Justin Herbert rallies the Chargers; Cameron Dicker drills a 43-yard walk-off to beat the Broncos 23–20. Full recap, stats, injuries, how to watch & AFC West implications.
Quick snapshot — Broncos vs Chargers
Justin Herbert engineered a late-game comeback and Cameron Dicker capped it with a 43-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, lifting the Los Angeles Chargers to a 23–20 victory over the Denver Broncos and handing L.A. a first 3–0 start since 2002.
Why this Chargers vs Broncos game mattered
This Week 3 AFC West clash carried immediate and season-long importance:
- Divisional momentum: A win over a division rival matters twice: it’s two columns in the standings and an important tiebreaker. The Chargers’ road win pushes them to 3–0 and cements early AFC West control; the Broncos, 1–2, are forced into question mode.
- Prime-time drama and narrative: Last-second kicks make headlines, and the Chargers used the national stage to build buzz around Justin Herbert and a young supporting cast while exposing Denver’s late-game fragility.
- Health and depth tests: The game featured knocks to key players and a physical grind that reveals mid-season emphasis on depth, rotation and in-game adjustments for both rosters.
If you track playoff odds, fantasy lineups, or coaching pressure, this one’s a must-read result.
PURO PINCHE CHARGERS pic.twitter.com/Tk70x6PFzr
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 21, 2025
The final score & fast facts
- Final: Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20.
- Key plays: Omarion Hampton 3-yard TD run; Keenan Allen 20-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth; Cameron Dicker 43-yard game-winner as time expired.
- Stat lines: Justin Herbert finished with roughly 300 passing yards; Keenan Allen recorded seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown; Quentin Johnston had 89 receiving yards. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown for Denver; Bo Nix threw for about 153 yards and a deep connection to Courtland Sutton (52-yard TD).
How the game unfolded — drive-by-drive narrative
First quarter — Chargers take early control
Los Angeles opened with a balanced attack and struck first via a Cameron Dicker field goal. The Chargers mixed short passes, creative motion and an early ground look from Omarion Hampton to establish rhythm. Denver’s offense had some bright moments but couldn’t convert sustained drives into points in Q1.
Second quarter — back-and-forth, low scoring
The middle stanza was defensive and field-position heavy. Both teams traded possessions and punts; the Chargers added another Dicker field goal to lead 6–3 at one point. Omarion Hampton punched in a short rushing TD to put L.A. up 10–3 early, and Denver answered with controlled passing that showed flashes but not enough to overtake.
Third quarter — Broncos rally into the lead
Denver found life behind Bo Nix, who connected deep with Courtland Sutton for a 52-yard touchdown — a splash play that swung momentum and eventually put the Broncos into the lead at 20-13. J.K. Dobbins provided tough yardage on the ground. The Broncos’ defense also came up with key stops to keep Los Angeles from running away.
Fourth quarter — Herbert’s comeback & Dicker’s clincher
The Broncos led 20–13 late in the fourth, but the Chargers answered. Justin Herbert engineered a drive that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown to Keenan Allen to tie the game with 2:44 left. After a defensive three-and-out, Herbert guided the Bolts into field-goal range; Cameron Dicker’s 43-yard kick as the clock hit zero split the uprights and sealed the comeback. The walk-off was vintage NFL drama.
Key plays & turning points (what decided the game)
- Courtland Sutton 52-yard TD — A textbook explosive play that gave Denver belief and temporary control. (Reuters)
- Herbert to Keenan Allen — 20-yd TD with 2:44 left — The clutch conversion that tied the game and set the stage for the field goal.
- Cameron Dicker 43-yard game-winner — A pressure kick delivered on the road to complete the comeback and give the Chargers a 3–0 start.
- Turnovers and 3-and-outs — Late Denver offense stalls and a couple of failed third-down conversions allowed L.A. to regain the ball and march for the winning kick.
Player deep dives — who stood out (and who didn’t)
Justin Herbert — close to flawless in the clutch
Herbert threw for about 300 yards and showed late-game poise. He picked the right spots to attack (finding Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston) and used playmakers to manipulate the Broncos’ secondary. This was a mid-season statement that Herbert remains an elite, calm leader in comeback situations.
Cameron Dicker — the leg that won it
Dicker’s 43-yard field goal as time expired is the image that will run in highlight reels. Earlier he hit a 32-yard attempt and a 24-yarder at other points; his consistency under pressure has been a major boost for the Chargers’ special teams unit.
Keenan Allen & Quentin Johnston — veteran & youth combo
Allen’s game-tying touchdown was vintage route-running and timing. Johnston’s chunk plays (89 yards receiving) stretched Denver’s defense and opened lanes for Herbert to work inside. The Allen-Johnston combination projects as a potent one all season.
Broncos offensive sparks — Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, J.K. Dobbins
Bo Nix delivered a big connection to Courtland Sutton (52-yard TD) and managed the offense with a mix of throws and scrambles. J.K. Dobbins ground the yardage (83 yards, 1 TD) and provided the physical presence Denver leaned on. Sundown: Broncos had enough to lead, but not enough to close.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Coaching & schematic takeaways — Sean Payton vs Sean Payton? (actually Sean Payton vs Sean Payton style note)
(Quick note on coaches: Chargers under their staff vs Broncos’ staff — Denver’s play-calling showed creativity but late-game stalling; L.A.’s staff earned a grade for composure.)
- Chargers game plan: The Chargers leaned on quick-game rhythm, intermediate passing to Allen/Johnston, and opportunistic use of the rookie Omarion Hampton in the run game to maintain balance. The clock management and two-minute drill execution were the coaching staff’s best moments. (Chargers)
- Broncos adjustments: Denver attacked vertically and by power with Dobbins, and Bo Nix showed a calm pocket presence on big throws. But the Broncos’ inability to sustain clock-killing drives in the fourth cost them; late third-down failures tilted the field back to L.A.
Both staffs will spend Monday morning grading third-down play calling and late-game situational defense/offense.
Injury watch & roster notes
- Najee Harris (Chargers): Reports indicate Harris exited with a non-contact leg issue in Week 3 and is questionable; early coverage suggests concern for the Achilles though final imaging is pending. Omarion Hampton stepped into action and produced a touchdown, reinforcing the depth chart.
- Broncos: No major immediate season-ending injuries were widely reported in the immediate recaps, but Denver will evaluate any bumps sustained in a close, physical game. Check team injury reports for practice updates.
Injuries always change mid-season narratives; Chargers’ running-back health is a watch item.
Advanced stats snapshot & analytics (what the numbers show)
- Win probability: Models had the Broncos favored late after the Sutton TD and Dobbins work, but Herbert’s tie-ing TD swung WP back to near 50/50 before Dicker’s kick decided it. ESPN gamecast shows dramatic swings in the final 5 minutes.
- Third-down efficiency: Denver stalled on critical third downs late; the Chargers converted high-leverage third-down plays to extend drives and keep the clock on their terms. Check boxscore for exact conversion rates.
- Explosive plays: The Broncos’ Sutton 52-yard TD and Chargers’ Johnston long gains were the game’s biggest individual plays — nearly equalizing the explosive-play ledger.
For play-by-play EPA, pressure rates and route profiles, consult NFL Next Gen Stats and ESPN’s advanced boxscore. (Yahoo Sports)
Betting & fantasy takeaways
- Bettors: Chargers covering or hitting comeback parlay legs will be central postgame chatter; live betting lines swung dramatically in the two-minute window. For future lines, Las Vegas books will adjust Chargers upward after a 3–0 start.
- Fantasy managers: Herbert delivered a solid week for fantasy QBs; Allen and Johnston were useful WR assets. Denver’s Dobbins remains a strong RB2 option when touchdowns and volume match. Najee Harris’ injury note creates short-term volatility for Chargers backfield managers; monitor injury reports and waiver wire movers like Hassan Haskins or increased snaps for Hampton. (SB Nation)
Reaction — locker rooms & social media pulse
- Justin Herbert: Praised teammates and emphasized belief during the comeback. Postgame quotes stressed execution in the two-minute drill.
- Broncos: Local coverage describes a team “melting down” late — frustration at missed opportunities and near-scoops on the final drives dominated local talk shows.
- Social media: Clips of Dicker’s kick, Allen’s touchdown and Sutton’s 52-yard score trended on X/Twitter and highlight reels across NFL channels. Fans and pundits broke the game into “Herbert clutch” vs “Broncos collapse” narratives. (Los Angeles Times)
How & where to watch Broncos vs Chargers (live, replays & streaming)
- Live TV (U.S.): The Week 3 game was broadcast on CBS (primary rights for many AFC Sunday afternoon windows). Check your local CBS affiliate or cable-bundle stream to watch live. (CBSSports.com)
- Streaming: National streaming platforms that carry CBS (Paramount+, local TV streaming bundles) and tools like NFL+ (highlights and replays) are standard options. Chargers and Broncos team sites also post highlight packages and condensed replays after the broadcast.
- Replays & highlights: NFL.com, ESPN, Chargers.com, NFL YouTube channel and CBS Sports all host game highlights; the Dicker walk-off will be on the front pages. (NFL.com)
If you missed the live action, the condensed replay and official highlight packages are the quickest legal ways to catch the entire comeback in under 15 minutes.
What this result means for the AFC West and both teams’ seasons
- Chargers (3–0): A perfect start for the first time since 2002 gives L.A. early tiebreaker advantages and confidence heading into tougher stretches — but depth and health (Najee Harris) must hold for sustainability.
- Broncos (1–2): Two straight narrow losses on buzzer beaters or last-second plays create pressure; the focus will be on closing out games and converting late-season situational execution into wins.
Early standings are fluid, but this win gives the Chargers a psychological edge in division play.
Quotes and immediate postgame soundbites (highlights)
- Justin Herbert: “We had complete faith in each other the entire time,” — on the comeback and final drive.
- Chargers staff: Praised special teams and offensive composure. (Chargers)
- Broncos beat writers: Focused on late meltdowns and lessons vs. top competition. (Denver Gazette)
Final thoughts — drama, durability, and the AFC West picture
Sunday’s Broncos vs Chargers installment delivered the kind of late-clock drama the league and fans crave: a veteran QB calmly orchestrating a comeback, a rookie or mid-season kicker stepping up, and a division opponent left to question execution. For the Chargers, the win cements a 3–0 start and validates Justin Herbert’s leadership plus the supporting cast (Allen, Johnston, Hampton). For the Broncos, a 1–2 mark and two heartbreaking losses will force film sessions and adjustments — but there’s plenty of season left.
Football is a game of inches and seconds. Dicker’s 43-yard kick came down to those inches; the Chargers’ season momentum may very well do the same this fall.
FAQs fans search for
Q: What was the final Broncos vs Chargers score?
A: Chargers 23, Broncos 20. (ESPN.com)
Q: Who kicked the winning field goal?
A: Cameron Dicker (43 yards) as time expired. (NFL.com)
Q: How many yards did Justin Herbert throw for?
A: Roughly 300 passing yards (official boxscore on ESPN will have exact number). (ESPN.com)
Q: Is Najee Harris injured?
A: Harris sustained a non-contact leg issue and is questionable; early reports raised concern about his Achilles — follow Chargers injury reports for updates. (SB Nation)