"First half killed us." The Denver Broncos rallied after halftime, but it proved to be too late in today's loss to the Chargers. Read more: https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/denver-broncos-los-angeles-chargers-game-story-october-13-2024/73-a7f8b452-d24a-4ca6-b27b-4725ec1900cb The Broncos were getting whipped for three quarters by the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers before rookie quarterback Bo Nix got going in the fourth quarter. It was a bit too late as the Chargers hung on to defeat the Broncos, 23-16 on an otherwise perfect (68 degrees, sunny) mid-October, Sunday afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High. The Chargers are now 3-2 while the Broncos had their three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 3-3. It was 23-0 visitors through three quarters until Nix got hot, as he often does after slow starts, in the fourth. “I don’t know but we’ll figure it out this week in practice,'' Broncos' outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who got a sack in his fourth straight game, said about his team's slow-start trend. "I know the coach is going to make an emphasis, if not the players. "But yeah that’s three straight games we came out very slow. We've got to get it fixed. We’ve got to use this altitude, we’ve got to use the fan base. We’re not doing that right now.” So far this season, the Broncos begin home games as if they thought kickoff was at 3:05 p.m. In their first home game against Pittsburgh last month, the Broncos fell behind 13-0 and lost 13-6. In their second home game last week, they fell behind the Las Vegas Raiders, 10-0 and were about to go down, 17-3 when Surtain came up with 100-yard pick six off first-and-goal that was a 14-point swing. The Broncos went on to beat the Raiders, 34-18, but against the Chargers, Surtain suffered a concussion on the first defensive play of the game. And with the Broncos playing in four days at New Orleans on Thursday night, there does not figure to be enough time for Surtain to clear the concussion protocol for the game against the Saints. The Broncos were especially sluggish early Sunday against the Chargers. Through the third quarter, the Broncos were not only down, 23-0, they were outgained, 324 yards to 88. The Chargers had 20 first downs to just five for the Broncos. The time of possession late in the third quarter was roughly 30 minutes for the Chargers, 12 minutes for the Broncos. There was a stark contrast in quarterback play entering the fourth quarter. More local videos here: https://bit.ly/2Pa0d1l Subscribe to NEXT: http://bit.ly/2eP1GwI Stay connected: 9NEWS Website: http://www.9news.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilike9news Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NEWS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9newsdenver/ Download the 9NEWS App: https://www.9news.com/appredirect/ Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER: https://www.9news.com/email 9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.