Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the attempt, the longest free kick in NFL history and L.A. went into halftime trailing 21-13. L.A. eventually came back in the second half to win 34-27. For Harbaugh, it was a joyous opportunity and moment.

It would be an understatement to say that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is pleased with rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Arriving via the No. 12 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, Nix won the Broncos' open quarterback competition,

The Broncos took an 11-point lead in the third quarter but gave up three unanswered touchdowns as the Chargers won 34-27. The Broncos struggled to contain quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing game, with the secondary coming under fire by Payton after the game.

Perhaps the Broncos had a champagne party in their heads a bit too soon. Denver scored three touchdowns in their first three drives Thursday against the Chargers, who owned the league’s No. 9 defense in terms of DVOA (Defense-adjusted value over average) entering the game.

Rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin loves the opportunity for the entire country to focus their attention on the Broncos. More importantly, he loves that Payton fully embraces those moments and has the utmost faith in his team. “He knows what he got,” Franklin told The Denver Post. “It’s cool to show everybody what the Denver Broncos are all about.”

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton's simple play was exposed by the cameras during Thursday Night Football.

The Denver Broncos instinctively believe in their rookie quarterback to deliver when the chips are down. A glance at the box score and Bo Nix's day vs. the Indianapolis Colts reads quite bizarrely. The Denver Broncos rookie quarterback only passed for 130 yards on 33 attempts and was picked off three times.

Sean Payton and Vance deserve all the blame for this game. Sean called plays like an asshole and got way too conservative in the 2nd half. Inexcusable. Vance made zero adjustments and has now got his ass kicked 2 of the last 3 games.

Denver ILB Justin Strnad’s performance to forget against Chargers | Broncos’ Tremon Smith laments “dumb” penalty that led to fair-catch free kick for Chargers | Broncos report card: Sean Payton picked a bad time for a bout of bad clock management before halftime vs.

In the first-ever flexed Thursday Night Football game on Amazon Prime—a huge game between two teams for the final playoff spots in the AFC—Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton had one thing on his mind. Run the ball. We know this because the words "RUN IT!!" were scribbled on Payton's laminated call sheet.

First, Justin Herbert dug the Chargers out of their own territory with a gutsy third-down scramble. Then Gus Edgward popped off his longest run in five seasons by going for more than 40 yards. Then Hassan Haskins took a Herbert flip 34 yards for a score that put the Chargers up 34-24.