Chargers at Broncos second quarter recap

The Los Angeles Chargers opened the second quarter facing a fourth and short at the Denver Broncos 25-yard line, but Dre’Mont Jones exploded through the line to stuff the ball carrier short of the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs.

The first first down for the Broncos came on their next drive when Drew Lock fired a bullet to Jerry Jeudy over the middle who snatched the ball out of the air out to the 41-yard line.

That would be the only positive play of that drive as the Broncos would be punting it back to the Chargers three plays later.

After a booming punt from Sam Martin, KJ Hill turned the corner for a 30-yard return out to the Chargers 41-yard line.

Josey Jewell continued to make up for giving up that big run, making back to back tackles. However, the Chargers did get the first down on that second tackle. From the Broncos 48-yard line, the Chargers stalled out. Josey Jewell again broke up a pass on second down and then Kareem Jackson broke up the third down pass to force the punt.

After an incompletion, Lock found Noah Fant underneath who turned it upfield for a first down to help avoid another three and out for Denver.

Lock went deep to Jerry Jeudy on the next play, but overthrew him. The Broncos ended up getting a first down completion on second down, but Garett Bolles was called for his second penalty of the game. Fortunately, the holding call was negated by a hands to the face call on the Chargers.

The drive would stall from there to bring out the punt unit again for Denver.

With time of possession tilting heavily in the Chargers favor thanks to sustained drives and lack of three and outs that Denver’s offense was racking up in the first half, they got a drive going with less than give minutes to go in the first half.

It wasn’t long before they found themselves in a first and goal situation. From the 8 yard line, Shelby Harris broke through the line for a huge tackle for a loss at the two minute warning to push the Chargers back to the 15 yard line.

On second and goal, Herbert hits a receive on a crossing route for a quick six yard gain to the Broncos nine yard line. Keenan Allen got open in the end zone and caught the pass to put the Chargers up 7-3 late in the first half.

On first down with 1:48 left in the half, Lock hit Naoh Fant for a six yard gain then threw a terrible in the dirt pass to Phillip Lindsay who was open for the first down. On third and four, the Broncos predictably failed to convert. Lock never looked past his first read and was nearly intercepted.

The quick three and out gave the Chargers a chance to build on their lead with just under 90 seconds left in the half and three timeouts.

Josey Jewell committed an illegal contact penalty which would negate a DeMarcus Walker sack. Justin Jackson would take the next handoff 20 yards to the 46-yard line. They made it across midfield and into field goal range from there.

With 35 seconds left, Herbert goes deep to Mike Williams who got Michael Ojemudia turned around to give the Chargers a first and goal at the two yard line. They would punch it in from there for an easy 14-3 lead at halftime.

The Chargers would get the ball first to start the second half.