Los Angeles
Chargers
2-4
14
FINAL
37
Denver
Broncos
3-3
AI Recap
AI RECAPThe Denver Broncos secured a commanding 37-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18 of the 2026 season, solidifying their playoff positioning with a decisive win. With both teams vying for postseason momentum, the Broncos showcased their dominance on their home turf, leaving the Chargers scrambling for answers.
Bo Nix led the Broncos' offense with precision, throwing for a touchdown while managing the game effectively. However, the real star of the show was running back Travis Etienne Jr., who exploded for 197 rushing yards, consistently breaking through the Chargers' front line and setting the tone for the game. On the other side, Justin Herbert struggled to find the rhythm, finishing with just 150 passing yards and relying heavily on Quentin Johnston, who tallied 63 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Broncos made crucial plays that turned the tide of the matchup. Justin Strnad registered a key sack, disrupting Herbert's timing, while Riley Moss's interception added to the Chargers' frustrations. The turning point came in the second quarter when the Broncos capitalized on a turnover, converting it into a touchdown that shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | QB | 13 | 7 | 54% | 150 | 1 | 3 | 81.0 |
| Bo Nix | QB | 9 | 5 | 56% | 93 | 1 | 1 | 88.8 |
| Troy Franklin | WR | 1 | 1 | 100% | 35 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 10 | 197 | 19.7 | 7 | 3 | 73 | 0 |
| Bo Nix | QB | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 7 | 15 | 2.1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | — | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Kareem Hunt | HB | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quentin Johnston | WR | 1 | 63 | 63.0 | 39 | 1 | 63 | 0 |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR | 2 | 55 | 27.5 | 19 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Brenen Thompson | WR | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 9 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Evan Engram | TE | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 1 | 23 | 23.0 | 22 | 1 | 23 | 0 |
| Nate Adkins | TE | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Troy Franklin | WR | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Strnad | WILL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Riley Moss | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Elandon Roberts | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Jones | FS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Talanoa Hufanga | SS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahdae Barron | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Donte Jackson | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Genesis Smith | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akheem Mesidor | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Surtain II | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Allen | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Kiser | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Denzel Perryman | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avonte Maddox | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | K | 1 | 1 | 4 | 66 |
| Cameron Dicker | K | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

