Broncos’ next opponent: Chargers at Broncos, 2:15 p.m. Sunday, KCNC-4
SAN DIEGO — Philip Rivers was 21-of-31 for 307 yards and one touchdown, Mike Tolbert ran for another score and the San Diego Chargers knocked out Miami quarterback Chad Henne on the way to beating the winless Dolphins 26-16 on Sunday.
Henne hurt his left shoulder at the end of a run on a broken play on the Dolphins’ second possession and didn’t return. Although backup Matt Moore led the Dolphins to the game’s first TD, Rivers’ passing eventually overpowered the Dolphins (0-4).
Rivers threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson to tie the game at 7 late in the first quarter. Ryan Mathews’ 42-yard gain on a screen pass set up Tolbert’s 1-yard leap over the pile for a 20-10 lead for the Chargers (3-1) early in the third quarter.
“Everybody seems to think we can’t start fast,” Tolbert said. “But no matter how we win, how ugly it is, we’re 3-1. We’re on a good pace right now. We’re trying to keep momentum going.”
San Diego got four field goals from Nick Novak, from 27, 48, 23 and 38 yards. Rivers took a knee three times inside the Dolphins’ 20-yard line to end the game.
Jackson, who was in and out of the game, apparently because of an abdominal injury, had three catches for 108 yards.
