, Justin Herbert led the Los Angeles Chargers to a 27-21 season-opening victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns and sealing the game with a 19-yard scramble late in the fourth quarter.
Key Takeaways
- Chargers won 27-21 in Brazil, a Chargers-designated home game.
- Herbert finished 25-of-34 for 318 yards, three TDs, no interceptions and a 131.7 passer rating; he also rushed seven times for 32 yards.
- Herbert’s late 19-yard scramble on third-and-14 secured the win with about 2 minutes remaining.
- Quentin Johnston caught two TDs; Keenan Allen added an 11-yard scoring catch.
- Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker missed an extra point and later made a field goal; Patrick Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce for a 37-yard TD.
- Chargers snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Chiefs; Mahomes’ and Kansas City’s 17-game one-possession streak ended.
Verified Facts
Herbert completed 25 of 34 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, producing a 131.7 passer rating. He also gained 32 yards on seven carries, including a 19-yard scramble late in the fourth quarter that moved the chains and allowed the Chargers to run out the clock.
Los Angeles opened the scoring and built a 10-0 edge early. After Kansas City narrowed the gap to 13-12, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a game-tying extra point. The Chargers responded with a 12-play, 74-yard drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen.
Mahomes answered with a 37-yard touchdown throw to Travis Kelce, but Herbert and the Chargers answered with another 74-yard drive that ended with Quentin Johnston’s 23-yard touchdown. Johnston finished with two receiving touchdowns on the night.
When the Chiefs closed to within three points on a later Butker field goal, Herbert sealed the outcome by scrambling for 19 yards on third-and-14, preserving a six-point margin at the final whistle.
Context & Impact
The matchup in Brazil was notable beyond the box score. Kansas City had won an NFL-record 17 consecutive one-possession games (including playoffs) before this loss. Stopping that streak signals a significant win for Los Angeles early in the season.
For the Chargers, the victory ends a seven-game losing stretch against the Chiefs and gives Los Angeles momentum in its season opener. The win also highlighted the Chargers’ willingness to attack through the air despite offseason additions aimed at boosting the run game.
- Offensive balance: Chargers leaned on play-action and passing; Herbert was 9-of-11 on play-action for 169 yards.
- Rivalry note: The last Chargers win over Kansas City came on Sept. 21, 2021 (30-24).
Official Statements
“Justin was phenomenal today in every way with pinpoint accuracy… He did a great job with his legs and running at the end to seal the game,”
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh
“I saw nobody in front of me, so I just slid and got the first down,”
Justin Herbert
Unconfirmed
- Some reports list the game-sealing scramble occurring with 2:14 remaining, while other accounts state 2:34 remaining; the exact reported remaining time varied between sources.
Bottom Line
Justin Herbert produced a complete performance — efficient passing, effective play-action work and a decisive scramble — to give the Chargers a 27-21 season-opening victory over the Chiefs in Brazil. The result ends Los Angeles’ recent run of losses to Kansas City and hands the Chiefs their first setback in a string of tight games.