The Los Angeles Chargers fell to the Denver Broncos, 28-13, in Week 12 of the 2021 season.
First Quarter
Chargers won the toss and chose to defer. The Broncos were able to drive down to the Chargers' 33-yard line on their opening drive, but a holding penalty called on Denver moved them out of field goal range which forced them to punt the ball away.
The Chargers started their opening drive backed up on their own one-yard line. The Bolts were unable to move the chains on their first drive of the game and were forced to punt the ball back to the Broncos.
The Broncos got the ball back at the 50 and were able to drive down into the red zone. Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater found the end zone a few plays later on an 11-yard scramble play that made the score 7-0 after the PAT from Brandon McManus.
On the ensuing Broncos possession, Chargers safety Derwin James came flying in and hit Bridgewater almost forcing a fumble, but Bridgewater was injured on the play forcing backup quarterback Drew Lock to go in for the Broncos.
Second Quarter
The Broncos were able to continue their drive from the first quarter and a few plays into the second quarter, Broncos running back Javonte Williams found the end zone on a nine-yard rushing touchdown. The rushing touchdown put the Broncos up 14-0 with 12:50 left to play in the second quarter.
With under two minutes left in the second quarter, James made a big play for the Bolts by intercepting Drew Lock at the Chargers' 47-yard line and returned it to the Denver 48.
On the ensuring offensive drive, back-to-back completions from Herbert to Allen of 18 and 14 yards got the Bolts in the red zone. A few plays later, Herbert found Ekeler for a 12-yard receiving touchdown that put made the score 14-7 after the PAT from Dustin Hopkins, which was the score going into halftime.
In the second quarter, Allen grabbed his 700th career catch and Austin Ekeler hit 1,000 scrimmage yards on the season.
The Chargers are set to receive the ball in the second half.
Third Quarter
The Chargers were able to drive down to the Broncos' 34-yard line with the help of big plays from tight end Stephen Anderson and wide receiver Mike Williams on their opening drive out of the half. On fourth down, Hopkins came on to attempt a 53-yard field goal, but the attempt was no good. Bridgewater came back into the game on the Broncos first drive of the second half, but the Chargers were able to force the Broncos to punt.
On the Bolts' ensuing drive, Herbert showed off his legs with a 13-yard scramble on 3rd-and-8. A few plays later, and in Denver territory, Herbert delivered a pass to Jaylen Guyton on fourth down for a gain of 15 yards that brought the Chargers into the red zone to end the third quarter a few plays later.
Fourth Quarter
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Herbert fired a pass to the end zone but it was intercepted by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. On the Broncos' ensuing drive, Bridgewater threw a short pass to Williams and he took off for a 42-yard gain. A few plays later, Bridgewater found tight end Eric Saubert for a one-yard touchdown. The touchdown put the Broncos up 21-7 after the PAT with 8:54 left in the game.
On the Bolts' next drive, Herbert delivered a pass to Ekeler that was tipped off Ekeler's hands and went into the hands of Surtain II who returned the interception for a 70-yard touchdown. Surtain II's pick six put the Broncos up 28-7 with 7:28 left in the game.
In need of a score, the Bolts put together a drive that got them to the Broncos' 16-yard line. On 3rd-and-10 Herbert aired a ball out to the end zone and tight end Jared Cook was able to make the catch and get both feet down for the score that made it 28-13. The Chargers went for two but were unable to convert.
The Broncos were able to run the clock out on their next drive and secure the 28-13 win over the Chargers which dropped the Bolts to 6-5.
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