they would've fumbled, gotten sacked, found some absurd way to lose this game. Or they would've given up well before then.

L.A. can get to the playoffs in a few different ways, but at this very moment, it's win-and-in for the Bolts. The Chargers will be heavily favored in their last two games at the 3-11 New England Patriots and 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders. The Pats are up first on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. ET.