DENVER — The sport was the understudies versus the underwhelmings.
The second-string Chargers towards the … wait a second, the top-seeded Denver Broncos solely generated 240 yards and failed to attain an offensive landing?
Such is the AFC this season, full of groups who flash one week and fizzle the subsequent.
Sunday’s regular-season finale — which the Broncos gained, 19-3 — was way more aggressive than it ought to have been, particularly contemplating the lopsided incentives.
Whereas the Chargers had been enjoying for satisfaction and solely modestly consequential postseason seeding, Denver’s stakes had been two miles excessive: a free go to the second spherical, and home-field benefit till the Tremendous Bowl.
How unsettling that the Chargers may even make the sport fascinating, having rested 14 starters, together with Professional Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chargers now flip their consideration to a first-round recreation on the 14-win New England Patriots, who’ve averaged 34.4 factors within the 5 video games for the reason that starting of December, on Sunday at 5 p.m. PST.
It’s one other alternative for Herbert to notch his first playoff victory. In his six seasons, the Chargers have had two one-and-done appearances — an epic collapse at Jacksonville within the 2022 season and a four-interception loss at Houston final season.
“With the way in which he’s performed this season, this may very well be a breakthrough,” receiver Keenan Allen mentioned. “The whole lot we would like remains to be proper in entrance of us.”
Chargers tight finish Oronde Gadsden II catches a go towards Denver Broncos security P.J. Locke through the first half Sunday.
(David Zalubowski / Related Press)
That’s not precisely true. Allen reeled in two hefty objects on his want checklist. He wanted 9 extra receiving yards for a $250,000 contract bonus, and 6 extra receptions for a $750,000 payout. He completed with seven catches for 36 yards — jackpot!
“It’s good to get that out of the way in which,” he mentioned, smiling broadly.
Allen was one of many few seasoned Chargers veterans to set foot on the sphere. Watching from the sidelines had been offensive starters Herbert, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and all the beginning offensive line.
So backup quarterback Trey Lance, making a uncommon begin, had a set of blockers that was much more hodgepodge than traditional — and going up towards the NFL’s sack leaders, no much less. The Broncos got here into the sport with a club-record 64 sacks.
They received to Lance 4 occasions, and though that could be spectacular, the Chargers collected 4 sacks of their very own, two by backup defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia.
“That was dope,” star edge rusher Khalil Mack mentioned of the efficiency by second-stringers.
Mack sat out, as did All-Professional security Derwin James Jr., linebacker Daiyan Henley and security Elijah Molden. All might be again for the Patriots recreation.
The Chargers have overwhelmed the Patriots of their final two conferences, together with a 6-0 win two years in the past in Foxborough. That is the primary time the groups have performed with these head coaches, Jim Harbaugh and Mike Vrabel.
“That’s the type of recreation that defines your season,” Harbaugh mentioned. “Our focus and a focus is on that.”
Sunday’s recreation was a foregone conclusion earlier than kickoff. Sure, the Chargers had been 5-0 towards AFC West opponents, however their main intention was to remain recent for the playoffs.
The Broncos, in the meantime, had been so laser-focused on securing that No. 1 seed that coach Sean Payton instructed the videoboard operators to scrap the goofy video games throughout breaks within the motion. He wished the group occupied with decibels, not distractions.
Denver operating again RJ Harvey is tackled by Chargers defenders through the second half Sunday.
(C. Morgan Engel / Getty Photos)
From the beginning, Denver regarded on observe. On their first possession, the Broncos drove from their 13 to the Chargers’ six, organising the primary of 4 subject objectives by Wil Lutz.
Who would have suspected that, after these 81 yards, Denver’s offense would generate solely 31 extra the remainder of the half?
Put merely, Denver is a bizarre workforce. The Broncos have trailed in 12 of their 14 wins, and this was the second time this season they gained with out scoring an offensive landing. Naturally, there have been incentives Sunday to staying as vanilla as doable on offense as to not reveal extra to future opponents, though this can be a workforce that already has put 17 video games on video.
This recreation was both an offensive stinker or a defensive masterpiece, relying in your perspective.
Each quarterbacks led their workforce in dashing. Lance accomplished 20 of 44 passes for 136 yards with an interception. Denver’s Bo Nix was 14 of 23 for 141 yards.
