The Broncos (4-12) are looking to finish out their season on a positive note. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates
Fourth-quarter updates
Ballgame (5:32 p.m.): The Broncos held off the Chargers’ comeback attempt, pushing forward 46 yards on seven plays on their final drive. Denver wins 31-28 and finishes the season with a 5-12 record. — Joe Nguyen
No interception (5:21 p.m.): Broncos rookie Ja’Quan McMillian, in his first NFL game, nearly had an interception. It looked like he had his hand underneath the ball from the replay, but the officials said it was an incompletion. Crowd’s not happy. Jerry Rosburg’s not happy. — Joe Nguyen
New personal mark (5:15 p.m.): With that catch, Jerry Jeudy has a personal best 154 yards receiving, topping the 140-yard performance he had against the Raiders on Jan. 3, 2021. — Joe Nguyen
Chargers battling back (5:08 p.m.): With Chase Daniel now at the helm, the Chargers cash in with Daniels finding Keenan Allen for a 3-yard touchdown, then hitting Joshua Palmer in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion. Overtime is now a possibility … sadly. Broncos 31, Chargers 28 with 6:02 left in the game. — Matt Schubert
Muffed (5:03 p.m.): Freddie Swain and Brandon Johnson both muffed punts today. Johnson’s bounced about 10 yards forward and the Chargers recovered. — Parker Gabriel
Freddie Swain started the game at returner, and fumbled on his first attempt. After Swain injured his hip making a catch on the last drive, Jerry Rosburg put rookie Brandon Johnson back there. He muffed the punt and the Chargers recovered, setting them up in Denver territory. — Kyle Newman
End-zone bound (4:57 p.m.): And the Broncos capped off their seven-play, 89-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to a wide-open Courtland Sutton. Broncos 31, Chargers 20. — Joe Nguyen
Huge gain (4:55 p.m.): Where were these Broncos all year? Russell Wilson made his third 50-yard pass of the half with a 52-yard bomb to Freddie Swain. — Joe Nguyen
🎯🎯🎯
📺: CBS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Rumble (4:53 p.m.): Denver kicks off the fourth quarter with a 16-yard run by Latavius Murray. — Joe Nguyen
Third-quarter analysis — Broncos 24, Chargers 20
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos look fair overall, Jerry Jeudy looks great and I have no idea what Chargers coach Brandon Staley is thinking.
Sean Keeler, columnist: What Latavius Murray and Jerry Jeudy have been for the Broncos’ defense this month, safety Justin Simmons has been for the defense. Thatap two fumbles forced with a quarter left to play, making it the third time this season No. 31 has accounted for a pair of takeaways in a game (two picks at Baltimore; two picks vs. Arizona).
Mark Kiszla, columnist: If Broncos had dismissed Nathaniel Hackett after W in London and elevated Jerry Rosburg to head coach, they would be in playoffs now. My story, sticking to it.
Kyle Newman, beat writer: The Broncos lead 24-20. Can Russell Wilson and the offense put this one away, or will Brandon Staley, risking his players’ health despite already clinching the No. 5 seed, pull out a comeback win behind Justin Herbert & Co? The Chargers’ offense currently has the Broncos’ defense on its heels, if LA can stop turning the ball over.
Third-quarter updates
Justin. Simmons. (4:47 p.m.): Justin Simmons’ second forced fumble of the game stops the Chargers’ promising, would-be go-ahead TD drive and gives Denver the ball back deep in their own territory. — Kyle Newman
🥊🥊🥊🥊 | 📺: CBS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Injury update (4:45 p.m.): Broncos defensive lineman DeShawn Williams (knee) is questionable to return. — Kyle Newman
Jeudy’s big day (4:44 p.m.): Jerry Jeudy has been absolutely spectacular today, with two receptions of 50-plus yards. But his last one does not produce points, as Russell Wilson gets sacked at midfield. And now the Chargers are driving. — Matt Schubert
Three more for L.A. (4:33 p.m.): As Justin Herbert continues to play football today …. the Chargers get another field goal out of Cameron Dicker. Broncos 24, Chargers 20 with 6:42 left in the third quarter. — Matt Schubert
And … it’s gone (4:27 p.m.): Two plays after that massive Jeudy catch, Russell Wilson throws a pick to Sebastian Joseph-Day. — Joe Nguyen
Jerry. Jeudy. (4:26 p.m.): Wilson to Jeudy for a 50-yard catch. — Joe Nguyen
Hidden gems (4:25 p.m.): If you spent most of the season wondering why the Broncos held on to Melvin Gordon for so long, this game has to be extra frustrating. Two of the team’s first three touchdowns came from running backs (Latavius Murray and Tyler Badie) who were on other franchises’ practice squads earlier this season. — Matt Schubert
Welcome to the NFL, Tyler Badie (4:16 p.m.): Tyler Badie takes Russell Wilson’s dump-off pass 24 yards to the house, his first NFL TD, and the Broncos lead 24-17 in the third quarter. — Kyle Newman
Certified Badie.™️
📺: CBS |
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Big run (4:12 p.m.): On third-and-2, Chase Edmonds ran the ball for 23 yards for the first down. According to CBS, the Broncos have had runs of 23 and 25 yards on third down today. — Joe Nguyen
Halftime update — Broncos 17, Chargers 17
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: A veritable track meet at Empower Field on the nice, green grass. 17-all and Denver starts the third quarter with the ball. 30 minutes left in the Jerry Rosburg Era. The drama is rising. Or, maybe that’s the coaching search.
Sean Keeler, columnist: While the Broncos wisely come up (we hope) with more ways to get Jerry Jeudy the ball during the halftime break, a little trivia: Today’s 13,202 no-shows are the fifth-most in Denver franchise history. Which means that among the top 5 “no-show” games in Broncos annals, two have come this season. This past Dec. 18 against Arizona, Empower Field saw 18,423 no-shows, which was No. 3 all-time.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Hmm. If It would cost $20 million to hire goofy Jim Harbaugh as coach and Jerry Rosburg would take the gig for $3 miilion, could we take the extra $17 million and sign a Pro Bowl left tackle?
Kyle Newman, beat writer: Broncos, tied 17-17, better hope the Chargers backups get put in the game in the second half. Otherwise, Denver is tracking to finishing at 4-13, despite the TD in the waning seconds of the first half.
Second-quarter updates
Touchdown, Broncos (3:54 p.m.): The Broncos tie the game just before half, 17-17, via Russell Wilson’s three-yard touchdown pass to Eric Tomlinson. — Kyle Newman
All tied up!
📺: CBS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Mike Williams injury (3:53 p.m.): Chargers receiver Mike Williams is leaving the game on a cart after an extended stay in the blue medical tent on the sideline. — Kyle Newman
Huge play (3:52 p.m.): Russell Wilson just completed a 52-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy. Broncos on the 3-yard line. 10 seconds to go. — Joe Nguyen
Well, in Week 17 we finally get ourselves a well thrown deep ball from Russell Wilson. — Matt Schubert
JERRY. JEUDY.
📺: CBS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Chargers get three more (3:50 p.m.): Tack on three points for the Chargers, who benefited from a questionable roughing the passer penalty on DeShawn Williams. A decade ago, that was just delivering a blow to a starting quarterback who should most definitely not be playing in this game. Chargers 17, Broncos 10, 0:26 left in the first half. — Matt Schubert
Struggles continue (3:45 p.m.): We’re now at three three-and-outs for the Broncos in their last four drives. Russell Wilson continues to struggle. The Chargers have 68 seconds to make something happen. — Matt Schubert
Spring to his step (3:33 p.m.): If you were looking for evidence to dispel the notion that Russell Wilson has lost a step, the first half of this game has not provided it.
But …
If you were looking for evidence that Latavius Murray is a keeper, he just keeps delivering. — Matt Schubert
No-shows (3:33 p.m.): No-shows today against the Chargers: 13,202. — Kyle Newman
Three more (3:31 p.m.): Brandon McManus hits a 33-yard field goal, cutting Denver’s deficit to 14-10 with 2:43 left in the first half. — Kyle Newman
Fumbled (3:26 p.m.): Justin Simmons stripped Austin Ekeler and Josey Jewell recovered it. — Parker Gabriel
OUR BALL! 🤠
📺: CBS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Herbert still in (3:22 p.m.): And Justin Herbert is STILL playing!!! The idea the Broncos could cruise against the Chargers’ backups is looking more and more unlikely. — Matt Schubert
Injury update (3:17 p.m.): Cornerback K’Waun Williams is out with a concussion. — Kyle Newman
Remembering Ronnie (3:14 p.m.): Standing ovation by the Empower Field faithful for former running back Ronnie Hillman, who died Dec. 21 of cancer and was recognized on the Jumbotron. — Kyle Newman
Chargers strike again (3:13 p.m.): Three drives with the Chargers’ first-team offensive, two touchdowns. This one finished with another third-down conversion for a score, with Herbert finding Gerald Everett across the middle with Josey Jewell in coverage for a 3-yard TD.
It’s 14-7 Chargers with 10:57 in the second quarter. — Matt Schubert
First-quarter analysis — Broncos 7, Chargers 7
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Last-day-of-school type of feel at Empower Field today. Denver even put an opening drive TD on the board. Chargers starters are playing … for some reason.
Sean Keeler, columnist: What the heck is Justin Herbert still doing out there? If Nathaniel Hackett ran the Chargers, No. 10 would’ve spent the last two weeks watching Chase Daniel grip it and rip it from the sideline. Then again, if Hackett ran the Chargers, the Bolts would’ve been eliminated from the postseason race about a month ago.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: I like Jerry Rosberg. Wish he would adopt me as his cousin. Then we’d sit on hos dock and solve all the NFL’s and perhaps the world’s problems.
First-quarter updates
Herbert still playing (3:01 p.m.): Each team punts, and in the biggest surprise of the day, Justin Herbert is back out on the field again. — Matt Schubert
K’Waun Williams injury (2:59 p.m.): Cornerback K’Waun Wiliams is being evaluated for a possible concussion. — Kyle Newman
Another punt returner (2:55 p.m.): With Kendall Hinton injured, and with Montrell Washington inactive again, the Broncos trotted out Freddie Swain back as their returner on the Chargers’ first punt of the game. — Kyle Newman
An answer (2:48 p.m.): Denver’s offense answered in a big way, capping off a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray. We’re all tied up at 7-apiece. — Joe Nguyen
Your final “I Coordinated A TD Drive on the Opening Possession” leaderboard for ’22-’23: Klint Kubiak 1, Justin Outten 1, Nathaniel Hackett 0. — Sean Keeler
And the Broncos answer right back … 13 plays, 75 yards and a Latavius Murray 2-yard TD run. — Matt Schubert
All tied up. 🚂
📺: CBS |
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Chargers’ drive (2:36 p.m.): Chargers’ opening drive: “If we cared today, we’d destroy you.” (With the ‘5’ seed clinched, they don’t. Or shouldn’t.) — Sean Keeler
First strike (2:34 p.m.): And Herbert promptly leads the Bolts down the field, converting a pair of third downs, to give Los Angeles an early 7-0 lead. The last play, Herbert to Keenan Allen on a rub route that produced a 14-yard touchdown. — Matt Schubert
Herbert lasers (2:30 p.m.): In a bit of a surprise, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has taken the field for his team’s first offensive drive, despite the team already being locked into the No. 5 seed. — Matt Schubert
For Damar (2:27 p.m.): After the opening kickoff, Broncos No. 3 Russell Wilson and Chargers No. 3 Derwin James meet for a prayer at midfield as a nod to Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin. — Parker Gabriel
After the opening kickoff, both teams form a line and come out onto the field. At midfield, both teams’ No. 3 — Russell Wilson and Derwin James Jr. — kneed together and locked arms at midfield in a tribute to Damar Hamlin. — Kyle Newman
🫶
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
After the opening kickoff, No. 3 Russell Wilson and Chargers No. 3 Drewin James meet for a prayer at midfield as a nod to Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel)
Coin toss (2:25 p.m.): Broncos win the toss and defer. Football is about to happen at Empower Field. — Parker Gabriel
Pregame updates
Inactives (1:13 p.m.): Good afternoon from Empower Field, where the Broncos have a fresh turf put down just for today’s season finale against the Chargers. Beauty of a day for January — 41 degrees, partly cloudy and light winds.
Here’s the Broncos inactives:
Rookie DB Damarri Mathis (concussion) was listed as a limited participant late in the week but will not play. WR Montrell Washington is inactive again, as well.
The others:
- WR Kendall Hinton
- OT Calvin Anderson
- OLB Jonathan Kongbo
- DL D.J. Jones
- QB Jarrett Guarantano
— Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (noon): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Chargers in Kyle Newman’s scouting report.
Post predictions
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Broncos 20, Chargers 17
Jerry Rosburg, the pigskin poet laureate of Denver’s lost season, delivers a soliloquy worthy of William Shakespeare after the Broncos’ play for pride and the joy of beleaguered home fans. All’s well that end’s well. Or something like that.
Kyle Newman, beat writer: Chargers 24, Broncos 21
In a fitting ending to a dumpster-fire season, Justin Herbert or Chase Daniel engineers a last-second, game-winning drive to beat the Broncos and leave the home crowd booing as they leave. Another loss that proves there are serious question marks about Russell Wilson, who throws at least one game-changing interception for a third straight week.
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 21, Chargers 17
Sure, there’s nothing important to play for — Denver hasn’t had that in several weeks — but the Broncos turned in a try-hard performance against Kansas City last week. One more Sunday in the season finale and Jerry Rosburg may head back into retirement with a win on his NFL head-coaching ledger. Last time this team played at home, it grounded and pounded to 168 rushing yards, two touchdowns and a win against Arizona. Sounds like a good recipe.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 21, Chargers 20
Jerry Rosburg’s first week on the job proved what many had suspected all along: This roster needed a “dad” in charge as opposed to Nathaniel Hackettap “cool older brother” vibe. And how can you not love a mug who name-drops Sonny Liston and Joe Palooka in the same sound bite?
Broncos-Chargers NFL Week 18: Must reads
NFL Journal: Broncos QB Russell Wilson on what he’s looking for in new head coach
Eleven things about the Broncos as they close out a disappointing regular season with a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
1. After Denver’s finale against the Chargers, CEO Greg Penner’s search for a new head coach will kick into high gear. Requests for interviews and the interviews themselves — depending on availability and playoff scenarios — will begin as early as the coming week. As the search develops, interviews will cover a lot of ground. Quarterback Russell Wilson, of course, will be a major topic of conversation. What does he want to see in a head coach? Read the full story. — Parker Gabriel
Dalton Risner is about to be a free agent. Next stop for the Broncos mainstay at left guard? Wherever he is “valued.”
For the last four years, Dalton Risner has been the Broncos’ anchor at left guard.
But unless the Broncos pony up with a competitive offer for the Wiggins native, he might have played his last game in orange and blue. Risner will be a free agent at season’s end and was placed on injured reserve this week with a strained ligament in his left elbow.
Risner addressed his uncertain future Thursday in Dove Valley, speaking to Denver media members after being named the 2022 recipient of the local PFWA chapter’s Good Guy Award. The honor is given annually to a Denver player who exemplifies enthusiasm, cooperation and honesty while dealing with reporters. Read the full story. — Kyle Newman
Broncos DC Ejiro Evero says he’s “as ready as you can be” to take on head coaching opportunity after season ends
When Denver’s season ends Sunday, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is likely to be a popular guy.
The first-year defensive coordinator, who turns 42 on Friday, is expected to draw interest from teams with head coaching openings in the NFL. Whether he lands a head job after just a year running a defense remains to be seen, but he’s quickly become a name to know in coaching circles.
Evero said he’s had conversations recently with Broncos brass, but “not specifically about the job here.” General manager George Paton said after the team fired Nathaniel Hackett that they want to interview Evero about the head coaching job. Read the full story. — Parker Gabriel
