January 4, 2026 | NFL Week 18 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
The Denver Broncos ended their regular season on a strong note by beating the Los Angeles Chargers 19-3 at home. It was a cold, defensive game where Denver controlled the field from the first quarter. The Chargers could not find their rhythm all night, and their quarterback struggled to move the ball.
Let’s break down the key player stats and moments that decided this game.
Final Score and Quick Overview
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Denver Broncos | 10 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
Denver scored 10 points in the first quarter alone. After that, the Broncos never gave the Chargers a real chance to come back. The Chargers only scored one field goal the whole game, which tells you how well Denver’s defense played.
The Play That Changed the Game: The Pick-Six
The biggest moment of the night came in the first quarter at 3:50 remaining. Chargers quarterback Taysom Lance threw a short pass that was intercepted by Denver’s J. McMillian at the LAC 45-yard line. McMillian ran it back all the way for a touchdown, a 45-yard pick-six.
That one play gave Denver a 9-0 lead very early. For the Chargers, it was a momentum killer they never recovered from.
Denver Broncos Key Player Stats
Offense
Denver’s offense was not flashy, but it was smart and effective.
Passing: The Broncos completed 14 of 23 passes for 141 yards. The completion rate was 60.9%, which is solid. There were no touchdown passes thrown, but importantly, zero interceptions. The offense took care of the ball well.
Rushing: Denver ran the ball 31 times for 116 yards, with a longest run of 22 yards. The ground game helped control the clock, as Denver held the ball for 34 minutes and 1 second, much more than the Chargers’ 26 minutes.
Total Yards: 240 yards of total offense.
Kicking Wil Lutz
The real hero for Denver was kicker Wil Lutz, who had a perfect night going 4 for 4 on field goals:
- 24-yard field goal (Q1)
- 26-yard field goal (Q3)
- 41-yard field goal (Q4)
- 23-yard field goal (Q4)
Lutz scored 12 of Denver’s 19 points all by himself. Without him, this game would have looked very different.
Defense
Denver’s defense was outstanding. Here are the highlights:
- 4 sacks on the Chargers’ quarterback
- 1 interception returned for a touchdown
- 8 QB hits
- 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
- 3 three-and-outs forced
- 2 fourth-down stops
The Broncos made life very hard for the Chargers’ passing game all night long.
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Los Angeles Chargers Key Player Stats
Offense
The Chargers had a very tough night moving the ball.
Passing: The Chargers attempted 44 passes but completed only 20, a completion rate of just 45.5%. They threw for 136 yards, had 1 interception, and were sacked 4 times for a loss of 32 yards. The passer rating was a very low 43.4.
Rushing: The running backs actually ran okay, 21 carries for 113 yards, with an average of 5.4 yards per carry and a longest run of 22 yards. But they never got into the red zone, with zero rushing attempts inside the 20-yard line.
Total Yards: 217 yards. The Chargers were just 2 points less in total yards, but their turnovers and red zone failures made the score much worse.
Turnovers: 2 total, 1 interception and 1 lost fumble. Those two mistakes were very costly.
Kicking Cameron Dicker
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made his only field goal attempt, a 30-yarder late in the second quarter, to make it 10-3. That would be the only scoring play for Los Angeles all night.
Possession and Penalties
Denver dominated time of possession at 34:01 compared to the Chargers’ 25:59. This is a big reason why Denver won. When your offense holds the ball longer, the other team gets fewer chances to score.
The Chargers also hurt themselves with 5 penalties for 25 yards, while Denver had just 1 penalty for 5 yards. Penalties slow down drives and can kill momentum fast.
Why Denver Won and LA Lost
There were three main reasons Denver won this game:
- The pick-six in Q1. Giving up a defensive touchdown in the first quarter is hard to recover from. It changed the energy of the whole game.
- Wil Lutz was perfect. Four field goals from four attempts is very reliable kicking. Denver took every scoring chance they got.
- Denver’s defense dominated. Four sacks, eight QB hits, and constant pressure meant the Chargers’ quarterback had no time or comfort. A 45.5% completion rate shows how tough it was for Los Angeles.
5 Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Q1. What was the final score of the Broncos vs Chargers game on January 4, 2026?
The Denver Broncos won 19-3 over the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 18 NFL regular season game.
Q2. Who scored the pick-six in this game?
Denver’s J. McMillian intercepted a pass from the Chargers’ quarterback and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Q3. How many field goals did Wil Lutz kick for Denver?
Wil Lutz was perfect, making 4 out of 4 field goals, from 24, 26, 41, and 23 yards. He scored 12 of Denver’s 19 points.
Q4. How many sacks did Denver’s defense get?
The Broncos recorded 4 sacks on the night, making it very hard for the Chargers to pass the ball effectively.
Q5. What was the Chargers’ total passing yards in this game?
The Los Angeles Chargers threw for just 136 yards on 20 completions from 44 attempts, with a poor passer rating of 43.4.
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