Quarterback Breakouts, Chaos, and a Charger Exorcism | 4 Downs

Blocked Field Goals Fuel Crazy Finishes, Caleb Williams and Justin Herbert Bust Narratives

Sunday personified what makes the NFL king of the American sports lexicon.

There were four game-winning field goals, seven games decided by one score or less, and three blocked field goals that would have proven to be the eventual game winners, all in the waning seconds of three contests within the span of about 15 minutes of real time.

Then, there was Cameron Dicker.

At SoFi Stadium, not to be overcome by Kevin Harlan’s attempt at the announcer jinx after the veteran CBS play-by-play man pointed out that the Chargers’ kicker trotted onto the field riding a perfect seven-for-seven start to 2025.

With the clock ticking down from five seconds remaining, the ball sailed through the uprights just as time expired both on Sunday’s game, and potentially the verb Chargering along with it, as Los Angeles improved to 3-0 both on the season and within the AFC West.

Before Dicker was even in a position to end the game and put the Chargers in position to start legitimately believing they are on the cusp of ending the Chiefs’ reign of terror, perhaps the most tortured Charger of all, Justin Herbert, made a legacy-defining throw in one of the young season’s biggest victories, so far.

Rolling out, with a blitzing Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto swiping at his arm, Herbert slung a perfectly placed pass — throwing across his body — to savvy veteran receiver Keenan Allen in the back of the end zone with a defender draped all over him for a 20-yard touchdown that tied the game at 20 apiece, setting the stage for Dicker’s heroics.

Herbert passed for 300 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but the fact that he capped his 13th fourth-quarter comeback against a division foe with one of the more impressive throws of his career signals that this season could be different; it could be special for the Chargers.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph brought the heat all afternoon, as according to NextGenStats, the Broncos pressured Herbert on an insane 54.7 percent of his dropbacks, which was the highest pressure he’s ever faced in a single game.

The fact that the Chargers found a way to win despite the relentless barrage of pressure that forced Herbert into five sacks and an interception before he tossed the game-tying touchdown is as encouraging a sign as we have seen in Herbert’s development.

Los Angeles’ victory isn’t just a springboard for the Chargers, but it has to be demoralizing for the Broncos, who have to feel snakebitten after dropping two consecutive buzzer-beating losses snatched from the jaws of victory off a pair of game-winning field goals.

Bo Nix guiding the Broncos to 17 unanswered points is relegated to being barely a footnote for Denver, who drops to 1-2 on a season that began with lofty expectations but is now staring down the barrel at some familiar questions.

Denver had the chance to put the game on ice, but failed to gain a first down on either of their final two possessions of the game inside the final 7:45, just as Herbert and the Chargers’ offense shifted into gear when they needed to most.

The Chargers’ win didn’t come without a cost, though, as Najee Harris was carted off with what is feared to be an Achilles injury.

Harris’ injury cleared the way for Omarion Hampton to seize the top running back role, and he didn’t disappoint, finishing with 129 yards from scrimmage with a rushing touchdown.

Hampton, six feet and 220 pounds, has all the hallmarks of a punishing and versatile running back. Now, the No. 22 overall pick has his chance to lead the charge of head coach Jim Harbaugh’s physical run-based scheme.

On a Sunday when chaos reigned across the league, Herbert and Dicker gave the Chargers the kind of defining win that can power a narrative-busting season.

January will be this team’s most vital test, but, if Herbert and the Chargers can bottle this resilience, Sunday may be remembered as the day they finally buried the ghost of Chargering for good.

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