Chargers vs. Broncos: Highlights, game tracker and more

The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos face off on Monday Night Football in Week 1. Here are the highlights from the game.

When it comes to the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers in recent years, it’s hard to think of two teams in the same division with as different fortunes. The Broncos were Super Bowl 50 winners and then flirted with the postseason last year. Meanwhile, the Bolts have been dealing with trying to field a healthy 53-man roster in injury plagued seasons. They’re both healthy entering 2017, though, and met in the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader.

Despite questions about Trevor Siemian and the Denver offense entering the game, it appeared as if any woes might be behind them. They came out swinging and scored right out of the gate with a touchdown pass to Bennie Fowler. Meanwhile, the Chargers answered early in the second quarter thanks to Melvin Gordon, who ran like a man continuing looking like he needed to improve himself.

Even still, the Broncos weren’t done there. Not only did Siemian remain composed and keep moving the ball, but the third-year quarterback and second-year starter took it in himself for a rushing touchdown. With the defense on point, they went into the locker room at the half up a touchdown. They then added another score from Siemian to Fowler and then a field goal to go up 24-7 in the third quarter.

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With the Bolts trying to make any noise, Todd Davis stuffed a fourth-and-1 attempt emphatically at around midfield to seemingly seal the game for the home team. However, the tides quickly turned. On the ensuing drive, Siemian threw a fine ball into good coverage that was almost incomplete. By some fate, though, the ball was tipped off a foot and then off a hand to keep it off the ground when defensive back Adrian Phillips ran under it for a big interception.

He hadn’t played great to this point, but Philip Rivers wouldn’t be denied when given new life. He scored on the ensuing drive with a strike to Keenan Allen. After a big play by the Chargers defense to stop Denver, Rivers struck again when he got the ball back. He found the speedy Travis Benjamin for a 38-yard score to cut the lead to three points.

Once more, the Los Angeles defense came up with a huge stop. And once again, Rivers started moving the ball. The pressure was there, but the quarterback came up with one big throw after another. He drove them into field goal range, allowing rookie sensation kicker Younghoe Koo to take the field for a huge game-tying kick.

The Georgia Southern product stepped up and drilled one through the uprights — but Vance Joseph had called a Broncos timeout. That proved to be huge for the Denver head coach. When Koo went to re-kick, the attempt was blocked and no good, sealing the thrilling win for the Broncos over a division rival.

Highlights

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Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Week 2

The Broncos have been Super Bowl Champions within the last two seasons. However, the Chargers could be a dark horse in the 2017 season. Thus, it’ll be interesting to see what they’ll be able to do in this game on the road in Denver.