The Los Angeles Chargers kicked off the 2025 season with a bang, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 27 -21 in an exhilarating divisional contest in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday night.
It marks the first time the Chargers have beaten their division rivals since the 2021 season, and accounts for QB Justin Herbert’s third win against the Chiefs since being drafted with the 6th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2020 NFL Draft
Los Angeles Chargers, QB Justin Herbert
Many on social media are having a friendly poke at Justin Herbert’s alleged relationship with singer and social media influencer Madison Beer, attributing the early success experienced by both him and this Chargers team to her presence in the generally reserved signal-caller’s life.
The 6’6″, 236-pound quarterback put on a show Friday night, completing 25 of 34 passes and throwing for 318 yards and 3 TDs. He also added 32 rushing yards on 7 attempts (4.6 Y/A) on the ground, earning 131.7 QBR (Quarterback Rating).
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His incredible display shouldn’t surprise those who have been watching him, though, as he consistently ranks among the league’s best quarterbacks, combining jaw-dropping athletic feats with a hyper-intelligent mind to perform well every week.
Entering his 6th season in the NFL, the largest knock to him thus far in his career has been his inability to notch a playoff win, often coming short in the most critical of situations. With this massive win under the belt, however, it could be a new turning point for both him and this franchise to finally get over the hump and bring home the Lombardi trophy.
Back Like He Never Left
Last season, general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh started their regime by jettisoning long-time Charger WR Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears for a 4th-round pick, after the proven veteran refused to take a pay cut with the team.
After having a cup of tea in the Windy City, Herbert’s favorite target decided to return to the team he started it all with, by signing a 1-year, $8.52 million deal during the offseason.
While many counted out the 13th-year player, due to the emergence of second-year WR phenom Ladd McConkey, the wily old veteran showed once again why he’s been one of the best route-running technicians of the past decade.
Allen’s connection with Herbert seemed to have left off right where it was over a season ago, with the quarterback targeting his go-to receiver 10 times for 6 first downs. On the night, Allen had 7 receptions for 68 receiving yards and 1 TD, once again reprising his role as Herbert’s safety blanket in crucial situations.
Run, Run, Run!
A Chargers team that has been pegged as a run-heavy team, due to the history of offensive coordinator Greg Roman working with dual-threat quarterbacks and on run-centric teams in the past, surprised many with how they operated the offense.
The Chargers ran a total of 65 plays on offense, opting to pass on 59.68% of them, only running the ball on 25 attempts throughout the game.
Of those 25 attempts, 3 of them came within the final 2 minutes, where Herbert took a combined 4-yard loss on consecutive kneeldowns in victory formation to run down the clock.
The change in offensive tendency likely stems from an elite Chiefs run defense that largely incapacitated the run game, although the biggest play of the game and ultimately what sealed the victory came off Herbert’s legs.
With 2:14 left on the clock, Herbert scrambled out the right side of the pocket, racing down the sideline for a 17-yard gain, sliding past the first down marker with a huge smile on his face that put the nail in the coffin for the Chiefs.
2025 Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ massive win against the Chiefs is just the beginning in their 2025 NFL season, as they have back-to-back divisional opponents the next 2 weeks against the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, respectively. If they hope to go on a playoff run this season, they’ll have to knock off those obstacles first to give themselves a better standing to make it to the postseason.
For now, though, the Chargers and their fans alike can celebrate in what’s primed to be another exciting season for the Los Angeles Chargers.