Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers Match Player Stats On Oct 22, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 22, 2017

CARSON, Calif -- The Los Angeles Chargers blanked the Denver Broncos 21-0 to win their third straight game on Sunday and their first of the season after three losses at the StubHub Center.

Travis Benjamin had a 42-yard scoring reception and returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown to lead the Chargers. Philip Rivers added another touchdown pass to running back Austin Ekeler.

Denver, which has dropped three of its past four games, committed three turnovers as it was stifled by a stout Chargers defense. The Broncos (3-3) were dreadful on offense as the Chargers (3-4) won for the first time in Los Angeles since relocating from San Diego.

Denver entered the game with the NFL's longest active scoring streak at 394 games. The Broncos had not been shut out since Nov. 22, 1992.

Benjamin's key catch came in the fourth quarter.

Denver, trailing by two scores, was faced with a fourth-and-6 at the Los Angeles 31 early in the fourth quarter. But quarterback Trevor Siemian was chased from the pocket and his ill-advised pass was intercepted by Casey Hayward.

Rivers finished 15 of 26 for 183 yards and two touchdowns as he recorded his 100th career win.

Siemian completed 25 of 35 passes for 207 yards and an interception.

Rivers found rookie Ekeler on a 1-yard scoring pass for a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Ekeler took a quick swing pass to Rivers' left out of the backfield and entered the end zone untouched.

It was Ekeler's first touchdown reception and the fifth on a completion to a running back this season for Los Angeles. Melvin Gordon has the other four.

Rivers had two 19-yard receptions on the scoring drive, one to tight end Hunter Henry and the second to Keenan Allen, which set up Ekeler's score.

Benjamin, who struggled as a returner last season, brought the game's initial punt back 65 yards for a touchdown. After fielding the punt on a bounce, Benjamin zig-zagged twice and went in easily as the Chargers took a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Los Angeles had squandered a prime scoring opportunity on the previous series, having a fresh series at the Denver 1 when linebacker Jatavis Brown recovered a fumble after safety Adrian Phillips poked the ball away from Broncos tight end A.J. Derby. But Gordon was stymied on four straight running plays at the goal line.

NOTES: Broncos LB Von Miller recorded a sack in his fifth straight game, two off his career high. He has 79.5 sacks, eclipsing LB Karl Mecklenburg for No. 2 on the team's all-time list. ... WR Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) was inactive. ... Chargers RT Joe Barksdale (toe) was inactive and replaced by Michael Schofield. ... DT Corey Liuget (back) was out. ... LT Russell Okung, who was among NFL players to meet with NFL executives on Tuesday, raised his right fist during the national anthem.