Broncos rally past Chargers 23-17 as Harbaugh blames himself for fourth-down gamble

The Denver Broncos erased a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday. Los Angeles led 17-10 before a failed fourth-and-1 attempt from its own 41-yard line gave Denver the ball in scoring position.

Bo Nix then threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton to tie the game, and Wil Lutz kicked a go-ahead 19-yard field goal with 5:07 remaining. Lutz added a 36-yarder with 1:08 left to seal Denver's first AFC West win under coach Sean Payton.

“It was the wrong decision. Can't think of a time where I've ever been more mad at myself.”

Justin Herbert finished 14 of 24 for 121 yards with a touchdown and an interception while being sacked five times behind a line featuring four rookies. He also lost a fumble and has now committed a turnover in five straight games, matching a career mark.

Harbaugh accepted full responsibility after the Chargers fell to 0-5 for the first time since 2003. He said he should have called timeout and punted instead of going for the first down, calling it the wrong decision and the moment he has been most angry with himself.

CBS analyst Pete Prisco was harsher, saying Harbaugh cost his team the game by handing Denver a short field while the Broncos offense had done nothing. Denver improved to 3-2 and earned its first victory at SoFi Stadium since 2023.