The Chargers are 3-0 after a comeback 23-20 win over the Broncos on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

Here are five takeaways from Week 3.

1. Justin Herbert for MVP?

We'll gladly be the first to get the Most Valuable Player conversation started.

Because after Justin Herbert's clutch performance Sunday afternoon, there's zero doubt the Chargers quarterback should be an early-season candidate for the award.

"Oh my gosh, bro. The dude is unbelievable," Trey Pipkins III said. "I have zero words. What I can say?"

"He was getting hit, making throws. He led us the entire time," Pipkins added. "If that's not MVP, I don't know what is."

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh added: "He's the greatest ... he's 1-of-1 who I've ever seen at the quarterback position."

Keenan Allen said: "Hats off to Herbo. He's the guy."

Herbert threw for 300 yards with one touchdown and an interception for a passer rating of 76.6 in Week 3.

But look past the numbers and you'll see it was a gutsy performance against one of the league's best defenses.

Herbert was sacked five times and hit 14 times in all. In fact, NFL Next Gen Stats noted he was pressured on 54.7 percent of his dropbacks against Denver, the highest pressure rate he's faced in any game of his career.

And Herbert still did that. Which is lead a game-tying touchdown drive with under three minutes left before marching the Bolts into field goal range in the closing seconds of Week 3.

Herbert completed eight of his final nine pass attempts for 93 yards in the final five-plus minutes of game action. It was his 13th career fourth-quarter comeback and 17th career game-winning drive.

"We knew we had one job and that was to take the ball and go score. That's exactly what we did," Herbert said of the final drive.

Everybody was in awe of Herbert in the postgame locker room. Teammates raved about his play. Harbaugh gushed about his toughness.

It wasn't the first time they had seen Herbert rise up and play his best when it mattered most. It was just the latest example of it.

Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback marveled at Herbert's ability to stand right back up after each hit from a defender.

"There's almost something about it, he takes that hit and there's no facial expression change, there's no limp, there's no grabbing … it's almost like it didn't even happen," Harbaugh said. "There's something in his competitive fire where it motivates him even more. It even takes him to another notch."

Herbert downplayed that guts he showed, simply saying it's part of being a franchise quarterback.

"It's just part of the game [and] of playing quarterback. You're going to get hit and it's going to be tough," Herbert said. "You've got to stay gritty and know they're going to knock you down, but you have to get back up.

"The offensive line is looking at you, the receivers and tight ends, making sure you're the leader and stepping up and getting back up, for sure," Herbert added.

And where did Herbert learn that mindset from?

"Probably Jim Harbaugh. He's one of the tougher guys and I've tried to emulate him," Herbert said.

With the game on the line Sunday afternoon, the Chargers looked to their leader to deliver in the clutch.

Herbert did just that. And he deserves all the MVP talk that should come his way.

"Sometimes I don't know how he does it," Omarion Hampton said. "But he makes something happen. I couldn't ask for anything better than being beside Justin."

Ladd McConkey said: "When we need him to show up in the biggest moments, he does. We go as he goes."

Derwin James added: "That's my quarterback."

2. Perfect AFC West start

The Chargers put themselves into rare air with Sunday's comeback win.

Not only are the Bolts 3-0 — their first such start since 2002 — but they have now opened the season with three straight wins against the AFC West.

The Chargers topped the Chiefs in Week 1 in Brazil and bested the Raiders in primetime in Week 2 before rallying past the Broncos on Sunday.

"It wasn't pretty but we got the job done. We've just got a bunch of playmakers out there," Herbert said. "Never a doubt, guys had complete faith in each other the entire time.

"We knew were losing, but there were time and downs and an opportunity to get back up there," Herbert added. "It was a great fight by our team today."

Harbaugh added: "It's a signature win. A character win, it reveals that. Reveals your character. Those fourth-quarter comebacks … just a great job in the fourth quarter."

The Chargers are now the fourth team since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002 to open their season with a 3-0 record that includes a sweep of all three of their divisional foes.

Harbaugh, as expected, was fired up in the postgame locker room as he went around congratulating players on the hard-fought win.

"I don't think I have the vocabulary to really express how great I feel with this win," Harbaugh said. "Just the admiration for our team, our players, our coaches.

"Three wins … it's taken everybody in these games. Just gritty. Spectacular is probably the word I'd use. Just a wonderful, wonderful feeling of victory," Harbaugh added. "Just finding a way … a tremendous performance by so many."

Players are obviously fired up to be 3-0, especially since that means an early lead over the Broncos and Raiders, both of whom are 1-2.

"Great start. You look at the schedule when it first comes out and you're like, 'Man, that's tough.' But to get all three of those wins right off the bat is huge. Now we need to continue to win and continue to stack them," Bradley Bozeman said.

But they are keeping a one-track mindset with one more September game on the schedule.

The Chargers are on the road in Week 4 against the New York Giants.

"We know this is not the end, but you got to start somewhere. This is a great start," James said. "We're going to get ready for New York this week, put this one behind us. I can't wait to get to work."

Harbaugh added: "There's gravel in the gut … and that's a great place to climb from."

3. An insane Herbert-to-Allen TD

Let's just start by watching the replay again.

And if you're the Broncos it had to have feel like you've seen that before.

Oh, wait.

That's two years in a row where Herbert has delivered a dagger against Denver's defense in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium.

The 2024 version to Derius Davis gave the Bolts a lead early in the fourth quarter and had just a 32.5-percent completion probability, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Herbert's throw to Allen late in the fourth quarter in Week 3? Only a 16.7-percent completion probability, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, Herbert's most improbable completion since Week 8 of last season.

"Rolling to his left, got a man hanging on him," Harbaugh said. "And he still throws a rope to Keenan, who made an incredible catch. And he had a guy hanging on him before the catch. And he still makes that catch."

Herbert began the play by avoiding a pair of Denver defenders before scrambling to his left. With edge rusher Nik Bonitto in his face, Herbert delivered a flick of the wrist to find Allen, who had just 0.6 yards of separation.

"I didn't see it and didn't really know what had happened. I was on the ground. But I checked everyone's reaction so I think I found out that way," Herbert said. "The defender wasn't looking and that's an advantage for Keenan."

Herbert said he made a conscious effort this week in practice to, well, practice those types of throws.

"It starts in the week of practice in getting that pocket moving. They have a really good pass rush and are going to get after the quarterback so you have to either find a way to step up or get out and make a play," Herbert said.

The clutch connection was the 27th between Herbert and Allen since 2020.

"That's 10. That's what he does," Allen said.

Tony Jefferson said: "Herbert had no doubt, no hesitation throwing that to Keenan. They've had that connection for a long time."

4. Hampton steps up after Harris is hurt

First, the bad news: Harbaugh said postgame that preliminary tests showed running back Najee Harris suffered an Achilles injury on Sunday.

Harris was injured with roughly five minutes left in the second quarter when he went to the ground after coming out of his stance.

"I'm not sure what happened but definitely praying for him. I already texted him, checked up on him, wishing him a speedy recovery," Omarion Hampton said.

"It definitely hurts," Hampton added.

Harris had played well before the non-contact injury, carrying six times for 28 yards.

Hampton took on a larger workload in his absence, finishing with 25 total touches for 129 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

The 2025 first-round pick got into the end zone late in the first half on a 3-yard touchdown run.

"It feels amazing just to get a win with the guys, go out there and ball out," Hampton said.

While the quiet Hampton was reserved on his strong performance, Harbaugh and Herbert liked what they saw from the 22-year-old rookie.

"Man, what a game he had. That was a gritty performance by him. Just always lunging forward, surging forward," Harbaugh said.

Herbert added: "Not surprised. We knew how special he was as a soon as he got here. We're asking a lot of him, especially as a rookie. He's handling it all and has picked it up."

Harbaugh also noted that right guard Mekhi Becton is in concussion protocol.

5. Dicker delivers in the clutch

Harbaugh described Cameron Dicker as only he could.

"Cold blooded," Harbaugh said.

The kicker came up clutch Sunday by nailing a 43-yard field goal as time expired, his first walk-off kick since his first game as a Charger back in Week 9 of the 2022 season.

What was going through Dicker's mind on the final drive?

"I don't really watch most of the plays," Dicker said. "I'll hear the fans yell and then I'll look over and say, 'Oh, what just happened?'"

But everyone in SoFi Stadium knew what the outcome was going to be when Dicker trotted onto the field with only five ticks remaining.

"He's automatic. You don't have to worry about him," Herbert said.

Harbaugh praised the entire operation, including long snapper Rick Lovato and holder JK Scott.

"That's a big-time, game-winning snap. Protection was good, nobody was in our backfield. Great hold by JK. It was great," Harbaugh said.

Dicker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, has now made all six of his field goals this season.