Dustin hopkins is a Dog!
Another lackluster primetime game had one key takeaway. Dustin Hopkins is a dog. Early in the Monday night matchup between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, it appeared the Broncos were going to run away with the game as they got out to a 10-0 start in the first quarter.
With 9:09 left in the second quarter, Austin Ekeler ran it in from six yards out to get the Chargers on the board. When Hopkins came out to kick the extra point, he felt a pop in his hamstring that would cause him trouble for the rest of the game.
Following this, Hopkins would kick a 37-yard field goal right before halftime. Immediately after this kick, he fell to the ground holding his hamstring. As the game went on Hopkins became visibly injured, he told ESPN, “Before every kick, you knew that it was going to feel like somebody stabbed you with a knife.”
Hopkins went on to hit four field goals for the Chargers, but after each kick he would fall to ground in an abundance of pain.
Hopkins grimacing after hitting a field goal in Mondays game. (photo from Aaron Ontiveroz)
Late in the game, Denver had an opportunity to drive down the field and kick the game winning field goal. However, Russell Wilson’s horrendous performance couldn’t even get them a first down, while running less than two minutes off the clock. Denver would punt the ball back to the Chargers with 1:51 on the clock.
The Chargers drive would stall at their own 44-yard line, causing the game to go into overtime, where the lackluster play would continue.
As the game headed to overtime, every fan wondered if Hopkins would be able to kick one more field goal to give his team the win. Overtime started with four straight punts, until Montrell Washington of the Denver Broncos muffed a punt, giving the Chargers great field position at the Denver 26.
Already being in field goal range, all the Chargers needed to do was move the ball a tad bit closer to the end zone to make the kick easier for their injured kicker. First and second down plays went backwards, and it appeared the third down play would result in a sack knocking them out of field goal range, until Justin Herbert miraculously completed a pass to Mike Williams at the 21 to set up Hopkins for a 39-yard game winning field goal.
Hopkins came on the field and made the field goal to give the Chargers their fourth win of the season. Hopkins immediately fell to the ground once again and couldn’t get up as his teammates surrounded him to celebrate the game winning kick.
For Hopkins to play in such visible pain and still be perfect on the night showed some true grit from him. Hopkins went out on national television and showed the world how tough he is, as well as showing his commitment to his team.
While the Los Angeles Chargers may be looking for a new kicker as they face off against the Seattle Seahawks next week, they now know they have a true leader on their team.