Los Angeles beat Kansas Town 27-21 in São Paulo on Sept. 5, snapping a seven-game slide vs. the Chiefs and finishing Kansas Town’s 17-game one-score win streak. Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns and sealed it with a 19-yard scramble overdue within the fourth.
Justin Herbert and Los Angeles exploit power appears to be like as Kansas Town’s protection wilts
The Chargers gained 27-21 on Sept. 5, finishing a seven-game slide towards the Chiefs and halting Kansas Town’s run of 17 immediately one-score wins. Herbert finished 25 of 34 for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns, then iced it with a 19-yard scramble on Third-and-14. It used to be no longer fluky. Within the pivotal fourth quarter, an 11-play march bled just about seven mins as Herbert went 8-for-8, again and again discovering house over the center when Steve Spagnuolo dialed up additional rushers. That collection flipped any late-game script Mahomes in most cases writes.Herbert’s distribution mattered. Quentin Johnston stuck two ratings, together with a 23-yarder that restored a two-possession cushion within the fourth. Keenan Allen added an 11-yard pink zone TD and crossed a franchise milestone for profession touchdowns. The passing emphasis additionally underscored a tactical shift: after a run-heavy 2024, Greg Roman’s offense leaned into early-down throws and fast solutions as opposed to the blitz. The payoff confirmed up in situational soccer and within the ultimate two mins when Herbert’s scramble successfully closed the door.It used to be additionally a notable degree for the franchise. The victory marked Kansas Town’s first regular-season loss in another country below Andy Reid after earlier wins in London, Mexico Town and Frankfurt. That context, plus the streak Los Angeles broke in one-score results, frames the outcome as greater than a Week 1 blip.“The loss of power from the Chiefs line of defense going in contrast Charger O-Line is relating to,” Analyst Tucker D. Franklin’s learn matched the tape: when Kansas Town despatched warmth, Herbert responded with rhythm throws and in-breakers; after they sat again, he layered intermediate pictures. The move rush by no means compelled the only unhealthy determination the Chiefs wanted.
Patrick Mahomes assists in keeping Kansas Town alive, however accidents and kicks swing the margin
Mahomes did what he all the time does overdue, hitting Travis Kelce for a 37-yard landing and ripping a fourth-and-7 deep ball to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. However the margins broke towards Kansas Town. Harrison Butker neglected a third-quarter PAT that may have tied it, and a later two-point take a look at failed. The Chiefs additionally misplaced rookie Xavier Worthy at the opening collection after a collision with Kelce, thinning a receiver room already with out Rashee Rice. The ones 3 beats provide an explanation for why a fourth-quarter box purpose nonetheless left Kansas Town chasing the sport.Even with the surge, the second one part belonged to Herbert. He went 13-of-16 for 147 yards and two touchdowns after the spoil, evenly concentrated on cushy spots at protection and leveraging play motion to gradual the frenzy. That potency, paired with the seven-minute force, saved Mahomes at the sideline lengthy sufficient to topic.What’s subsequent: Kansas Town hosts Philadelphia on Sept. 14 at 4:25 p.m. ET. Los Angeles visits Las Vegas on Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. ET.