ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In a tough turn of events for Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos faltered in a critical moment, allowing the Los Angeles Chargers to not only seize momentum but also to achieve the NFL’s first successful fair-catch kick in nearly half a century.

Cameron Dicker’s 57-yard field goal played a pivotal role in the Chargers’ 34-27 triumph on Thursday night, breaking the Broncos’ four-game winning streak and thwarting their chances of securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2015. The game took a significant turn just before halftime when Tremon Smith collided with punt returner Derius Davis at the Chargers’ 38-yard line, resulting in a costly 15-yard penalty that positioned Dicker for the historic field goal attempt.

“This is just a dumb penalty,” Smith lamented afterward. The foul advanced the ball past midfield, setting up the league’s first successful fair-catch kick since Ray Wersching achieved the same for the San Diego Chargers 48 years ago. Dicker’s kick reduced the Broncos’ lead to eight and ignited a 24-6 scoring surge from the Chargers, who completed a season sweep of Denver for the first time since 2010.

Payton expressed his disappointment with the situation, stating, “The penalty put them in field goal position.” Furthermore, he critiqued his own decision-making during the latter moments of the first half that led to the Chargers’ unconventional scoring opportunity. Following a strong start in the first half, where the Broncos had built a 21-10 lead after scoring touchdowns on their first three drives, Payton’s strategy faltered. Instead of running down the clock with his team in possession at their own 18-yard line with 41 seconds to go, he opted for two passing plays to running back Javonte Williams, one of which lost yards, burning 24 seconds off the clock.

With just 17 seconds left, a third down attempted run left the clock running as the Chargers’ coach took a timeout with only 8 seconds remaining. A subsequent penalty on Smith provided Los Angeles with an untimed down, leading to Dicker’s rare fair-catch kick attempt.

“We were looking to be more conservative, given that we were going to receive the ball after halftime,” Payton added. However, the momentum did not shift back to the Broncos after halftime. Despite holding a 24-13 lead midway through the third quarter, the Broncos struggled defensively as the Chargers scored three touchdowns in the latter part of the game, denying the Broncos a comfortable playoff path.

“The fast start gave us hope, but we couldn’t maintain that performance in the second half,” Payton stated. Denver had looked promising at the game’s start but fell short in both offensive and defensive play during critical moments.

Although the Broncos still hold an 86% probability of making the playoffs, they now face a critical stretch in their final games against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals followed by a season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. There is now time for the team to reflect on their missed opportunity.

Regarding positives, the Denver defense remained strong, leading the NFL with 51 sacks, including two Thursday from inside linebacker Drew Sanders and outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman. However, the Broncos’ ground game also showed vulnerabilities, posting an initial strong performance of 53 yards on their first drive, but faltering later.

For individual highlights, wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who was recognized as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, had a notable 53-yard reception. He also drew a controversial penalty on a deep pass, although the referees did not call it.

“It’s tough to argue with the ref after they ruled it was good timing,” Mims commented. “At the end of the day, I can only focus on my play.” On the other hand, Smith reflected on his penalty, indicating that he was experienced enough to know the fair-catch kick rule and expressed regret over the mistake.

Injury-wise, the Broncos were without running back Jaleel McLaughlin due to a thigh issue.

Looking ahead, the Broncos are set to clash with the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, as they continue their pursuit of a playoff berth amidst continuing challenges.