Justin Herbert rallies Chargers for 23-20 win over Broncos and 3-0 start

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Keenan Allen wasn't catching Justin Herbert's throws early. The veteran wide receiver made a play when it mattered most.

Herbert found Allen for a tying touchdown with 2:44 remaining and then led Los Angeles into position for Cameron Dicker's game-ending 43-yard field goal as the Chargers beat the Denver Broncos 23-20 on Sunday for their first 3-0 start since 2002.

“We got a bunch of playmakers out there and just enough time to get the ball off and never a doubt,” Herbert said. “Guys had complete faith in each other the entire time.”

After Herbert eluded the Broncos' pass rush by rolling left and connecting with Allen — who fought off Riley Morris in the end zone for the 20-yard score — Bo Nix and the Broncos (1-2) went three-and-out. That set up Herbert and the Chargers on their 32, and he went 4 of 4 on the final drive.

On the tying series, Herbert found Allen for an 11-yard gain on third-and-10, and Denver's Talanoa Hufanga was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty on Allen that put the Chargers at midfield.

Herbert then found Omarion Hampton for a 23-yard gain before he later hit Allen in the end zone.

“By the time I turned around and seen him, he was already running,” Allen said. “I did the spin myself trying to get to the back pylon and he just threw it up, gave me a chance one-on-one with the other guy and I was able to come down with it.”

Herbert was 28 of 47 for 300 yards with the TD and one interception. At 27 years, 195 days, he became the youngest NFL player to reach 2,000 career completions, surpassing Drew Bledsoe. Herbert did so in his 82nd career game, making him the second-fastest player to reach the mark.

“He’s a guy that can make any throw any way possible,” said Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection who reunited with Herbert and the Chargers after playing for Chicago last season. “Hats off to Herbo. He's the guy.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh's Chargers beat their third straight division rival after opening with wins over AFC West opponents Kansas City and Las Vegas.

“I don’t think I have the vocabulary to express how great I feel,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a signature win. It’s one that reveals your character. That all-out hustle from our guys from the first snap of the game to the end.”

Denver endured a last-second loss for the second straight week. A 15-yard penalty helped the Indianapolis Colts kick a winning 45-yard field goal in a 29-28 loss.

This time, the Broncos had 10 penalties for 90 yards. They managed just nine first downs and were 2 of 13 on third-down conversions.

“This was a hard-fought, close game,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “We got to get better fast. If we do, this'll be all right.”

Trailing 10-3, the Broncos engineered three scoring plays in 3 minutes, 40 seconds over the end of the second quarter and start of the third to take a 17-10 lead.

Nix found a wide-open Courtland Sutton for a 52-yard TD that capped a seven-play, 72-yard drive and pulled the Broncos within 10-7 with 38 seconds left before halftime. It was the first time Denver had crossed midfield and it came on a busted coverage by Chargers safety Alohi Gilman and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.

The Broncos struck quickly to open the third. J.K. Dobbins avoided multiple tacklers and scored on a 19-yard run up the left sideline, giving Denver its first lead at 14-10.

Wide receiver Derius Davis committed a costly fumble on the Chargers' next possession. JL Skinner recovered at the Chargers 30 and four plays later, the Broncos got a 42-yard field goal by Wil Lutz for a 17-10 lead.

The Chargers got a 32-yard field goal by Dicker on their first drive of the game and a 3-yard TD run by rookie Omarion Hampton to lead 10-3 with 1:53 left in the second.

Nix finished 14 of 23 for 153 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Allen and Hampton were the Chargers' top receivers. Allen had six catches for 58 yards and the tying TD. Hampton made six receptions for 59 yards while rushing for 70 yards on 19 carries.

“Man, what a game he had. He put that work in today,” Harbaugh said of Hampton. “He was running with purpose, always lunging forward, surging forward.”

The Chargers became the third team since realignment in 2002 to defeat division opponents in each of their first three games of a season, joining the Chicago Bears in 2006 and Minnesota Vikings in 2003.

Chargers: RB Najee Harris did not return after being hurt on a non-contact play in the second quarter. Harbaugh said Harris had an Achilles tendon injury and was getting imaging done. ... G Mekhi Becton is in concussion protocol after getting hurt in the second quarter.

Broncos: Host Cincinnati on Monday, Sept. 29.

Chargers: Visit the New York Giants next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) evades the tackle from Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kyle Kennard (54) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass during the first half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker (11) makes the game-winning field goal as time expires in an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) celebrates his touchdown catch during the second half an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Carrie Giordano)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell persistent protests against the federal officers sent to Minneapolis to enforce his administration's massive immigration crackdown.

The threat comes a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer who had been attacked with a shovel and broom handle. That shooting further heightened the fear and anger that has radiated across the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the rarely used federal law to deploy the U.S. military or federalize the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, over the objections of state governors.

“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State,” Trump said in social media post.

Presidents have indeed invoked the Insurrection Act more than two dozen times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to end unrest in Los Angeles. In that instance, local authorities had asked for the assistance.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison responded to Trump's post by saying he would challenge any deployment in court. He's already suing to try to stop the surge by the Department of Homeland Security, which says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December. ICE is a DHS agency.

In Minneapolis, smoke filled the streets Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and shooting fireworks.

Demonstrations have become common in Minneapolis since Good was fatally shot on Jan. 7. Agents who have yanked people from their cars and homes have been confronted by angry bystanders demanding they leave.

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Frey said the federal force — five times the size of the city’s 600-officer police force — has “invaded” Minneapolis, and that residents are scared and angry.

Homeland Security said in a statement that federal law enforcement officers on Wednesday stopped a driver from Venezuela who is in the U.S. illegally. The person drove off then crashed into a parked car before fleeing on foot, DHS said.

Officers caught up, then two other people arrived and the three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said. The confrontation took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from where Good was killed.

Police chief Brian O’Hara said the shot man was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury. The two others are in custody, DHS said. O’Hara's account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Earlier Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota said what's happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear: this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the bleeding, how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

Good was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street near her home. Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment.

Good’s family has hired the same law firm that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground 2020.

Madhani reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporters Bill Barrow in Atlanta; Julie Watson in San Diego; Rebecca Santana in Washington; Ed White in Detroit and Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis contributed.

A protester holds an umbrella as sparks fly from a flash bang deployed by law enforcement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Monica Travis shares an embrace while visiting a makeshift memorial for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A protester yells in front of law enforcement after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Protesters shout at law enforcement officers after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Law enforcement officers stand amid tear gas at the scene of a reported shooting Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)