Brief

Broncos rally late to beat winless Chargers 23-17 at SoFi Stadium

Wil Lutz’s go‑ahead field goal with 5:07 left capped a 13‑point fourth‑quarter run for Denver.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:22:32 GMT

Wil Lutz kicked a go‑ahead 19‑yard field goal with 5:07 remaining, lifting the Denver Broncos to a 23‑17 victory over the winless Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, according to the New York Post.

What happened

The Broncos built a 10‑3 lead early, with a 42‑yard field goal by Lutz and a 2‑yard touchdown run by J.K. Dobbins after a face‑mask penalty on the Chargers. Los Angeles tied the game at 10‑10 in the third quarter when quarterback Justin Herbert connected with Hayden Rucci for a 7‑yard touchdown. The Chargers then took a 17‑10 lead late in the third after Kimani Vidal’s 42‑yard run, set up by a forced fumble recovery by Tuli Tuipulotu.

Denver answered in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points. After a short‑field drive, Lutz added a 36‑yard field goal with 1:08 left, extending the lead. The Broncos’ defense forced multiple turnovers, including a fumble recovered by Que Robinson after Zach Allen sacked Herbert for an 8‑yard loss, and an interception by Brandon Jones on the final drive.

What the reports add

The article notes that coach Sean Payton called the plays for Denver, taking play‑calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb earlier in the week. It also mentions that the Broncos earned their first division win and first victory at SoFi Stadium since 2023. Denver played without injured cornerbacks Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs). For the Chargers, the piece highlights a decimated offensive line featuring four rookies, five sacks on Herbert, and a 14‑of‑24 passing line for 121 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

What was said

The Post reports that Jim Harbaugh unsuccessfully challenged two calls, bringing his career total to 16 of 45 challenges.

Key facts

Wil Lutz kicked a 19‑yard field goal with 5:07 left to give Denver a 23‑17 win. (nypost.com)
The Broncos scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. (nypost.com)
Los Angeles Chargers entered the game winless at 0‑5. (nypost.com)