The Broncos — who would clinch a playoff spot with a win — dominated the first two quarters of Thursday night’s game against the Chargers and enter halftime with a 21-13 lead.

Denver scored three touchdowns on its first three possessions, with a sack on the fourth putting the club in a corner and eventually resulting in a punt.

But before that, rookie running back Audric Estime opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown. Bo Nix then connected with fullback Michael Burton for a 1-yard touchdown and hit fellow rookie Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard touchdown.

Los Angeles offset Estime’s touchdown with Gus Edwards’ 1-yard score to make the score 7-7 late in the first quarter. But after Burton’s touchdown, the Chargers settled for a 37-yard field goal to make it 14:10. Vele’s touchdown increased Denver’s lead to 21-10.

The Chargers got deep into Denver territory on a two-minute drive. But while Justin Herbert was searching for Joshua Palmer in the end zone, he threw an interception to cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine to keep Los Angeles off the field.

The half ended with a rare fair-catch free kick attempt after the Broncos committed kick-catch interference on a punt that should have ended in the second quarter. Instead, after the 15-yard penalty on an untimed down, Cameron Dicker hit the 57-yard attempt right up the middle, cutting Denver’s lead to eight points.

It was the first successful fair catch free kick attempt since 1976. The last attempt took place in 2019.

Herbert finished the first half 12 of 15 for 140 yards with one interception. Ladd McConkey led the way with 57 yards on three catches.

On the other hand, Nix was 15 of 21 with two touchdowns in the first half. The Broncos outscored the Chargers 236 to 181. The club has 16 first downs, while Los Angeles has nine.

The Broncos get the kickoff for the second half.