The San Diego Chargers kicked off Week 6 with a win by beating the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos 21-13, in a primetime matchup. The Chargers scored first after driving downfield in a 12-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up seven minutes. Philip Rivers connected with Hunter Henry for a five-yard touchdown to make it 7-0, Bolts. The Chargers offense dominated the first quarter by holding the ball for 12:38. After starting their second drive of the game from their own six, 18 plays later, the Bolts tacked on three to their lead after a 37-yard field goal by Josh Lambo. The Broncos got on the board thanks to a field goal that came four plays of a muffed punt by the Chargers. In the first half, Philip Rivers became the Bolts' all-time leader in passing yards. Jatavis Brown led his team's defenders with four total tackles.
The Bolts defense started out strong in the second half holding the Broncos to a quick three-and-out. On the first play of their first offensive possession of the third quarter, Melvin Gordon rushed off left tackle for a gain of 48. Four plays later, Lambo made it 13-3 with a short field goal. After Korey Toomer forced and recovered a fumble, an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Broncos tacked on 15 yards to the play. Although the Bolts were deep in Denver territory, they settled for another field goal to make it 16-3, San Diego. They added another three to their lead after a 32-yard field goal capped off an eight-play, 50-yard drive. The Broncos were able to get into San Diego territory towards the end of the third quarter, but their field goal attempt was no good and the Chargers took over on downs. With just over 12 minutes to go in the game, Trevor Siemian dropped back in his own end zone and found Demaryius Thomas for a gain of 18. However, a holding call against the Broncos negated the play, and the Bolts ended up with a safety. Unfortunately, the Chargers muffed the catch on the free kick and Denver took over at midfield. The Broncos ended up scoring on that same drive to make it 21-10, San Diego. Although Denver got the ball back, Brown made two huge back to back defensive plays. He sacked Siemian on first down for a loss of 10 and on the next play, forced a fumble on Thomas which the Bolts recovered. The Broncos made it 21-13 off a 46-yard field goal. Denver's onside kick attempt was perfectly executed and the visitors got the ball back with 27 seconds left; however, they couldn't score and the Bolts nabbed their second win of the season.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
12:56 – On 2nd-and-7, Philip Rivers tossed a high pass to Tyrell Williams up the left sideline. Williams' over the shoulder catch was good for 18.
9:23 – Hunter Henry gained 27 on second down to bring up 1st-and-goal for the Bolts.
8:06 – Henry found the end zone for the third time this season to give the home team the first points of the game.
:34 – Rivers hit Travis Benjamin for a gain of six on third down to move the chains.
SECOND QUARTER
14:20 – Rivers found the rookie Henry again, this time for a gain of 12.
12:05 – Deep in Denver territory, the Bolts went for it on fourth down and converted to keep the drive going.
10:35 – Josh Lambo's 37-yard field goal gave the Bolts a 10-0 lead.
7:59 – Denver punted and while it appeared the ball touched a San Diego player, the officials ruled possession in favor of San Diego. However, the call was reversed after Denver challenged the ruling. Denver's offense took over at the San Diego 11.
7:48 – Denzel Perryman met C.J. Anderson in the backfield for a loss of four.
5:44 – Brandon McManus made a chip-shot field goal to give his team their first points of the game.
THIRD QUARTER
14:55 – Melvin Ingram and Kyle Emanuel converged on a tackle to take down Anderson in the backfield for a loss of two.
12:51 – Melvin Gordon rushed off left tackle for a gain of 48.
10:44 – The score became 13-3 in favor of San Diego after Lambo kicked a 21-yard field goal.
9:27 – ILB Korey Toomer punched the ball out of Jordan Taylor's arms to force a fumble which Toomer recovered. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Denver tacked on 15 yards to the Bolts' possession to set them up at the Denver 20.
7:15 – Lambo made a 31-yard field goal to add three to his team's lead.
3:35 – An eight-play, 50-yard Chargers drive was capped off with another Lambo field goal.
3:31 – Devante Booker gained 17 yards on first down. Two plays later, he gained 16 on second down to move into Chargers territory.
:14 – McManus' 56-yard field goal was no good and the Bolts took over on downs.
FOURTH QUARTER
12:14 – Drew Kaser booted a 37-yard punt that was downed at the Denver one.
12:04 – After Trevor Siemian found Demaryius Thomas for a gain of 18, a holding call against the Broncos in the end zone forced a safety to make it 21-3. On the free kick, the Chargers muffed the catch, and the Broncos recovered at midfield.
9:10 – On 3rd-and-14 Siemian found Emmanuel Sanders for a gain of 20 to move the chains.
8:13 – Siemian found Bennie Fowler in the end zone for the five yard score.
6:46 – Rivers was sacked by Shane Ray for a loss of 12 on third down.
4:13 – Jatavis Brown busted through the line to sack Siemian for a loss of 10. On the next play, he forced a fumble which was recovered by San Diego.
:32 – The Broncos added three off a 46-yard field goal. Their onside kick attempt was good and they got the ball back with 27 seconds left. The offense couldn't score and the Bolts walked out victorious.
