Dustin Hopkins overcomes the 'pop' and the 'stabbing' soreness to kick Chargers to OT earn

At the conclude, they lifted him up, the guy who could scarcely stand on his personal.

The Chargers hoisted kicker Dustin Hopkins into the air just after he ignored the agony and lifted his workforce to a 19-16 additional time victory more than Denver at SoFi Stadium.

Playing with a hamstring he claimed he felt “pop” on a next-quarter additional position, Hopkins booted 4 area aims, like a 39-yarder practically eight minutes into the extra session.

“Before every single kick, you understood it was going to sense like an individual was stabbing you with a knife,” Hopkins claimed. “It was like, ‘All suitable. Let us do this.’ I was praying also. I was, ‘Lord, just be with me.’ The other section was, ‘Pain’s short term.’ I was just dedicated to swinging and dealing with pain following.”

Hopkins’ other prosperous kicks came from 37, 31 and 35 yards as he supplied substantially of the Chargers’ offense against a stout Broncos defense.

Justin Herbert failed to throw a touchdown move although amassing 238 yards on 57 makes an attempt (37 completions).

Hopkins’ winning kick was established up when rookie Ja’Sir Taylor caused a muffed punt that was recovered by fellow rookie Deane Leonard.

Right after Montrell Washington identified as for a fair catch, Taylor shoved blocker P.J. Locke into the return guy, leading to the ball to hit the turf. Leonard’s restoration gave the Chargers the ball at the Denver 28-garden line.

“Instead of just allowing him capture it, I made the decision to make a enjoy,” Taylor reported. “It’s anything we apply just about every working day.”

Requested if he was surprised Locke didn’t give Washington a lot more place, Taylor added: “He really should have moved out of the way. Thank God he did not.”

After the muff, the Chargers gained 9 yards on a Herbert go to Mike Williams, environment up Hopkins, who willingly gave up his health — and possibly the relaxation of his year — for his group.

“With no backup, I thought I’d be the ideal selection,” Hopkins claimed. “‘Hey, it hurts now. You’re about to make it worse.’ We’ll just figure it out on the again end.”

A victory spurred by special teams was rather a departure for the Chargers, who have dealt with substantial kicking-match troubles in recent seasons.

The Chargers’ Deane Leonard (33) recovers a punt muffed by the Broncos’ Montrell Washington (12) in additional time to set up the profitable rating.

(Robert Gauthier / VFAB)

They also gained after their defense rebounded from a shaky commence to dominate Denver and quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos’ last nine possessions made only two field objectives.

The Chargers developed a far more than 10-minute advantage in time of possession and ran 83 offensive plays to Denver’s 55.

Trailing 13-10 at halftime, the Chargers made it 13-13 with a industry-aim drive — capped by Hopkins’ 31-yarder — on their initial possession of the third quarter.

Soon after slipping powering 10- in the very first quarter, the Chargers dominated the ball in the second as they pulled even 10-10.

They went 82 yards in 15 performs — converting 3 third downs along the way — to rating their to start with touchdown on a 6-garden run by Austin Ekeler. The managing back again been given a boost throughout the objective line from heart Will Clapp and proper guard Zion Johnson.

The touchdown was the sixth in a few video games for Ekeler, who was scoreless in excess of the initial a few months of the time.

The Chargers then tied the score with a 14-play, 69-property march that ended with a 37-lawn subject objective by Hopkins.

Wounded Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins (6) grimaces just after creating a match-successful field goal in extra time. Montrell Washington, who muffed a punt to established up the kick, was as well late in his attempt to block the kick.

(Robert Gauthier / VFAB)

That drive was aided by two move interference calls on Denver cornerback Damarri Mathis. These infractions netted the Chargers 47 yards.

Following the Hopkins industry target, Denver took around at its own 25-garden line with 53 seconds remaining in the 50 percent.

Wilson moved the Broncos into subject-intention posture many thanks mainly to a 47-property completion to KJ Hamler, who ran earlier cornerback J.C. Jackson for the extended get.

A 27-garden discipline intention by Brandon McManus set Denver up 13-10 at halftime.

Jackson, a 2021 Professional Bowl player who has struggled in his to start with period with the Chargers, also was named for go interference in the to start with quarter, a penalty that gave Denver 21 yards.

Jackson, who signed a 5-calendar year offer that confirmed him $40 million and is well worth up to $82.5 million in March, was replaced by Michael Davis to commence the 2nd half.

The Chargers’ protection has been strike frequently with massive performs this year, a pattern that continued in the course of this video game.

The protection gave up 76 yards on consecutive snaps as the Broncos manufactured their initial touchdown late in the opening quarter.

Jerry Jeudy was in a position to split free from Asante Samuel Jr.’s coverage when Wilson eluded force to increase the initial play. Wilson then hit Jeudy, who raced for a 37-lawn pickup just after a skipped tackle by Samuel.

On the upcoming snap, the Chargers experienced a major breakdown in coverage, letting rookie restricted finish Greg Dulcich to operate free of charge for a 39-garden landing. Dulcich, a 3rd-spherical pick out of UCLA, was making his NFL debut.

The Broncos scored the game’s initial points on a 51-lawn area goal by McManus halfway through the opening quarter.

Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack was instrumental in stalling the Denver travel when he bullied via remaining deal with Calvin Anderson to sack Wilson for a 4-property loss.

The sack was Mack’s sixth of the year. He experienced six in 7 game titles last year for Chicago before missing the remainder of the calendar year because of a foot harm.

The Chargers performed devoid of Pro Bowl centre Corey Linsley, who has been working with an sickness since the stop of last 7 days. Clapp commenced in his position.

Broad receiver Keenan Allen also was unavailable as expected mainly because of a hamstring injury. Allen, who has missed the earlier five video games, appears to be on timetable to return Sunday when the Chargers play Seattle at SoFi Stadium.

Ideal tackle Trey Pipkins III began soon after staying listed as questionable due to the fact of a knee injury experienced in the Chargers’ Week 5 victory at Cleveland.