Justin Herbert passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Chargers got closer to wrapping up a playoff spot by rallying past the Denver Broncos 34-27.
The Chargers’ comeback also included Cameron Dicker making the first successful fair-catch kick in the NFL in 48 years. He was good from 57 yards on the final play of the first half to pull the Chargers within 21-13.
Gus Edwards rushed for two touchdowns for Los Angeles (9-6), which needs losses by Indianapolis and Miami on Sunday to secure its second postseason berth in three seasons.
Denver (9-6) could have clinched a playoff spot but had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Broncos still have an 85% chance of making it, according to the NFL, but they have tough remaining tests at Cincinnati on Dec. 28 and at home against Kansas City in Week 18.
Bo Nix was 29 of 40 for 263 yards and two touchdowns for Denver, which was swept by the Chargers for the first time since 2010.
Dicker makes history
Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers took advantage of a seldom-used fair-catch kick, which allows a team that has just made a fair catch to try a free kick for three points. The kick is attempted from the line of scrimmage, and the defending team must stand 10 yards away.
The Chargers were able to try it because Denver’s Tremon Smith committed fair-catch interference on what would have been the final play of the first half when Los Angeles’ Derius Davis attempted to field Riley Dixon’s punt at the Chargers 38.
The penalty moved the ball to the Denver 47 for an untimed down. The Chargers were also the last team to successfully execute a free kick when Ray Wersching converted from 45 yards for San Diego on Nov. 21, 1976, against Buffalo.
