Week 5
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
October 11, 2026
SoFi Stadium
AFC West Rivalry
Broncos–Chargers
AFL originals, AFC West neighbors
A charter AFL rivalry that has been played continuously since 1960, with both teams sharing the AFC West throughout their history. It is defined less by hostility than by a long ledger of tight, one-score games and dramatic finishes.
The Rivalry
The Broncos and Chargers met in the AFL's inaugural 1960 season and have been division rivals ever since. The Chargers — then a powerhouse — won the first ten meetings before Denver finally broke through in 1962. The Broncos turned the tables as the league matured, including a seven-game winning streak from 1975 to 1978. The rivalry sharpened in the 1980s as both clubs became AFC contenders, and it has since produced a steady stream of close finishes. The franchises have met just once in the postseason, a 2013 AFC Divisional game Denver won 24-17 — Peyton Manning's first playoff victory in a Broncos uniform. Across the decades the series has stayed competitive, with a large share of games decided by a single score.
What's at Stake
Division placement is always on the line, since the Broncos and Chargers share the AFC West and meet twice a season. The geographic angle is unusual: the Chargers have called both San Diego and Los Angeles home, so the rivalry has crossed cities while the divisional stakes stayed constant. For fans, the appeal is the matchup's history of nerve-wracking, late-deciding games.
Famous Moments
- 1985 — Denver's Dennis Smith blocked back-to-back field goal tries, one returned for a touchdown, in an overtime win.
- 2008 — A disputed officiating ruling helped Denver to a 39-38 win.
- 2012 — The Broncos rallied from a 24-0 halftime hole to beat the Chargers 35-24.
- 2014 — Denver beat San Diego 24-17 in an AFC Divisional playoff, the only postseason meeting.
- 2019 — Brandon McManus hit a 53-yard field goal as time expired to win it for Denver.
The Broncos–Chargers Games in 2026
The Two Teams
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Empower Field at Mile High · Denver
The Broncos have won three Super Bowls and hold one of the NFL’s longest home-sellout streaks.
AFC West
Los Angeles Chargers
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood
Founded in 1960, the Chargers spent decades in San Diego before returning to Los Angeles in 2017.
Plan the Trip
This trip pairs altitude with sunshine. Denver hosts at Empower Field at Mile High, the roughly 76,000-seat home of three Super Bowl titles, with mountain views as a backdrop. The Chargers play in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, a state-of-the-art venue with a translucent roof. Combining a Mile High game with a Southern California stadium weekend gives traveling fans two very different NFL experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions: Broncos–Chargers
The two teams first met in 1960. A charter AFL rivalry that has been played continuously since 1960, with both teams sharing the AFC West throughout their history. It is defined less by hostility than by a long ledger of tight, one-score games and dramatic finishes.
Division placement is always on the line, since the Broncos and Chargers share the AFC West and meet twice a season. The geographic angle is unusual: the Chargers have called both San Diego and Los Angeles home, so the rivalry has crossed cities while the divisional stakes stayed constant. For fans, the appeal is the matchup's history of nerve-wracking, late-deciding games.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Denver Broncos host at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver; Los Angeles Chargers play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
