Justin Herbert completed off the Los Angeles Chargers’ season-opening victory in model, sliding for a primary down that successfully ended the sport.
The quarterback earned model factors for his scramble and sideline slide that capped a 318-yard, three-touchdown efficiency in a 27-21 victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Friday evening in Sao Paulo. Herbert had 32 yards dashing, too.
Los Angeles’ first win over the Chiefs since 2021 snapped a seven-game skid in opposition to the staff that has dominated the AFC for practically a decade.
“It’s monumental,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned. “September 5 will go down in some Charger lore, in my opinion. It was a big win.”
It was the NFL’s second sport in South America and had Brazilian soccer famous person Neymar in attendance. Newly engaged pop famous person Taylor Swift wasn’t there to look at fiancé Travis Kelce and see Colombian singer Karol G carry out at halftime.
Herbert grew to become simply the third quarterback in Chargers historical past with 300 yards and three touchdowns in a season opener. His 19-yard run on third-and-14 dashed any comeback hopes the Chiefs had with 2:21 to play. He completed 25 of 34 and was sacked 3 times.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight, so we showed up today with our best effort,” Herbert mentioned. “It was fun to see.”
Mahomes was 24 of 39 for 258 yards, one landing and two sacks.
“This will be a big lesson for us,” Mahomes mentioned. “They definitely came out with more energy than we did. We got to get better from the start.”
Herbert’s 23-yard landing cross to Quentin Johnston prolonged the result in with 5:02 remaining within the fourth. They linked up for a five-yard landing on the Chargers’ opening drive of the sport.
Chased by Khalil Mack, Mahomes threw incomplete to Marquise Brown on first-and-goal on the LA 9. Two extra incomplete passes introduced on Harrison Butker, whose 27-yard subject purpose reduce the deficit to 27-21 with 2:34 remaining.
“Multiple times we shot ourselves in the foot,” Chiefs defensive deal with Chris Jones mentioned.
Worthy injured
The Chiefs had been already down two receivers to start out the sport, with Rashee Rice suspended to start out the season and rookie Jalen Royals out with a knee damage.
They misplaced one other one three snaps into the sport.
Xavier Worthy and teammate Kelce collided on a third-down cross. Worthy needed to be helped off the sphere and was later dominated out with a proper shoulder damage.
Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman did not return after leaving with an ankle damage within the third.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes through the second half in Sao Paulo
Rookie miscue
Chargers operating again Omarion Hampton made a rookie mistake late within the first half.
The primary-round draft choose received a handoff on Third-and-16 within the closing minute when the Chiefs had no timeouts left. As a substitute of staying in bounds and letting the clock run, Hampton ran out of bounds. That stopped the clock and the Chargers received a 36-yard subject purpose by Cameron Dicker for a 13-3 lead.
Mahomes then moved the Chiefs inside subject purpose vary and their kicking unit rushed on the sphere. Butker hit a 59-yarder with the 40 seconds to go, leaving the Chiefs trailing 13-6.
What subsequent?
The Chiefs will host the Philadelphia Eagles on September 14 in a Tremendous Bowl rematch, whereas the Chargers will journey to Las Vegas to face the Raiders, dwell on Sky Sports activities Motion on September 16.
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