Broncos start strong, but blow a late lead and fail to clinch a playoff berth in a tough defeat

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Denver Broncos had an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter Thursday night as they closed in on a win that would punch their team's tickets back to the playoffs after an eight-year absence.

Just about everything fell apart from there in the Los Angeles Chargers' 34-27 comeback victory.

After getting outscored 21-6 in the second half, the stunned Broncos (9-6) were left to wait another week before they get their second shot to clinch their first trip to the postseason since winning all in the 2015-16 season.

The wait is extra-long after a Thursday game — but it was already going to be an uncomfortable holiday break for the Broncos, who were stung by their inability to finish at SoFi Stadium.

“I just feel like the frustration comes from the fact that we knew we could have won this game, and we started the way we knew that we wanted to,” linebacker Jonathon Cooper said. “We just didn’t finish the way we wanted to. ... Everybody is hurt. It’s a tough loss, a very tough loss. But we’ve just got to learn from it and come back next week stronger and focus on getting our 10th win.”

The Broncos appeared to be headed for a blowout win late in the first half, and blame for their second-half flop could be assigned to the offense and the defense — or even special teams, which gave up three points on the NFL's first successful fair-catch kick in 48 years to end the first half.

Denver drove for 219 yards and three touchdowns on its first three drives, but managed only 136 yards and two field goals the rest of the night. The Broncos converted their first three third downs, but went 2 of 10 from there.

Bo Nix passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns in a steady performance, but the passing game couldn't make up for the Broncos managing only 46 yards rushing in the final three quarters.

The Broncos sacked Justin Herbert twice, adding to their league-leading sacks total, but the elusive quarterback went 11 of 16 for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Los Angeles made three touchdown drives of at least 70 yards in the second half, repeatedly breaking down the Broncos' normally stout defense with a running game that had been nonexistent earlier.

Coach Sean Payton hid neither his disappointment nor his confidence after watching his team's dismantling by Jim Harbaugh's Chargers.

“It was disappointing because there was a lot at stake, and we know that,” Payton said. “We had a fast start. I was encouraged by that, and then uncharacteristically this season, we didn’t finish or play nearly well enough in the second half, both offensively and defensively. Time of possession. The third-down numbers. Our rushing numbers fell off in the second half. Credit Los Angeles for fighting their way back in, and we didn’t make enough plays in the end. So we go from there.”

The Broncos can still wrap up a playoff berth with one more victory, but they missed their first chance to end the longest playoff drought for a franchise following a Super Bowl victory. The Broncos also were swept by the Chargers in the season series for the first time since 2010.

They visit Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, for a game that could be vital for the Bengals' currently faint playoff hopes. Denver's season finale is at home against defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City.

“We can’t allow ourselves to relax throughout quarters,” Broncos safety Patrick Surtain II said. “I think today was definitely a moment where we realized that we let that one get away towards the end of the second half.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Denver Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (31) runs back with an intercepted pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton yells from the sideline during the second half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) celebrates after his touchdown catch during the first half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Teenager Sam Konstas has been called up to the Australia squad for the final two matches of the Australia-India test series at the expense of Nathan McSweeney.

Konstas was on Friday included in Australia’s 15-player squad for the remainder of the series against India, with paceman Jhye Richardson the other new face replacing injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas would become the fourth-youngest test debutant in Australian history if selected for the Boxing Day test in Melbourne starting Dec. 26, and youngest since current captain Pat Cummins in 2011.

The series is level 1—1 after the rain-affected draw ending Wednesday at the Gabba in Brisbane. India won the first test by 295 runs at Perth, while Australia came back to win the second day-night test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.

“Sam gets a call up to the test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further,” chief selector George Bailey said.

Konstas’ inclusion has pushed McSweeney out of the frame after both he and fellow opener Usman Khawaja misfired across the first three tests against India. Neither made a score above 40 this series.

South Australia captain McSweeney had never opened in a first-class match before his first three appearances for Australia.

Bailey said it was “a tough call” to drop McSweeney after only three tests but felt the top-order’s struggles had left selectors little choice but to make a change. He said Konstas was no guarantee to start the Melbourne test.

"Just given the way that the series has played out, we just want the option of throwing something different at India for this next test,” Bailey said. “It’s clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for both teams.”

Paceman Scott Boland is expected to be called into the XI to replace Hazlewood at the MCG, where he took six wickets for the loss of only seven runs in the second innings of his test debut three years ago.

The 35-year-old Boland most recently filled in for Hazlewood when a side strain forced Hazlewood out of the second test in Adelaide, where Boland took five wickets in his first test appearance in 18 months.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Beau Webster.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Scott Boland celebrates the dismissal of India's Virat Kohli during the day two of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's captain Pat Cummins appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Mohammed Siraj during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)

Australia's captain Pat Cummins bowls a delivery during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)