Playoff hopes extinguished despite Denver Broncos victory over Chargers
The Denver Broncos were eliminated from the NFL playoffs on Sunday despite a win over the Los Angeles Chargers that improved their record to 8-8 with one game remaining in their season.
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham started the game and threw his first touchdown pass as a Bronco in the victory.
The Broncos chances of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team were extinguished when the Steelers beat the Seahawks on Sunday. Then shortly afterwards the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Bengals and clinched their eighth straight AFC West title, closing the door on the Broncos chances of making the playoffs as a division winner.
Stidham threw for 224 yards and a touchdown in an uneven performance in his first start in place of a benched Russell Wilson.
Stidham earned his first career NFL win as a starter thanks to some timely plays such as a nifty 54-yard catch-and-run for a score by Lil'Jordan Humphrey and a stellar defensive performance.
The Broncos defense forced one turnover and allowed two third-down conversions on 11 attempts.
The game changed complexion in the fourth quarter when D.J. Jones knocked the ball out of the hands of Austin Ekeler, with Josey Jewell recovering the fumble in Chargers territory.
Denver turned the turnover into a 20-yard field goal by Wil Lutz to make it 16-6. The Broncos benefited by a pass interference call on Jerry Jeudy near the goal line on fourth down. Two false start penalties, though, moved them back and faced with another fourth-down call, coach Sean Payton elected to kick.
The Broncos also made a big play on special teams with Zach Allen blocking a 50-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker midway through the fourth quarter.
The Broncos were short-handed at receiver for Stidham, with receiver Courtland Sutton (concussion) and Marvin Mims Jr. (hamstring) sidelined. Humphrey had two catches for 69 yards, while Jeudy made three receptions for 54 yards after being under the weather earlier in the week.
As a team captain, Wilson briefly got on the field for the opening coin flip. He spent the afternoon on the sideline in what could be the first of his last two games with the Broncos. The nine-time Pro Bowler was benched last Wednesday. Wilson later said he was approached after a win over Kansas City on Oct. 29 about altering his contract or risk being benched.
Wilson has a $37 million injury guarantee for 2025 that's triggered in March if he fails a physical. The Broncos wanted him to push back the date to give them flexibility but Wilson rejected it.