The Los Angeles Chargers found themselves down eight points at halftime to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. In a game that was very important for the Chargers to win for playoff hopes and seeding, it was a game where they needed their best from everyone on this team. With a full half of football left to play, Chargers special teams ace, Derius Davis stepped up massively for the Bolts to win the game.
Derius Davis: “Just” a Return Man & Gadget Guy Until Thursday
Derius Davis has been a fan favorite since his arrival in Los Angeles last season. As a fourth-round selection, he was drafted to be strictly a return man who can at times run gadget plays… he was expected to be damn good at the role.
As a rookie, he was voted as an all-pro return man, and it seemed like the Chargers got themselves a great special teamer for the next few years.
At the end of Derius Davis' TD return Deane Leonard (33) is jawing with the Jets running down the field ✌️ & Henley (0) & Finley (24) high-five while running right before Davis scores pic.twitter.com/Tge14E1TBu
— Garrett Sisti (@GarrettSisti) November 7, 2023
Going into his second season, Davis struggled with some hamstring injuries, limiting his explosiveness and he saw some regression early in the year.
Once he was fully healthy, Davis was back to form. Though he has yet to score a return touchdown, he has been effective as a punt returner and has improved as a kick returner. As an offensive threat, Davis has played 111 snaps this season and has an overall 75.1 PFF grade. Even with a confusing Chargers wide receiver room, Davis found himself a role.
A highly efficient gadget player who has been mainly used as:
- Lined up as RB; Toss/Sweep Threat
- Jet Sweep/Reverse Threat
- Motion Man
- Screen Threat
Before Thursday, he had 47 receiving yards and 46 rushing yards. After Thursday, he added 31 more receiving yards to his season. 19 of those yards were on a play that completely changed the game for the Chargers.
The Impact He Made During the Broncos Game
History Was Made and It Could Not Have Been Done Without Derius Davis
So with major versatility and explosion, Davis was on the field for eight offensive snaps and 11 special teams snaps. On special teams, he was tripped up on a punt return, which allowed the Chargers a fair catch kick interference chance, which was drilled by Cameron Dicker.
A successful fair catch kick has not been made since 1976. It was last made by another Chargers kicker, Ray Wersching.
RAREST PLAY IN FOOTBALL: #Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker converts a fair-catch free-kick after the #Broncos had a kicked-catch interference as time expired.
The last time this occurred was when Ray Wershing gave the Chargers 3 extra points in 1976. #ThursdayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/GYmOt0yRQR
— No Warmup The Pod (@nwthepod) December 20, 2024
This course of events happened right before the end of the first half, which allowed the Chargers to get back into the game, only falling behind by one possession. Beyond the point addition for the Chargers, this play was an obvious momentum switch, which the Chargers desperately needed.
The Bolts were not playing well enough in any phase of the ball, and it took the special teams to light the fire that ended up burning the Broncos to the seventh seed and a real chance of missing the playoffs.
Justin Herbert Magic Allowed For Davis’s First Ever Receiving Touchdown To Be A Big One
There were plenty of memorable moments during the Chargers vs Broncos Thursday Night game, but the most memorable is the 19-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to Derius Davis.
Derius Davis with his first career receiving TD!#DENvsLAC on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/sBTZ9t4Csp— NFL (@NFL) December 20, 2024
The fourth quarter is in its infant stages, and the Chargers are down 24-19. With the comeback being so close, especially with the Chargers driving down the field, and Herbert playing unreal. The Chargers find themselves in the red zone, 19 yards away from taking the lead and totally flipping this game on its’ head.
Davis lines up on the right side of the formation, and motions left. The ball is snapped and he is in his spot as the check-down option for Herbert. A play we have seen offensive coordinator, Greg Roman run quite often with Davis.
If there isn’t anyone open downfield, give it to your explosive playmaker in space and let him work. However, this time around, Herbert decides to create something out of nothing.
Herbert goes through his downfield progressions and then sees that Davis was picked up in the flat. Herbert pumps, feels pressure, and bails out the left. Davis takes notice of Herbert being in trouble and decides to use his 4.36 speed and sprint downfield in hopes to either:
a) take a defender with him to allow Herbert to scramble down the sideline for some yardage, or b) let Herbert throw an absolute laser over the head of the defender covering Davis, doing so while under pressure rolling left.
Herbert being the elite quarterback he is, trusted his arm talent and went with option b. One of the best throws of the season for Herbert, especially if you factor in all of the context surrounding said throw, even the context of the entire season. Davis catches the football and the Chargers mounted the comeback.
Justin Herbert said Derius Davis made an unreal play on his TD catch and the Chargers need to figure out how to get him the ball more. No lies told. pic.twitter.com/LZflLzqZ7s
— Eric Williams (@eric_d_williams) December 20, 2024
Last Word on Special Teams Ace Giving the Chargers A Real Playoff Outlook
On paper, two receptions for 31 yards, and a touchdown receiving performance might not be the greatest thing to look back on, but when the moments of his touchdown and kick-catch interference occurred were crucial for the Chargers victory. Without these two spectacular plays, a real chance of missing the playoffs could’ve happened.
With the Chargers winning the game 34-27 and moving into the sixth seed, this nearly guaranteed a playoff spot. They could not have done this without their special teams ace and his incredible performance.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
