News Summary The Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 23-20, marking their second straight defeat of the season. After an early lead, the Broncos couldn’t maintain momentum, struggling to convert red zone opportunities and overcoming a significant test from the Chargers’ offense, led by quarterback Justin Herbert. The loss drops the Broncos to a 1-2 record, while the Chargers improve to 3-0 as they look to continue their strong start. Injury updates also revealed several key players ruled out for both teams. Denver The Denver Broncos suffered a narrow 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on September 21, 2025. The defeat marks the Broncos’ second consecutive away game and drops their record to 1-2 for the season. The Chargers, who started the game with a solid 2-0 record, managed to secure their first 3-0 start since 2022 with this victory over Denver, overcoming an early 10-0 deficit. The game featured a competitive atmosphere, with the Broncos scoring just before halftime and quickly adding 10 points in the third quarter. Game Highlights The Chargers demonstrated an effective offensive strategy led by quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for 300 yards, notching a touchdown alongside one interception. Herbert capitalized on critical moments with support from receiver Ladd McConkey. On the ground, J.K. Dobbins faced his former team, carrying the ball 11 times for 83 yards and scoring a touchdown. In contrast, the Broncos struggled with inconsistency, managing to go three-and-out six times throughout the game. For the Broncos, Bo Nix recorded 153 yards passing and tossed one touchdown, completing 14 of 25 attempts. Although Troy Franklin led the team with 89 receiving yards on eight receptions, the Broncos fell short in the red zone and faced challenges in their run game. Team Performances The Denver defense, which had been impressive in the first two games, faced a significant test against Herbert. The Broncos’ defense boasted the highest blitz rate in the NFL at 51.4%, but they struggled to contain Herbert, who ranked second-best in passer rating against the blitz this season with a rating of 138.2. Key players on the defensive side included cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss, as well as defensive lineman Zach Allen and outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. The Broncos entered this matchup seeking to improve their performance in the red zone as they aimed for their second win of the season and their first divisional match victory. However, their inability to convert opportunities into points ultimately hindered their efforts. Injury Updates Before the game, the Broncos ruled out linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) and tight end Evan Engram (back). The Chargers, meanwhile, ruled out tight end Will Dissly (knee) and defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring), with linebacker Daiyan Henley (illness) and cornerback Cam Hart (hip) listed as questionable. Next Steps Following their loss, the Broncos will return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4, looking to regroup and improve their standings. The Chargers will continue their campaign next week with a matchup against the New York Giants. This matchup was broadcast with play-by-play commentary by Kevin Harlan, analysis from Trent Green, and sideline reports by Melanie Collins. Fans were able to stream the game on Paramount+ for local games and NFL+ for mobile viewing. The Broncos will need to address the areas of inconsistency in their performance and continue building on their defensive strengths as they set their sights on a more successful outing in the coming weeks. Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic HERE Resources Broncos Face Chargers in Key AFC West Matchup Denver Faces Undefeated Chargers in Key Matchup Kansas City Chiefs Fall to Los Angeles Chargers in Season Opener NFL Expands International Games to Seven Countries Additional Resources CBS Sports Wikipedia: Najee Harris NFL.com Google Search: Najee Harris injury Denver Post Encyclopedia Britannica: American football Mile High Report Google News: Denver Broncos PFF Google Scholar: Denver Broncos 2025
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