DENVER — The Broncos are set to wear their Sunset Orange jerseys for a home matchup with the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.
Denver will pair the jerseys with white pants and orange socks. The Broncos will wear their navy metallic satin helmets with the orange-and-white uniform combination.
This will mark the second time this season that the Broncos will pair their Sunset Orange jerseys with white pants, but the team will debut its orange socks. Denver previously wore this uniform combination with white socks during the team’s Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Denver previously announced its uniform schedule, and the Broncos will wear their Sunset Orange jerseys again in Week 11 before wearing their Midnight Navy alternate jerseys with white helmets for their ensuing home matchup in Week 13.
Denver will announce the corresponding pant color ahead of each game.
The Broncos kick off against the Panthers at 2:25 p.m. MT on Sunday.
The Denver Broncos are very much in the thick of things in the AFC playoff picture as the NFL rapidly approaches the midway point of the 2024 season. At 4-3 Denver has nearly surpassed the team’s season win total projection from Vegas (5.5) and are quite obviously over performing compared to national expectations entering this year.
While Denver is competing for a playoff spot, it does appear the organization is still operating under the impression of a competitive rebuild season. Playing so many young players and saddled with the largest dead cap hit in the NFL, Denver could make the playoffs this season, but the reality is that this team is likely still a few iterations away from competing for championships.
With that perspective, it makes sense for the Broncos to be sellers as much as buyers as the November 5th trade deadline approaches. Denver should not take calls on players the organization views as long-term building block pieces, but players who could be on the move as free agents come this offseason? The Broncos should at least pick up the phone.
One of the players who fits this bill is third-year Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones. The Athletic’s Michael Silver reported earlier last week that the San Francisco 49ers are looking to add talent on their defensive line prior to the trade deadline. Given the NFC West is open for the taking this season, San Francisco is still very much in the thick of things despite sitting last in the division at 3-4.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini also added further information on the 49ers search for beefing up their interior defensive line naming Jones, a former 49ers standout, as a potential trade candidate the 49ers might covet.
“Two other former San Francisco players, defensive tackles DeForest Buckner (Colts) and D.J. Jones (Broncos), have been discussed internally by team decision-makers but I don’t get the sense Indy or Denver are open to moving either player,” Russini Wrote.
Jones is having a resurgent year in Denver after a disappointing campaign in 2023. Jones is a shorter, squattier player than your average two gapping interior player at 6’1” 320-pounds with limited length. Howenver, he is playing well off of Denver’s other interior players Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, and John Franklin-Myers in a more gap pressing attack oriented front under the blitz centric Vance Joseph defense.
Given Denver’s run defense is arguably the worst aspect of what is shaping up to be one of the premier defenses in the NFL this season, why would the Broncos even consider shipping Jones?
Jones is in the last year of his contract in Denver and will be 30 years old this offseason. There is a chance he could be retained, but with other areas of the roster needing addressed as well, Jones could very well walk. Given Denver is currently set to have the 10th most cap space in the league this upcoming offseason, the Broncos are unlikely to be awarded a compensatory pick for letting Jones walk. The Broncos will likely spend on an equivalent contract or more on a free agent, canceling out any possible compensatory pick for Denver.
As Russini stated in her article, the Broncos are likely unwilling to move on from Jones. It’s hard to imagine the team getting a substantial return on a 29-year-old run-stopping interior plug that would make the loss from him on the defense this season worthwhile.
Any move like the swapping of mid to late day 3 picks is not as valuable as just keeping Jones in his current role. If the 49ers were willing to give up a 4th round selection or send back a Day 2 pick in exchange for Jones and an early Day 3 pick from Denver, then perhaps Denver could play ball, but that seems unlikely.
If the Broncos were to move on from Jones, then expect a larger dose of former 4th-round pick Eiyoma Uwazurike. After missing the entirety of 2023 due to a gambling suspension, the Broncos have kept him around and have praised him when given the opportunity.
There does seem to be internal optimism surrounding Uwazurike becoming a serviceable player at some point in the near future, and a Jones departure would accelerate that opportunity.
The Broncos are not likely to take away from the strength of their team and hamper their playoff pursuit by moving off from extremely useful defensive line piece DJ Jones. He has had a very good season on the team’s most improved unit and is a key cog to the run defense.
Removing him could have a domino effect on the entire unit that is surviving miniscule investment at the inside linebacker position due to the strength of the secondary in man coverage and a deep rotation of defensive linemen.
Jones may not be a part of the Broncos the next time this team is truly in championship contention given his age and this being the last year of his contract, but that doesn’t mean the team should just give him up for little return.
If the 49ers are willing to give a valuable draft pick in return, then Denver should be interested. But anything less, and it’s just simply better to keep him for a 2024 playoff run and re-evaluate whether or not the team should retain him this offseason.
The number of Latina reporters in the NFL is fairly limited but has been on the rise in recent years.
In Denver, despite the Denver Broncos’ rich history with a diverse fan base, the organization has never had a Latina team reporter. That was until this season when they hired Los Angeles native Elisa Hernandez.
Elisa Hernandez, Denver Broncos team reporter .
CBS
Over the years, the team has actively engaged Latino fans through outreach programs, community events and celebrations of Hispanic heritage.
The organization hosted its Vamos Broncos event during Sunday’s home game, a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium.
As the Broncos’ relationship with Latino fans grows steadily, bringing on a voice like Hernandez contributes to the team’s vibrant culture.
However, you should know Hernandez is more than meets the eye.
“It feels surreal,” Hernandez told CBS Colorado.
Hernandez grew up as one of four children in Los Angeles, at times helping her father clean apartments to make ends meet. “I never saw it as anything bad,” she recalled.
Her parents immigrated from El Salvador to the U.S. during the Salvadoran Civil War, and although she was born in California, she understands their journey wasn’t easy.
Sports, however, were what truly brought her family together. Growing up in the “City of Angels” in the late 1990s, Hernandez followed the Denver Broncos, since Los Angeles didn’t have an NFL team at the time.
“Being able to do what I love for the team that I’ve loved since I was a little kid is pretty special,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez’s path to her dream job as a team reporter for the Broncos wasn’t facile. After graduating from USC, she noticed many of her peers landing on-camera jobs right away. “I didn’t get discouraged,” she said.
Instead, Hernandez focused on learning the industry’s behind-the-scenes aspects. “I think my first job at the NFL was a ticker operator,” she explained, reminiscing about the job. “You know, the scrolling text at the bottom of TV screens that provide scores and weather updates,” she laughed.
Despite taking a different path, Hernandez understood one thing: Getting her foot in the door was key.
“Regardless of what happens, you just have to get your foot in the door and work your way up to create opportunities for yourself,” she added.
And that’s exactly what she did, working for nearly every sports team in Los Angeles and all the networks. Her resume extends from NFL Network to Telemundo Deportes.
Most recently, Hernandez served as an in-arena host for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.
“I hosted the first Salvadoran night at Dodger Stadium, which was a big accomplishment for me,” Hernandez said. “That representation matters. Seeing little brown girls there, watching me on the Jumbotron, and hearing our slang — it impacts them because they see themselves in me!”
For Hernandez, spreading her knowledge of her culture is essential. However, as a first-generation Salvadoran, she aims to pave the way for others like her — breaking barriers and becoming the Broncos’ first ever Salvadoran team reporter.
“I think being able to have this platform, I do it for them. They are my why. My family is my why. Representing my country, heritage and culture is important.”
On the night the Saints honored quarterback Drew Brees, the quarterback whom Sean Payton hopes to groom into a player on Brees’s level matched a mark set by John Elway more than 40 years ago.
With four wins in seven starts, Bo Nix tied the Broncos’ franchise record for most wins by a rookie quarterback in a season. Drew Lock reached that mark in 2019.
“It means a lot,” Nix told reporters after the 33-10 victory over the Saints. “You’re talking about one of the greats to ever do it at our organization. It means a lot. You’re in great company. I am not finished. We have a lot in front of us, so I definitely don’t want to stop there. We are going to continue to get better as a team. I am going to continue to grow and learn as a player. Hopefully, we will continue to have wins like this.”
In 1983, Elway got his fourth win in Week 15, finishing the season with a record of 4-7 as a starter. Lock went 4-1 in five starts, five years ago.
Nix has 10 chances left to pass Elway and Lock. The question at this point isn’t whether he will; the question is how far will he separate from them?
Up next, the Panthers. Which will give Nix a great chance to get to his fifth win. (After that, things get a little harder, with games against the Ravens, Chiefs, and Falcons.)
After starting 0-2, the Broncos have won four of five games. A stifling defense has helped. But Nix has shown improvement. He completed 16 of 26 passes last night, for 164 yards. He also gained 75 yards on the ground, on 10 attempts.
He’s got a long way to go to perform like Brees as a very. However, Nix is already winning like Elway as a rookie. And it can only get better from here as the Broncos force themselves into the playoff race in the AFC.
Zachary And Carissa J.: If you aren’t a Broncos or Saints fan and are still watching this then it’s time to look in the mirror.
Saints fan Dale F.: Welp I was wrong. They did throttle us like Tampa did. Guess I’m stuck wearing orange to my Colorado in-laws at Christmas after all—probably should have waited until after Week 3 to make that bet haha.
Steven M.: I said it on draft night: everyone was so focused on Atlanta picking Penix that nobody talked about how bad the Nix pick was.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix led the Denver Broncos to a 33-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.
The former Oregon Duck reached a major rookie milestone on an emotional evening as Denver coach Sean Payton played his first game in the Superdome as an opposing head coach. Payton coached in New Orleans for 16 years and aided in the rebuild from Hurricane Katrina.
Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Nix has led the Broncos to a 4-3 record, their best record after seven games since the 2016 season. With those four wins, Nix tied the Broncos’ franchise record for most wins by a rookie quarterback in a season. Former Denver quarterback Drew Lock also reached that record in 2019. While NFL legend John Elway got his fourth win in Week 15 during the 1983 season. Elway’s rookie season was rough, finishing with a 4-7 record as a starter.
“It means a lot,” Nix said after the win in the Superdome. “You’re talking about one of the greats to ever do it at our organization. It means a lot. You’re in great company. I am not finished. We have a lot in front of us, so I definitely don’t want to stop there.”
Nix has a chance to get his fifth win, and surpass both Lock and Elway, next Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
The Saints also started a rookie at quarterback, Spencer Rattler, who New Orleans drafted with the 150th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Against the Saints, Nix started off clunky for the Broncos’ first drive on offense. After rushing for two first downs for Denver, Nix threw three incompletions. Two of those incompletions were an overthrow (to tight end Lucas Krull) and underthrow (to former Duck wide receiver Troy Franklin) by Nix, with two wide open receivers unable to catch his passes.
After this drive is when Denver began to rely more on Nix’s legs and short passes instead of long targets downfield. The next two offensive drives for Denver ended in field goals. Javonte Williams punched in Denver’s first rushing touchdown during the Broncos’ first drive of the second quarter. Heading into the half with another field goal under their belt, the Broncos had the Saints shut down 16-0.
Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton greets New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) after the Broncos defeated the Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images / Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
During the last drive of the half, Nix did attempt a few deep balls that didn’t connect, but for the most part, Nix stuck to a formula of pass-offs for rushing attempts, quarterback keepers, and short passes. Nix went 13-of-21 passing for 134 yards that half, and further showing his biggest asset is his mobility in the run game. Nix had zero turnovers and zero sacks going into the lockerroom.
Also, a quick shoutout to Denver Bronco and fellow former Duck, Alex Forsyth. The former star center and leader of the Ducks from 2017-2022 worked his way up to the Broncos’ starting center position. During the game vs. the Saints, Forsyth shined, giving Nix extra room in the pocket and enforcing more rushing opportunities for the Broncos. The Broncos averaged 6.4 yards per carry against the Saints. Forsyth is also a huge contributor to Nix not seeing turf for a sack this game.
Coming out of the half, the Broncos picked up another field goal and then touchdown in the third quarter before going scoreless through the fourth. With a little less than seven minutes in the third quarter and on a third down, Nix kept the ball for a 33-yard run for a first down which was essential for keeping the Broncos’ drive alive and was one of his best plays of the game. The analysts for the broadcast compared Nix to Taysom Hill after the play. That run ended in the only touchdown the Broncos scored in the second half.
Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) scrambles out the pocket against New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Overall, Nix ended the contest with 16-26 (61.5%) for 164 yards on passing. He went 75 yards for ten rushing attempts. He ended the game with zero interceptions and no sacks thanks to his offensive line and athleticism moving out of the pocket for rushing attempts.
Though with rookie growing pains, Nix is helping lead the Broncos with coach Sean Payton to a 4-3 record, potentially setting up the Broncos for a playoff run down the line. As long as Nix can stay healthy and not get too banged up when hitting the ground game, it should be interesting to see how this former Duck continues to develop as the first rookie captain for the Broncos in over 50 years.
The Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, October 27, at home at 1:25pm PST.
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Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix, the 12th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Football fans: It’s time to kick back and relax with some Thursday Night Football as the Denver Broncos (3-3) face the New Orleans Saints (2-4) tonight at the Caesars Superdome.
The Los Angeles Chargers put an end to the Broncos’ 3-game win streak on Sunday, Oct. 13, with their 23-16 victory. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton called it a “disappointing loss.”
“They ran the ball better than we did. We mustered up some offense late in the game. All of this starts with me. We have to be better offensively. We have to protect the ball better. That is what I saw. We will go from there. We have a short week,” said Payton, adding that the team will have to learn from the game and move forward.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Broncos vs. Saints NFL game tonight.
Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans game tonight
The Denver Broncos vs. the New Orleans Saints NFL Week 7 game will be played on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT). The game will air on Amazon Prime Video.
The Broncos are favored (2.5-point) to defeat the Saints, CBS Sports reports, citing SportsLine. Saints Quarterback Derek Carr is listed as doubtful for Thursday night’s game as he recovers from a left oblique strain he suffered during an Oct. 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
How to stream the Denver Broncos vs. New Orleans game
If you’re a Thursday Night Football fan, then you’ll want to get an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Stream Thursday Night Football only on Amazon Prime Video
You can catch tonight’s game on Amazon Prime Video. Live coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon became the exclusive carrier of Thursday Night Football in September 2022. This season, they’re continuing as host through Week 17.
Amazon Prime is $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. In addition to NFL football, Prime members will get two-day shipping, member-exclusive Prime Day deals, and expedited shipping on Prime Deals. Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month.
“Prime Video delivers best-in-class pregame, halftime, and postgame shows, alternate streams such as Prime Vision, as well as fan-favorite interactive features like X-Ray, Next Gen Stats powered by AWS and Rapid Recap,” the company states online.
Check out Amazon’s new football fan shop
Are you looking to rep your favorite NFL team this fall? Shopping for licensed NFL gear online has never been easier with Amazon’s new NFL Fan Shop. You can shop by team, yes, that includes the Broncos and Saints.
There are plenty of other things to shop on Amazon, including these must-see deals on TVs – perfect for watching the big games this fall!
Watch your favorite sports events with Sling TV
Reminder: Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football through Week 17.
Not everyone has a cable TV subscription, but there are plenty of options that allow you to watch some of your favorite sporting events throughout the year. If you don’t have a cable TV subscription that includes NFL Network, you may want to consider getting a subscription to Sling TV.
To watch the NFL Network on Sling TV, you’ll need a subscription to at least the Orange tier ($20 for your first month). That consists of 35 channels, including 8 exclusive sports and family channels. But you can only stream on one device at a time.
However, we recommend leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall. The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a half-off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30.
If you’re not sure which package to pick, you can always head over to Sling TV’s website and choose “compare plans” to ensure you’re getting access to all of the channels you need. You can create an account in just three steps. You can also prepay to save even more money.
Top features of Sling TV Orange & Blue + Sports Extra plan:
According to Sling, this deal offers “the most football on Sling for the best price”
It includes NFL Network and RedZone as well as NBC, FOX and ABC in select markets
There are 55 channels to watch and 20 channels listed as sports extras, which includes the Big Network
You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at a lower price
It’s easy to sign up and there are no long-term contracts required
DENVER — After briefly leaving in the first quarter of Sunday’s win against the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that he has atrial flutter, a type of arrhythmia that causes the heart to beat at an abnormally high rate, and that a flare-up made him seek medical attention.
Harbaugh went to the locker room, where paramedics treated him. He had an electrocardiogram scan, and eventually, they got his heart back to a normal rhythm. Harbaugh returned later in the first quarter and coached the remainder of the game.
He said he has had a flare-up in a game before. He said that in 2012, when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers in a game against the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football,” he felt an irregular heartbeat but finished coaching the game and saw doctors afterward.
Doctors weren’t able to get Harbaugh’s heart back to a regular rhythm, so he had an ablation, which is a procedure that uses heat or cold to destroy heart tissue that is causing an irregular heartbeat. Harbaugh said he also had an ablation in 1999.
“2-0 with an arrhythmia,” Harbaugh joked.
While he was out, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was the interim head coach, but many players didn’t even know that Harbaugh was absent during the game or that he had an issue with his heart.
Quarterback Justin Herbert found out when a reporter asked him about the situation during his postgame news conference.
“He’s tough,” Herbert said. “He did a really good job of hiding that then because I was unaware of it. They did a good job of keeping calm. I hope he’s OK. Is he all right?”
Harbaugh said he felt discomfort Saturday night but didn’t think much of it. Then during pregame warmups, he realized his heart was beating irregularly, and he eventually notified the training staff in the first quarter. He didn’t say whether he would have another ablation but noted that the timing of his others is on par with having one now.
“I haven’t felt it since 2012,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, it hasn’t happened, but the one in ’99, 13 years later, I had to have the procedure done again, and so I figured I was getting close to the 13-year mark. I was going to need another one at some point.”
Harbaugh’s brother John, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, was in the middle of his news conference after the Ravens’ win over the Washington Commanders but ended it abruptly to check on Jim. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz reached out to John to let him know that doctors had cleared Jim and he was OK.
The Chargers beat the Broncos 23-16 to improve to 3-2.
Denver’s defense, meanwhile, allowed just three points in the second half and came up with stops on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos a chance.
“It’s not easy looking at the scoreboard and seeing the deficit,” Nix said. “I thought on the sideline our guys continued to battle. Despite the situation, despite maybe missing another opportunity or getting off the field again and you have restart. It’s tough, but I think that’s our team. I think that’s what kind of team we have. We have a very determined and hard-working team. We’re able to get down and continue to fight. Not every game is going to be easy. We’re not going to blow every team out. Sometimes you get knocked down early, [and] you’ve got to find a way to gut it out at the end.
“The fact that we gave ourselves a chance there at the end to have another opportunity says a lot about our team. I’m excited about this team. I know today wasn’t what we wanted, but I feel like we’re headed in the right direction with how we finished the game. You can’t normally take moral victories after a loss. It’s tough. Nobody likes to lose. Nobody wants to be on that side, but you can look at it and you can only go two ways. You can continue to go backwards, let it defeat you, let it crush you, and you get in your head, or you’re going to continue to move forward. I believe our team is going to continue to move forward [and] stay motivated. Today didn’t settle well with us. We’re going to continue to battle, find ways to get better, and continue to put good stuff on the field.”
Though the Broncos cut into the deficit in the second half, Denver could not fully overcome the Chargers’ 20-0 halftime lead.
Los Angeles scored on all four of its first-half possessions, excluding an end-of-half kneeldown, while the Broncos turned the ball over twice and were held scoreless.
The Chargers held the ball for more than 21 minutes in the first half and scored 10 points off turnovers over the first two frames.
On third down, Los Angeles held a decided advantage. The Chargers were 8-of-10 on third down in the first half — including several long conversions — while Denver was 2-of-6 on third down. Los Angeles was 11-of-15 on third down through three quarters, while the Broncos were 2-of-8.
Justin Herbert, who had not thrown for more than 179 yards this season, exceeded that total in the first half and finished the game with 237 yards.
The Broncos’ challenge on defense was made more difficult, as Pat Surtain II exited the game on Denver’s first defensive possession. After the game, Payton said Surtain was in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Nix, meanwhile, threw an interception on the first possession of the game and finished the first half 3-of-10 for 22 yards. Nix’s biggest completion of the first half was a final-minute 46-yarder to Courtland Sutton that likely would have set up Denver’s first points of the game, but a holding call wiped out the gain.
“We have to go back and watch it,” Nix said. “We didn’t run enough plays consecutively to get into a rhythm. It was a few plays, and you were off the field. In a game like that where you know they’re going to control the ball, you have to find ways to stay on the field.”
Before that moment, Denver’s most promising drive came with the team trailing 13-0. After picking up a pair of first downs to the Los Angeles 45-yard line, Javonte Williams lost a fumble that set up the Chargers’ final touchdown of the half.
The deficit, ultimately, was too much for the Broncos to overcome.
“We have to quickly put this one to bed,” Payton said. “We cannot forget it, but we have to learn from it.”
Jim Harbaugh listened to his heart when he began to feel a little bit off in pregame warmups.
The Los Angeles Chargers coach went into the medical tent and then to the locker room in the first quarter Sunday to get checked out for an irregular heartbeat. An EKG showed his heart was back in normal rhythm and he returned to the sideline with his team already up 3-0.
His team didn’t miss a beat in a 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos. In fact, his quarterback, Justin Herbert, didn’t even know he wasn’t on the sideline. His brother sure did, as Baltimore coach John Harbaugh cut short his postgame news conference after a win over Washington to check in on his brother.
“Everything ended up turning out to be OK,” said Jim Harbaugh, who received IV fluids. “The doctors checked me out, and it got back into normal rhythm. So came back.
“It’s the heart so you take it seriously.”
For quite a while, Harbaugh said he’s dealt with atrial flutter, a condition that can cause the heart to beat too quickly. He had an ablation procedure in 1999 to treat the irregular heart rhythms. He also had another one in 2012 when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers. He vividly remembers that procedure because it was after a Monday night game where Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 32-7 win over the Chicago Bears.
Harbaugh said he hadn’t really experienced another episode until this weekend.
“I started feeling it last night, but wasn’t really sure,” Harbaugh said. “Just like in 2012, it was during the pregame warmups — I kind of started feeling.”
Harbaugh tried to interject some humor — “2-0 in arrhythmias,” he cracked.
Herbert was caught off guard by the news that his coach had left the sideline — or that anything was amiss. Although, he said Harbaugh mentioned something about his health Saturday night.
“He said he was really excited for the game. He said his blood was flowing and he was excited,” said Herbert, who completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. “I thought everything was good to go. That’s definitely something he should get checked out. He’s a tough guy, though.”
Harbaugh said that when he was in the locker room, the medical staff took his pulse and conducted an EKG.
“Trust the doctors. If you’re not going to trust your doctors, who are you gonna trust?” he said. “Came back in to the locker room, and the paramedics came, got an EKG and said it was back to the sinus (normal) rhythm, and I said, ‘I feel good.’ I went back out there on the field.”
Harbaugh plans to follow up with his cardiologist on Monday.
When he left the sideline as the game started, the Chargers described his absence as an illness. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took over until Harbaugh returned midway through the first quarter with the Chargers ahead 3-0 and driving toward another score. The Chargers jumped out to a 23-0 lead in the second half before the Broncos made a late surge.
“It was a great and glorious win for the team,” Harbaugh said. “Really proud of our team, pleased. They’re playing good football, offense, defense and special teams, four quarters of it.
