Chargers 29, Broncos 24
Ryan Mathews rushed for a career-high 125 yards as the visiting San Diego Chargers spoiled Denver quarterback Tim Tebow’s first extended action of the season and held on for a 29-24 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.
Denver reached the San Diego 29 with 1 second left before Tebow scrambled for several seconds and threw incomplete in the end zone.
Tebow, who replaced Kyle Orton to start the second half, capped a four-play, 51-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run as the Broncos closed to 26-18 with 6:42 to go.
After a Philip Rivers fumble, Tebow hit Knowshon Moreno with a 28-yard screen pass for a touchdown with 3:30 left, but Brandon Lloyd could not hold on to Tebow’s pass on the two-point conversion attempt.
Rivers improved to 9-2 as a starter against the Broncos and helped the Chargers (4-1) to their third straight victory in Denver. His 42-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd with 12 seconds left in the first half gave the Chargers a 23-10 lead.
Nick Novak kicked a career-high five field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder to put San Diego on top 26-10 early in the fourth quarter. He is 11 for 11 this season after taking over for the injured Nate Kaeding.
Orton was 6 of 13 for 34 yards with an interception. Orton and Rivers, who also threw an interception, lead the NFL with seven apiece.
The sellout crowd at Mile High Stadium roared its approval as Tebow took the field, but were quieted quickly after a three-and-out. Tebow’s first three drives resulted in 23 yards rushing and one first down.
Willis McGahee had 125 yards rushing for the Broncos (1-4) and had a two-point conversion run following Tebow’s touchdown.
Tebow finished 4 of 10 for 79 yards and ran six times for 38 yards.