The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 19–3 on January 4, 2026, in Week 18. Bo Nix passed for 141 yards, while Trey Lance had 136 passing yards and one interception. Lance also led the Chargers with 69 rushing yards. Keenan Allen had seven catches for 36 yards, and Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 45 yards for Denver’s only touchdown.
Key Takeaways
- Denver beat Los Angeles 19–3 at Empower Field at Mile High.
- Bo Nix finished with 141 passing yards, 49 rushing yards and no interceptions.
- Trey Lance recorded 136 passing yards, 69 rushing yards, one interception and one lost fumble.
- Keenan Allen led the Chargers with 7 receptions for 36 yards.
- Ja’Quan McMillian scored the game’s only touchdown on a 45-yard pick-six.
- Denver’s defense recorded four sacks and two takeaways.
Chargers vs Broncos: Final Score and Game Overview
The latest completed Chargers vs. Denver Broncos matchup took place on January 4, 2026, during Week 18 of the 2025 NFL regular season. Denver entered the game at 13–3 and needed a victory to secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed, while Los Angeles had already clinched a playoff spot.
The Broncos won 19–3, controlling the game with defense, field position and a mistake-free performance from quarterback Bo Nix. Denver scored 10 points in the first quarter, then added three in the third and six in the fourth. Los Angeles managed only a second-quarter field goal.
The unusual part of the matchup was Los Angeles’ lineup. The Chargers rested several important starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James Jr. and linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, as the team prepared for the playoffs. Trey Lance therefore made the start at quarterback.
Chargers vs Broncos Match Player Stats
Here is a quick look at the major individual numbers from the game:
| Player | Team | Passing | Rushing | Receiving |
| Trey Lance | Chargers | 20/44, 136 yds, 1 INT | 9-69 | — |
| Bo Nix | Broncos | 14/23, 141 yds | 8-49 | — |
| Jaret Patterson | Chargers | — | 8-29 | 3-8 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | Broncos | — | 6-41 | 1-17 |
| Keenan Allen | Chargers | — | — | 7-36 |
| Evan Engram | Broncos | — | — | 3-45 |
| Pat Bryant | Broncos | — | — | 4-31 |
The statistics show a low-scoring game in which neither quarterback threw a touchdown pass. Denver’s biggest advantage came from protecting the football and forcing Chargers mistakes.
Quarterback Stats
Trey Lance completed 20 of 44 passes for 136 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed nine times for 69 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. His 22-yard run was the longest rush by either team.
Bo Nix completed 14 of 23 passes for 141 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. He added 49 rushing yards on eight attempts. His 22-yard scramble helped Denver maintain possession and field position during the opening drive.
Chargers Player Stats
Trey Lance
Lance was the Chargers’ leading rusher and passer, but the passing game struggled against Denver’s defense. He finished with a 43.4 passer rating, was sacked four times and lost a fumble. The interception became one of the most important plays of the game because it was returned for a touchdown.
The pressure was constant enough to make it difficult for Los Angeles to build sustained drives. Denver’s defense finished with four sacks and limited the Chargers to only 217 total yards.
Keenan Allen and the Receiving Corps
Keenan Allen led Los Angeles in receptions, catching 7 of 13 targets for 36 yards. Tre’ Harris added two catches for 28 yards, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had two receptions for 24 yards. Oronde Gadsden II contributed two catches for 23 yards.
No Chargers receiver scored a touchdown. The offense also struggled to create explosive plays, with Denver’s secondary keeping most of the passing production in short and intermediate areas.
Chargers Rushing Attack
Lance led the Chargers’ ground game with 69 yards. Jaret Patterson followed with 29 yards on eight carries, while Kimani Vidal added 12 yards on three attempts and Hassan Haskins had three yards on one carry.
As a team, Los Angeles rushed for 113 yards on 21 attempts, an average of 5.4 yards per carry. The rushing efficiency was respectable, but the Chargers could not turn that production into touchdowns or sustained scoring drives.
Broncos Player Stats
Bo Nix
Nix was not spectacular through the air, but he protected the football and made enough plays to keep Denver in control. His final line was 14 completions on 23 attempts for 141 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards.
His performance was enough because Denver’s defense repeatedly stopped Los Angeles. Nix did not need to throw aggressively with the Broncos protecting a lead and controlling possession.
Jaleel McLaughlin and RJ Harvey
Jaleel McLaughlin produced the Broncos’ best rushing average among their main backs. He carried six times for 41 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, including a 10-yard gain.
RJ Harvey received more carries, running 15 times for 28 yards. Nix actually led Denver in rushing with 49 yards, showing how much his scrambling contributed to the Broncos’ offensive production.
Evan Engram and Broncos Receivers
Evan Engram was Denver’s leading receiver with 3 catches for 45 yards, including a 37-yard reception. Pat Bryant added four catches for 31 yards, while Jaleel McLaughlin caught one pass for 17 yards.
Denver’s passing attack did not produce a touchdown, but it generated enough yardage to support the team’s field-goal-heavy scoring approach.
Defensive Player Stats
Ja’Quan McMillian
Ja’Quan McMillian was arguably the most important individual player of the game. He recorded six tackles, two passes defended and one interception, returning that interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
His pick-six came in the first quarter after a pass from Lance bounced off KeAndre Lambert-Smith. McMillian took advantage of the deflection and ran untouched into the end zone, giving Denver a 10–0 lead.
Nik Bonitto and Denver’s Pass Rush
Denver’s pass rush finished with four sacks. Nik Bonitto recorded 1.5 sacks, including a strip-sack that helped create another Chargers turnover. He finished the regular season with 14 sacks, a career high.
Eyioma Uwazurike added one sack, Zach Allen had half a sack, and Justin Strnad recorded one sack. The pressure made Lance uncomfortable throughout the afternoon.
Chargers Defensive Leaders
Tony Jefferson led Los Angeles with eight tackles, while Marlowe Wax and Del’Shawn Phillips each recorded seven. Phillips also had one sack, and Justin Eboigbe recorded two sacks.
The Chargers defense held Denver to only 240 total yards and no offensive touchdowns. However, the defense could not overcome the two turnovers and limited offensive support.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Statistic | Chargers | Broncos |
| Final score | 3 | 19 |
| Total yards | 217 | 240 |
| Passing yards | 104* | 124* |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 116 |
| First downs | 13 | 13 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks | 4 allowed | 4 made |
| Time of possession | 25:59 | 34:01 |
*Team passing totals exclude sack yardage, while individual quarterback passing totals are reported separately.
One of the clearest differences was time of possession. Denver held the ball for roughly 34 minutes, compared with about 26 minutes for Los Angeles. The Broncos also finished without a turnover, while the Chargers gave the ball away twice.
Why the Broncos Won
The biggest reason was Denver’s defense. The Broncos forced two turnovers, scored a touchdown directly from one of them and recorded four sacks. Those plays produced points while also repeatedly ending Chargers possessions.
Denver’s offense was far from explosive. The Broncos scored four field goals from Wil Lutz and did not score an offensive touchdown. Lutz was perfect, going 4-for-4, with a long of 41 yards.
That was enough because the Broncos avoided mistakes and controlled the clock. The Chargers, meanwhile, were playing several backups, which made offensive consistency more difficult.
How This Game Compared With the Earlier 2025 Meeting
The Chargers and Broncos also met on September 21, 2025, when Los Angeles won 23–20 at SoFi Stadium. That game looked very different statistically. Justin Herbert threw for 300 yards and one touchdown, while Bo Nix passed for 153 yards and one touchdown.
Omarion Hampton rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown for Los Angeles, while J.K. Dobbins ran for 83 yards and a touchdown for Denver. Keenan Allen had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Courtland Sutton produced six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The contrast helps explain why the Week 18 statistics should be viewed in context. The September matchup featured both teams using their regular offensive starters, while the January game was heavily influenced by Los Angeles resting key players before the playoffs.
FAQs
Who won the Chargers vs Broncos game?
The Denver Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 19–3 on January 4, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High. The victory secured Denver’s No. 1 seed in the AFC.
How many yards did Trey Lance have?
Trey Lance passed for 136 yards on 20-of-44 passing with one interception. He also rushed nine times for 69 yards, making him the Chargers’ leading rusher.
How many yards did Bo Nix have?
Bo Nix passed for 141 yards on 14-of-23 passing, with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards on eight attempts.
Who led the Chargers in receiving?
Keenan Allen led the Chargers with seven receptions for 36 yards on 13 targets.
Who scored the only touchdown?
Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian scored the only touchdown, returning a Trey Lance interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Why didn’t Justin Herbert play?
The Chargers had already secured a playoff position, so they rested several key starters ahead of the postseason. Trey Lance started at quarterback instead of Herbert. Derwin James Jr. and Tuli Tuipulotu were among other important players who did not play.
Conclusion
The Chargers vs Denver Broncos match player stats from Week 18 tell the story of a defense-driven Denver victory.
The Broncos won 19–3 despite producing no offensive touchdowns, relying on four field goals from Wil Lutz and a 45-yard pick-six from Ja’Quan McMillian.
Bo Nix finished with 141 passing yards and 49 rushing yards, while Trey Lance recorded 136 passing yards and 69 rushing yards. Keenan Allen led Los Angeles in receiving, while Denver’s defense dominated the key moments with four sacks and two takeaways.
The result also needs context: Los Angeles rested several starters, including Justin Herbert, because the Chargers were preparing for the playoffs. Denver took advantage, secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and entered the postseason with home-field advantage.
