Here are the heroes and zeros from Denver’s 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Heroes
Ja’Quan McMillian: The Broncos second-year cornerback is special. Seemingly every week, he makes a big play. In the first quarter, McMillian was like a speeding bullet off the edge as he sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He almost had a strip sack that was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter but the officials ruled the ball incomplete. Still, the play forced Los Angeles to punt. No one predicted McMillian would be one of the Broncos’ best defensive backs. But that’s the reality we are living in right now.
Jonathon Cooper: Denver’s outside linebacker gave his team the jumpstart it needed. With 5:07 to go in the first quarter, edge rusher Baron Browning tipped Herbert’s pass at Los Angeles’ 12-yard line before Cooper picked it off. Right after the turnover, running back Javonte Williams scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown and the Broncos never looked back.
Courtland Sutton: It’s too easy for the Broncos wide receiver. In the third quarter, Sutton added another insane highlight reel catch to his resume when he caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson with one-hand. Making the grab even more impressive: defensive back Michael Davis was draped all over him. No matter, he made the touchdown grab with ease.
Zeros
Brandon Staley: What was the Chargers’ head coach thinking? Los Angeles had two chances to kick a field goal but the team decided to go for it on fourth down and failed on both attempts. The Chargers were in the red zone after Wilson’s interception in the first quarter but Herbert’s fourth down pass to tight end Gerald Everett fell incomplete. Los Angeles faced a fourth-and-2 from Denver’s 29 yard line in the second when Herbert threw another incomplete pass. All told, the Chargers finished 1 of 6 on fourth down. Just take the points, coach.
Jerry Jeudy: The Broncos wide receiver had a second quarter to forget. First, Wilson threw a deep pass to Jeudy, who spun around multiple times before dropping the ball near the sideline. Later, Wilson targeted Jeudy down the field but he couldn’t make the catch with cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. in coverage. With 17 seconds left in the half, Jeudy’s 5-yard touchdown catch was overturned because he couldn’t get two feet inbounds. After Wilson missed Jeudy a few times last week against the Texans, the former Alabama star was targeted six times on Sunday and finished with just two catches for 16 yards.
Fabian Moreau: Denver’s veteran cornerback has been solid this season, but in the fourth quarter, he got burnt by wide receiver Quentin Johnston on a 57-yard reception. A few plays later, Los Angeles scored on a rushing touchdown from running back Austin Ekeler.
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