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Broncos vs. Chargers score and live updates: Michael Burton’s TD puts Denver back in front on NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’
Denver (9-5) and Los Angeles (8-6) enter a Thursday Night Football divisional matchup in possession of the final two wild card spots in the AFC
Michael Charles, Michael Dominski, Lukas Weese and more
20 December 2024 at 3:01 GMT+1
Broncos vs. Chargers score and live updates: Michael Burton’s TD puts Denver back in front on NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’
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3 New Updates
KC Joyner
9m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Total points betting odds now above 50
The betting public had anticipated a somewhat low scoring game tonight, as the over/under was at 41.5 points at the opening kickoff.
With the Chargers and Broncos both showing plenty of offensive life tonight, that number has now moved up notably. The total points mark is now 51.5 points in live in-game betting at BetMGM.
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Michael Charles
10m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Broncos score again!
Q2 12:17 Broncos 14, Chargers 7
Two drives, two touchdowns for Denver to open the night.
Back-to-back completions to Cortland Sutton puts the Broncos within striking distance of the end zone.
After a 9-yard rush from Estime and a short completion to Marvin Mims Jr., Denver has a first-and-goal from the Chargers 1-yard line.
Nix rolls out off play action and finds the wide-open fullback Michael Burton for the touchdown.
Extra point by Lutz is good.
Bo to Burton for another @Broncos TD!#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LGbaUrBkU2
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024
Michael Charles
17m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
End of first quarter
End of first quarter
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End of Q1 Broncos 7, Chargers 7
After a minimal gain and an incompletion, the Broncos face a third-and-9. The pocket completely gives out around Nix but the rookie quarterback evades the rush, throws a pump fake and scrambles for 10 yards to move the chains.
Two plays later, Denver gets another first down as Blake Watson rushes for two yards on second-and-1.
Nix then hits Devaughn Vele for a gain of 15 yards and yet another fresh set of downs. The Broncos will have a first-and-10 from the Chargers 33-yard line to begin the second quarter.
KC Joyner
23m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Gus Edwards trending towards first double-digit fantasy point total
Gus Edwards trending towards first double-digit fantasy point total
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Gus Edwards has been dismal in fantasy football this year. He doesn’t lack for work and yet his season high in PPR points was a 9.6-point total against Kansas City in Week 14.
Edwards may be on his way to finally breaking out of that scoring slump. His rushing touchdown gives Gus the Bus 8.8 points on the night. He only needs 1.2 more PPR points to finally generate a 10+ point game this season.
24m ago
Daniel Popper
Staff Writer, Chargers
Running game provides spark for Chargers
The Chargers found a spark offensively with what had been a struggling run game. Rookie Kimani Vidal ripped off a 19-yard run to move the Chargers into Denver territory. Gus Edwards also had four carries on the drive, including a physical one-yard touchdown run. Edwards is running with more power tonight than he has in recent games. The Chargers have 31 rushing yards already. They had 32 all game in last week’s loss the Bucs.
KC Joyner
25m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Audric Estime has great fantasy scoring start
Audric Estime has great fantasy scoring start
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Audric Estime had longshot fantasy scoring value tonight due to the Jaleel McLaughlin injury. Estime has already lived up to that potential with a touchdown run that gives him 7.2 PPR points on the evening. If he continues to get the goal line carries and splits the Broncos running back work with Javonte Williams, Estime may end up with a lot more than 10 PPR points tonight.
Michael Charles
26m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Gus Edwards touchdown
Q1 3:09 Broncos 7, Chargers 7
After three first downs led the Chargers into Broncos territory, Los Angeles faces a third-and-2.
Justin Herbert fires downfield and connects with Joshua Palmer for a gain of 24 yards to the Denver 3-yard line.
Two plays later, Gus Edwards punches it in from a yard out and we’re tied in Los Angeles.
Extra point by Cameron Dicker is good.
The Gus Bus gets SIX#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GpsqZkBaQY
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024
Michael Charles
36m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Touchdown Broncos!
Q1 7:34 Broncos 7, Chargers 0
The Broncos just marched down the field on their first possession of the night, capping the drive off with a 3-yard touchdown run from Audric Estime.
The extra point by Will Lutz is good.
The @Broncos open the scoring with an Audric Estime TD!#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GGilCjO15H
— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024
Michael Charles
40m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Broncos driving
Q1 10:18 Broncos 0, Chargers 0
On third-and-2, Javonte Williams grabs a handoff and rushes up the middle for 15 yards into Chargers territory.
The very next play, Bo Nix hits tight end Nate Adkins for a catch and run of 13 yards.
Michael Charles
45m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Chargers go three-and-out
Q1 13:37 Broncos 0, Chargers 0
On third-and-3, the Chargers run a toss to Derius Davis. He is swamped behind the line for a loss of three yards and Los Angeles is forced to punt.
Denver begins at their own 28-yard line.
Michael Charles
48m ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Kickoff!
Q1 15:00 Broncos 0, Chargers 0
The Broncos won the toss and chose to defer. The Chargers will begin at their own 30-yard line.
51m ago
Nick Kosmider
Staff Writer, Broncos
Eyes on the backfield rotation
Eyes on the backfield rotation
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One of the interesting subplots of tonight’s game is how the Broncos deal with the absence of running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who is out due a quad injury he suffered in Sunday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts.
McLaughlin is the team’s second-leading rusher this season (388 yards), but he has paced the team in rushing since Week 6. He rushed for a career-best 84 yards in a Week 13 win against the Cleveland Browns. His absence means Javonte Williams and Audric Estimé are the top two active running backs, but the team also promoted undrafted rookie Blake Watson from the practice squad.
This could set up as a big opportunity for Estimé, who had 14 carries for 53 yards in Week 10 against the Chiefs but has had only 17 attempts combined (56 yards) in the four games since. Williams is the team’s best pass protector, which is a major reason he continues to lead the running back room in total snaps. But he has struggled to make an impact in the running game. He has only 14 rushing yards on 18 carries across the past three games and has averaged only 2.8 yards per carry overall since Week 8.
Sean Payton has said often this season that it’s not easy to split carries evenly among three running backs. Estimé (46 carries this season) has typically been the odd man out behind McLaughlin (87) and Williams (130), but on Thursday he’ll be part of a two-man rotation that Payton says is much easier to manage.
The Chargers have given up more than 200 yards rushing yard in two of their last four games, including during Sunday’s 40-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a bruise the Broncos need to keep hitting, and it may be Estimé’s turn to be the battering ram.
KC Joyner
53m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Last minute point spread shift
The point spread in the Broncos-Chargers game was set at Los Angeles -2.5 in the hours leading up to the game. That just changed in the minutes prior to the opening kickoff. Los Angeles is now listed at -2 points in pregame betting at BetMGM.
KC Joyner
54m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Javonte Williams may have flex fantasy value tonight
Javonte Williams has been a fantasy sit candidate ever since the Broncos switched to a running back by committee that split carries between Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. With McLaughlin out tonight, tonight’s backfield split should be a platoon between Williams and Estime.
That could generate flex value for Williams given the matchup. Since Week 12, Los Angeles ranks 25th in fantasy points allowed per game on planned rushing plays (19.0, per TruMedia). That provides a case for Williams to be a flex in some leagues and possibly opens the door for Estime to be a longshot flex in deeper leagues.
KC Joyner
56m ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
Betting odds suggest Chargers will operate platoon setup
Betting odds suggest Chargers will operate platoon setup
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The Chargers have been shifting their backfield workload away from Gus Edwards to Kimani Vidal of late. The betting odds in tonight’s game suggest that will continue.
Edwards has an over/under of 9.5 rush attempts, with the over at -140 odds (per BetMGM). Vidal has an over/under of 7.5 rush attempts, with the over at -110 odds and the under at -120 odds.
That leans towards Edwards getting a slightly larger carry volume, but overall it indicates a platoon setup is expected.
59m ago
Daniel Popper
Staff Writer, Chargers
Can Chargers bounce back tonight?
Can Chargers bounce back tonight?
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How does do the Chargers respond to their worst performance of the season last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? The Chargers gave up over 500 yards and 40 points to Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense. They could not defend the run. They did not tackle well at any level. They were leaky in pass defense. It was first time under coordinator Jesse Minter that the Chargers really let a game get away from them. The offense did not score in the second half, as the season-long inconsistencies continued. The Chargers struggled to run the ball. They struggled to defend against Todd Bowles’ various blitz packages. Coach Jim Harbaugh and his players have talked about a culture of resiliency. But the Chargers have not really faced adversity like this on the season. They had really been competitive in every game they played. They got blown out by the Bucs. How the the Chargers come back from an embarrassing home loss will reveal the truth about what Harbaugh is actually building in Los Angeles. As defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said this week, “It can be a one-off if we respond the right way. If we don’t, then it becomes a trend.”
Michael Charles
1h ago
Michael Charles
Live Reporter
Ladd McConkey looks to extend fantasy scoring streak
Ladd McConkey looks to extend fantasy scoring streak
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Ladd McConkey has scored 14+ PPR points in four straight games. That pace is the fourth longest current streak of that nature among wide receivers. If McConkey scores 14+ PPR points tonight, he will be tied with Ja’Marr Chase for third place in this category, behind Jerry Jeudy and Puka Nacua, who both have current six-game streaks.
1h ago
Daniel Popper
Staff Writer, Chargers
Chargers need to pressure Nix
Chargers need to pressure Nix
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One glaring element missing from the Chargers’ defensive performance last week was their pass rush. The Chargers pressured Mayfield on just 15.6 percent of their pass rush snaps. It was their second-lowest pressure rate of the season, according to TruMedia, and it showed on film. The edge rushers were supposed to be the engine of this defense. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa were non-factors against Tampa. The Chargers must have a bounce-back game rushing the passer tonight. The Broncos have a vastly improved passing offense since the last time they played the Chargers in Week 6. Even amid that improvement, quarterback Bo Nix has not been efficient when pressured. Since Week 7, Nix ranks 25th in expected points added per dropback when pressured, according to TruMedia. The Chargers have to affect Nix and they have to keep him contained to the pocket. This is a big game for the Chargers’ pass rush, against a Broncos pass-protection unit that has the second-lowest pressure rate allowed since Wee 7, according to TruMedia.
KC Joyner
1h ago
KC Joyner
Contributor, NFL & Fantasy
No player with minus betting odds in anytime touchdown wager
No player with minus betting odds in anytime touchdown wager
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The Denver-Los Angeles Chargers game has its share of playmakers but the betting odds on this game suggest that no one has a 50 percent or greater chance of scoring a touchdown.
That’s what a minus odds wager in the anytime touchdown category indicates. No players in tonight’s game land in the minus odds territory. Here are the top five.
Gus Edwards: +140
Ladd McConkey: +155
Javonte Williams: +175
Courtland Sutton: +180
Quentin Johnston: +260
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