LA Chargers: Positive standouts from Week 8 loss to Denver Broncos

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers hands the ball off to teammate Troymaine Pope #35 as they take on the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of the game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 01, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers hands the ball off to teammate Troymaine Pope #35 as they take on the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of the game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 01, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – LA Chargers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – LA Chargers

3. Michael Badgley

There were some other players that I considered for this third spot. Rayshawn Jenkins actually had his best game of the season and his first interception of the season but him leaving his assignment on the last play of the game is what lost the game, so I passed on him.

That is the kind of game it was for the Chargers. In far as standouts go, we have to look at the kicker.

Now, Michael Badgley has not done enough to earn our full trust and certainly has not earned the right to be called the Money Badger again. But to be fair to him, this was the kind of performance that can lead to a bounce-back season and that is exactly what the young kicker needs.

Badgley made everything on Sunday and if he didn’t then this game would have looked a lot uglier than it really was. He was not just making chip shots, though, he was making legitimate field goals in big spots.

Badgley went 3-3 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points in this game. Badgley made a 52-yarder, a 47-yarder to put the team up 10 and a 33-yarder to put the team up by six with two and a half minutes remaining.

That last kick was a big one and made the Broncos score a touchdown and make the extra-point. Of course, it did not even end up mattering, but that last drive would have been completely different if he misses that field goal.

Heck, actually, maybe instead of going for it on fourth and four the Broncos would have taken the tie and the LA Chargers would have won in overtime… oh well (I am joking).

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