{ { Infobox sports rivalry
| name = Broncos–Chargers rivalry
| team1 = Denver Broncos
| team2 = Los Angeles Chargers
| team1logo = Denver Broncos wordmark.svg
| team2logo = Los Angeles Chargers 2020 wordmark.svg
| first contested = October 16, 1960Chargers 23, Broncos 19
| mostrecent = January 8, 2023Broncos 31, Chargers 28
| nextmeeting = December 10, 2023
| total = 126
| largestvictory = Broncos, 38–3 (1997)Chargers: 58–20 (1963), 41–3 (2007) | currentstreak = Broncos, 1 (2022–present) | longeststreak = Broncos, 7 (1975–1978)Chargers, 6 (1963–1966) | series = Broncos, 71–55–1 | postseason = Broncos, 1–0
| section_header = Playoff and Championship success
| section_info = AFL Championships
Chargers: 1963
Super Bowl Championships (3) Broncos: (XXXII), (XXXIII), (50)
AFL Western Division Championships (5)Chargers – 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965
AFC West Divisional Championships (25) Broncos (15) – , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Chargers (10) – , , , , , , , , ,
AFC Wild Card Berths (15) Broncos (7) – , , , , , , Chargers (5) – , , , ,
Super Bowl appearances (9) Broncos (8) – , , , , , , , Chargers (1) – }}
The Broncos–Chargers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers. Since the American Football League was established in 1960, the Broncos and Chargers have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, both clubs have competed in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The Broncos lead the overall series 71–55–1. The teams have met once in the playoffs, a 24–17 Broncos win in the 2013 AFC Divisional Round.
Notable moments
1985–2006
November 17, 1985 Broncos' safety Dennis Smith blocked two straight field goal attempts in overtime, after the Chargers had advanced the football to the Broncos' 23-yard line in the first overtime possession. On 4th and 4 from the Broncos' 23, Smith blocked Bob Thomas' initial field goal attempt, only to have it negated due to a timeout being called by teammate Mike Harden prior to the kick. Following the timeout, Thomas attempted a second kick, and this was also blocked by Smith and returned by Louis Wright for a 60-yard touchdown for a 30–24 Broncos' overtime win at Mile High Stadium. September 4, 1994: The Broncos jumped out to a 24–6 lead at Mile High Stadium on the Chargers in the second quarter, however, the Chargers responded, and took a 27–24 lead at half time, after safety Stanley Richard returned a John Elway interception 99 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. The Chargers later sealed the victory after linebacker Junior Seau recovered a fumble by Elway in the game's closing seconds. September 14, 2003: The Broncos routed the Chargers 37–13 at Qualcomm Stadium. However, the game is notable for a uniform mix-up, in which the Broncos came to the stadium in their road white jerseys, when the host Chargers were planning to wear white, and were supposed to be the team that declared their uniform color. The Broncos were fined $25,000 as a result, and when the two teams met at Invesco Field at Mile High later that season in Week 11 (November 16), the NFL allowed the Chargers to choose their uniform color in advance, and they chose navy blue, forcing the Broncos to wear their white jerseys at home for the first time since . December 10, 2006: The Chargers routed the Broncos 48–20 at Qualcomm Stadium, in which Chargers' running back LaDainian Tomlinson set a new NFL record for touchdowns in a single season, with 28.