The Los Angeles Chargers opened their 2025 season with a statement win, stunning the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 27–21 in São Paulo, Brazil. For a franchise haunted by years of futility against its AFC West rival, the victory felt like a reset. And at the center of it all was Justin Herbert, who turned in one of the finest performances of his career.
Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-34 passing while adding 32 rushing yards. His biggest play came late in the fourth quarter: a 19-yard scramble on third-and-14 that allowed the Chargers to kneel out the clock. It was the type of backbreaking play fans are used to seeing Patrick Mahomes make—and that parallel was not lost on Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
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“It demoralizes the defense,” Roman said, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “They had great coverage, then all of a sudden, Oh man, another first down. And it was so cool to beat the Chiefs with that, too. Mahomes does that to everybody. It’s a vital asset.”
Herbert’s willingness to run has become a focal point since Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh arrived last season. Roman pointed out that when Herbert’s legs were part of the offense in 2024, “great things happened,” citing wins over Denver and Cincinnati. “As we continue to just be the winningest group we can be on offense, that’s something that we just need to get more out of him,” he said.
The win was also a testament to Harbaugh’s adaptability. All offseason, signs pointed to a run-heavy approach after the Chargers added Najee Harris, Mekhi Becton, and rookie back Omarion Hampton. Instead, Los Angeles flipped expectations, leaning on Herbert’s arm in a 34–25 pass-to-run split.
Against Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, one of the league’s toughest to crack, Herbert delivered. And in doing so, he showed that the Chargers’ long-lost formula for beating the Chiefs might just be hiding in plain sight—the quarterback they already have.
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