Halftime speech by Derwin James could be key to a late-season push by the Chargers

If the Los Angeles Chargers are able to put together a late-season run and advance far in the playoffs, a big reason will be what Derwin James Jr. did at halftime Thursday night.

With the Chargers trailing the Denver Broncos 21-13 and playing their worst stretch of football this season, it was the seventh-year safety who addressed the team at halftime instead of coach Jim Harbaugh.

Whatever James said, his teammates took it to heart, rallying for a 34-27 victory and nearly wrapping up their second postseason appearance in three years.

“Derwin was great in the locker room at halftime," Harbaugh said. “The energy was high right from the beginning and it never wavered.”

James had many reasons to be miffed at halftime. The Chargers were outscored 48-13 in four quarters that included the second half against Tampa Bay and the first half against Denver.

Even worse, the defense had a stretch where it had allowed scores on 13 of 18 drives (including eight touchdowns) and forced only two punts in seven quarters.

“I feel like, as players, we need to take it upon ourselves. This is our team, too,” James said. “And I feel like, man, my message was simple. Man, it’s time for us to play ball. And I feel like, as a team, we just came out and did that. It was nothing rah, rah, rah. It was just: ‘It’s time to go, man. It’s time for us to play our best ball in December, January.’ I feel like we did that today.”

The Chargers got contributions from all three phases in the second half as they stopped a slide of three losses in four games.

Justin Herbert and the offense scored on three of their first four possessions in the second half. They got production from the running game, which had become nonexistent since J.K. Dobbins' knee injury, and Herbert made a great cross-body throw off his back foot to Derius Davis for a 19-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to put Los Angeles on top.

The defense held Denver to 107 yards in the second half after allowing 229 in the first.

Special teams started the rally on the final play of the first half when Cameron Dicker became the first kicker in 48 years to make a fair-catch kick, doing so from 57 yards.

“I feel like we showed that we can win in many different ways — whether it’s the defense, it’s the offense, special teams, in prime-time games — we’ve showed that and just want to keep that going," James said.

Los Angeles (9-6) has a 97% probability of making the playoffs, according to the NFL, and holds the sixth seed in the AFC after beating Denver. That would likely mean a trip to Pittsburgh or Baltimore for the wild-card round, but it beats the alternative of heading to Kansas City or Buffalo as the seventh seed.

The Chargers would lock down their second playoff trip in three years with losses Sunday by Indianapolis and Miami.

Los Angeles is on the road the final two weeks but will be favored against New England and Las Vegas.

According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Justin Herbert used play action on 17 of his 36 dropbacks against the Broncos, with the 47.2% rate being a career high. He was 12 of 15 for 155 yards and was sacked twice. Herbert is second in the league in passing yards on play action (1,339), trailing only Detroit's Jared Goff (1,539) going into Sunday's games.

After allowing only one touchdown on an opening drive in the first 12 games, the Chargers have given up two touchdowns and a field goal on the first possession in the last three games. Los Angeles also allowed touchdowns on the first three drives for the first time this season against the Broncos.

RB Gus Edwards had a season-high 68 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. His 43-yard run during the fourth quarter put the Chargers back in Broncos' territory and set the stage for Herbert's 34-yard touchdown pass to Hassan Haskins, which extended Los Angeles' lead to 34-24 and put the game out of reach.

C Bradley Bozeman allowed a season-high six quarterback pressures and also struggled in run blocking. The Chargers weren't able to get much on runs up the middle until Edwards' 43-yard gain in the fourth quarter.

S Marcus Maye (ankle) and LB Denzel Perryman (hamstring) were injured in the first half and did not return. RB J.K. Dobbins (knee) and S Alohi Gilman will be eligible to come off injured reserve next week.

12 — Fourth-quarter or overtime comeback wins by Herbert, which is the third most in the league since 2020.

40 — Yards needed by Ladd McConkey to become the first Chargers rookie receiver with 1,000 yards since Keenan Allen in 2013.

The Chargers get a mini bye before heading to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the second straight year to face the Patriots.

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

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) his pressured as he rolls out of the pocket during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis (12) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown reception during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (19) is tackled short of the goal line by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (5) catches the ball in the end zone for a two-point conversion during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins, left, celebrates his touchdown with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It’s perhaps Rio de Janeiro’s hardest trail, featuring one particularly daunting section requiring a perilous scramble that can cause hikers to freeze up with fright.

But this week, Ezequiel da Luz, a 40-year-old paraplegic, traversed jungle and surmounted rocks to reach Pedra da Gavea’s peak that towers over the Atlantic Ocean.

Da Luz had been waiting since 2021, and traveled more than 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) by bus from southern Brazil when his chance arrived to ascend with the assistance of an organization called the Inclusion Collective. Its volunteers on Dec. 18 surrounded and shouldered the weight of a specialized wheelchair, set inside a metal frame as they helped da Luz upward.

“What logistics!” da Luz exclaimed as their tightly packed throng helped him weave through one narrow stretch at the start of the trail.

Inclusion Collective started three years ago and has completed more than 50 hikes, 12 of which to Pedra da Gavea, plus others on less challenging trails, according to Bruna Souza, the group’s administrator. In da Luz's home city of Balneario Camboriu, he is a jiu-jitsu fighter and has competed internationally.

“We can show that if we have the will, inclusion can happen anywhere, not just where there’s a ramp,” she told The Associated Press along the trail. “It’s not just shopping centers you can go to; you can go to other places. It can be fun for everyone.”

Volunteers on Wednesday were mostly trail and climbing guides already familiar with the route. They were joined by hikers who encouraged da Luz during his eight-hour ascent, with 800 meters (2,600 feet) of elevation gain. At the infamously hair-raising section, called Carrasqueira, volunteers used a system of ropes to hoist his chair.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of accessibility, people helping,” said Adriele Neves, a 29-year-old hiker. “It’s beautiful work.”

With Carrasqueira conquered, it was straight on to the summit. As da Luz wheeled himself forward, waving a Brazilian flag in the air, volunteers and other hikers already atop the mountain erupted in applause.

“I didn’t know it had so many challenges, and so many obstacles,” he told the AP atop the mountain. “Today, to be up here on Pedra da Gavea, together with this group that promotes inclusion, is the fulfilment of a dream.”

Alas, the peak was shrouded in clouds, leaving Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema beach and iconic Two Brothers Hill hidden away. It seemed da Luz wouldn’t get to enjoy Pedra da Gavea’s majestic view.

But within mere minutes, the clouds parted and some sunlight filtered down from the heavens, maybe just for him.

“Even in this, God was generous,” da Luz said. “Look there, what an incredible view. What a marvelous vision!”

Volunteers with an organization that aims to increase accessibility in trails walk an inclusive route up Pedra da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)

Ezequiel da Luz, a para-athlete with an amputated leg and no movement in his lower limbs, smiles in a wheelchair as he is taken on an inclusive route at Pedra da Gavea, with an organization that aims to increase accessibility in trails, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)

Volunteers reach the top of Pedra da Gavea, during a project to increase accessibility in trails in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)

Ezequiel da Luz, a para-athlete with an amputated leg and no movement in his lower limbs, takes a selfie in a wheelchair as he is taken on an inclusive route up Pedra da Gavea with an organization that aims to increase accessibility in trails, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)

Volunteers with an organization that aims to increase accessibility in trails begin an inclusive walk up Pedra da Gavea, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)

Ezequiel da Luz, a para-athlete with an amputated leg and no movement in his lower limbs, celebrates reaching the top of Pedra da Gavea, with an organization that aims to increase accessibility in trails, in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucas Dumphreys)