SAN DIEGO — Last week, kicker Nick Novak was hailed as a savior after he stepped in to replace injured punter Mike Scifres during the Chargers’ eventual loss to New England.
Sunday, Novak pinned the Chargers’ 22-10 loss to Denver on himself, ruing his two missed field goals.
“I take responsibility as the reason we lost this game. Put it on me,” an emotional Novak said, his eyes red-rimmed. “It’s part of being a pro, the ups and downs. I feel terrible for my team and my teammates. I’m going to make the next one and not let it affect me.”
On a day when the Broncos’ offense seemed to struggle as much as San Diego’s offense, every field goal mattered.
Broncos kicker Connor Barth nailed five field goals, including three in the first half that kept Denver ahead 9-3. Despite coming into the game having made 20 of his 21 field-goal attempts, the usually reliable Novak had a rare bad day. His first miss came early in the second quarter when the Broncos’ Derek Wolfe managed to tip the ball. It surprised even Novak.
“I couldn’t tell you what happened there,” Novak said. “It felt great, the hold was great. It was going straight.”
On the ensuing Denver possession, Barth drilled a 19-yard field goal to put the Broncos ahead 9-0.
Novak converted a 30-yard field goal before halftime to make the score 9-3, but on the Chargers’ second drive of the third quarter, his 37-yard attempt hit the left upright.
“I just kept it on a pull with my toe up a little bit, and those were key mistakes right there,” Novak said.
He dismissed any suggestion that working with a new holder might have contributed to his poor performance. The Chargers signed Mat McBriar last week to replace the injured Scifres, and McBriar also assumed Scifres’ duties as the longtime holder on the Chargers’ special teams.
“You don’t make excuses; you go out there and do your job. Mat did a great job today. I just missed,” Novak said. “We’ll work more this week.”
After the game, the Chargers seemed to empathize with their distraught kicker.
“We’re a family,” said Eddie Royal, whose 58-yard, second-quarter punt return was one of the bright spots for the home team. “No matter the good, the bad, we’re there for him.”
