The Los Angeles Chargers secured a 23-16 victory against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon in Denver, despite head coach Jim Harbaugh’s early absence due to health concerns. Just before the game commenced at Empower Field at Mile High, Harbaugh was seen entering the team’s medical tent for an examination. The exact nature of his ailment was initially unclear; however, the Chargers later confirmed that he was experiencing an illness and was questionable to return.
During Harbaugh’s absence, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stepped in as the interim head coach. Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s brother, John Harbaugh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, abruptly ended a press conference after learning about the situation in Denver to reach out to his brother.
Midway through the first quarter, Jim Harbaugh returned to the sidelines just in time to witness quarterback Justin Herbert connect with Kimani Vidal for a 38-yard touchdown, putting the Chargers ahead 10-0. Harbaugh later revealed to CBS that he had experienced an arrhythmia, specifically atrial flutter, a condition that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat rapidly. He mentioned that this was an ongoing issue for him and that he had experienced a similar episode during his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Following his return to the game, Harbaugh said he would have a follow-up appointment with doctors to assess the severity of his condition. This season marks his first with the Chargers after a successful stint at Michigan, where he won a national championship.
The Chargers began strong, scoring 23 unanswered points before the Broncos managed to get on the scoreboard. Justin Herbert completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown, while J.K. Dobbins rushed for 96 yards and scored on 25 carries. This victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Chargers and improved their season record to 3-2.
On the opposing side, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix finished 19 of 33 for 216 yards with two touchdown passes, both occurring in the fourth quarter. One of these touchdowns was a remarkable one-handed grab by Courtland Sutton in the back of the end zone. Despite their recent three-game winning streak, the Broncos now hold a record of 3-3 for the season.