(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The final NFL regular season game in Week 18 had the perfect “kick-off” time in terms of the good news that the Los Angeles Chargers had earned the 5th seed in the “Super Wild Card” playoffs this Saturday, 1/14. This was all due to the Baltimore Ravens (27-16) loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that was in the books before the start of their finale with the Denver Broncos on the road. They will now face the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8).

Let’s now go to our game summary and give you a brief recap.

–Brief Game Summary–

[1st Half]: It was a very active offensive show by both teams as they battled to a (17-17) tie by the end of the period. The time of possession barely favored the Broncos as the numbers showed (15:17) for them, compared to (14:43) for the Chargers. Both scored in the opening period, when at the (11:17) mark, QB/Justin Herbert connected with Keenan Allen on a 14 yard TD pass. Kicker, Cameron Dicker added the PAT. The scoring drive took 8 plays, covering 85 yards in (3:43) of time. (7-0) Bolts.

The Broncos put up their tally with a RB/Latavius Murray 2 yard run at the (3:55) mark, with Brandon McManus making good on the PAT. The score  moved to (7-7).

Both teams would then trade a TD and a field goal each before the half ended. The Chargers posted up their points on a 3 yard TD pass to Gerald Everett from Herbert with (10:57) left and that was followed by Dicker field goal from 48 yards out at the (00:26) mark for their total of 17 points. The Broncos got on the board with a Brandon McManus field goal from 33 yards at (2:43) and was followed by a 3 yard TD pass from Russell Wilson to Eric Tomlinson with only (00:06) seconds left. Both kickers made good on their points after touchdown. Score was tied at 17 all, as both teams went into their locker rooms.

[HALFTIME SCORE]: Chargers  17  Broncos  17

[2nd Half]: The Broncos scored at the (11:42) mark when Wilson found Tyler Badie open and he scored on a 24 yard TD pass. The Chargers could only muster another field goal from Dicker, this time from 36 yards out, and it came with (6:42) left in the 3rd period.

The Broncos went into the final stanza and once again, early in the frame, scored at the (11:15) marker when Wilson hit WR/Courtland Sutton for a 20 yard scoring toss. The Chargers managed to score one more time at the (6:02) mark when reserve QB/Chase Daniel, subbing in for Herbert, found Allen open for a 3 yard TD reception. They went for the 2 point conversion and succeeded on a Daniel pass to receiver, Joshua Palmer, closing the margin to (31-28) for the final score on the board.

[FINAL SCORE]: Broncos  31  Chargers 28

[OF SIGNIFICANCE]: Chargers stand-out WR/Michael Williams was removed from the game after sustaining an injury and did not return. He is being determined as “hopeful” to play on Saturday as news reports on his condition have so indicated at the time of this writing.

[NEXT UP]: At Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8), Saturday, January 14th in the Super Wild Card Weekend game. Kick-off is set for 5:15 PM/(PT). To watch, go to NBC. To listen, tune in to Chargers radio. It will be “streamed” on the Chargers app.

FYI….Chargers postgame press conferences are live streamed on the Chargers website and app (turn on notifications to receive updates on when the press conferences start). Press conferences are also available on demand following the “Live Stream” on the website, app and on YouTube.