INGLEWOOD, Calif. – When Devaughn Vele caught a 6-yard touchdown pass to give the Broncos their third touchdown in three drives, it felt like it was happening.

And when Kris Abrams-Draine picked off Justin Herbert near the end zone late in the first half, it seemed like a celebration was in store.

Heck, even after the Broncos responded to the Chargers’ strange free kick field goal with an eleven-play, six-and-a-half-minute field goal push of their own early in the second half, Denver seemed to be on track toward their first Playoff spot since 2015.

However, after the Broncos built an 11-point lead in the third quarter, the Chargers fought back, using a 21-0 run to knock out Denver and delay the franchise’s playoff hopes for at least a few more days.

“Obviously, look, disappointing loss,” head coach Sean Payton said after the game. “It was disappointing because there was a lot at stake and we know that. We got off to a fast start – our rushing numbers dipped in the second half on both offense and defense. In the end we didn’t play enough.

After leading by 21 points in the first half, Denver scored just six points in the second half – and the team recorded just one first down on the three second-half drives that ended with field goals.

On those first three drives, Denver’s offense recorded 219 yards and 15 first downs, averaging 7.8 yards per play and converting on all three third-down attempts. However, according to Next Gen Stats, the Broncos recorded 136 yards and seven first downs in their last seven possessions, while averaging 3.9 yards per play and converting just 2 of 10 third downs.

“On offense there was a big emphasis on starting well,” said Marvin Mims Jr. “We started well, but we didn’t get it done in the second half. We have to be better. Sometimes there are long throws in the third period and penalties that hold us back. As a group, we need to be better in the second half.”

Defensively, Denver allowed the Chargers to score 21 points and 14 first downs after halftime – and Los Angeles capped the game with a 90-yard drive that included a 16-yard Herbert scramble on third-and-10 a 34-yard Hassan Haskins touchdown reception. On the Chargers’ go-ahead kickoff early in the fourth quarter, three penalties – including a horse collar on Jonathon Cooper – helped preserve Los Angeles’ scoring opportunity. On the previous possession, an unnecessary roughing call negated a third-down stop that would have kept Denver’s lead at eight points and instead resulted in a touchdown.

“I just feel like the frustration comes from the fact that we could have won that game,” Cooper said. “We started the way we wanted to, but we didn’t finish it the way we wanted.”

Pat Surtain II said the Broncos realized in the second half that they were “letting this slide” and Denver now needs to recover before traveling to Cincinnati.

“Everyone in this locker room — every guy — wants to play next week at this point, I think,” Bo Nix said. “We are all frustrated with competition. I think we’re excited about this opportunity. We know the next one is the most important and we just want to go out next week and not feel like that again.”

Cody Barton emphasized that the team still has “two weeks of life” left in the regular season and that Denver just needs one more win to secure its first playoff berth in eight seasons.

“We have to find a way to get our 10th win,” Payton said. “We know that.”

But the frustration comes from an opportunity the Broncos thought was possible.

At times Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, it seemed as if the Broncos were running off the field in celebration. Instead, they left the home of their division rival, still searching for the victory they needed most.

“Everyone is hurt,” Cooper said. “It’s a tough defeat. A very difficult defeat. But we just have to learn from it and come back stronger next week and focus on getting our tenth win.”