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Ryan Fitzpatrick on Chiefs’ early season outlook

Former NFL QB and TNF analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick talks about never being able to count of the Chiefs after a Week 1 loss.

Sports Seriously

The newest chapter of the Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll rivalry ended with Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers defeating Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders 20-9 in the nightcap of a Week 2 “Monday Night Football” doubleheader that would have been better-served buried somewhere in a Sunday afternoon slate. 

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert continued his hot start to the 2025 season with two passing touchdowns and completed 19 of 27 attempts for 242 yards. He also led the team in rushing (nine attempts, 31 yards). 

But it was the Chargers’ defense that intercepted Raiders quarterback Geno Smith three times, which tied a career high for the 34-year-old. That was also the number of field goals kicked by Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who scored all of his team’s points as the Raiders failed to reach the end zone. 

The biggest play of the game was a 60-yard touchdown from Herbert to Quentin Johnston, who now has three touchdowns on the season. Keenan Allen hauled in the lone other touchdown of the game from 10 yards out with 20 seconds left in the first quarter as the Chargers built an early lead. 

A late fumble – forced by Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby – from Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton (later charged to Justin Herbert) made things interesting, but the Los Angeles defense coaxed a throwaway from Smith on a fourth down to effectively end the contest with 3:05 left. 

Las Vegas’ offense, coordinated by Chip Kelly, was proficient on third down (9-for-18) but came up empty on all three red-zone trips and averaged 3.4 yards per play. Smith finished 24-for-43 passing with 180 yards. 

Carroll, coaching on his 74th birthday, became the oldest coach in NFL history.

The Hampton fumble wouldn’t put the Chargers in any further peril. The Chargers defense forced a turnover on downs after Smith scrambled and threw the ball away on a fourth-and-5. The Chargers can kneel out the clock with one last first down.

The 2023 third-round pick Daiyan Henley sacked Geno Smith on a fourth down to give the Chargers the ball in plus territory. A play later, rookie running back Omarion Hampton fumbled to give the Raiders a last gasp at trying to make this a game late in the fourth quarter.

The fumble would later be charged to Justin Herbert, clearing Hampton of the gaffe.

Geno Smith has insisted on throwing into traffic all night. It hasn’t worked out for the Raiders quarterback yet. 

Smith threw his third interception of the game with 5:58 left in the game and his team trailing 20-9. The Raiders had forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back down two possessions, and Las Vegas entered the red zone for the third time in the game. For the third time, they came up without a touchdown. 

Smith was looking for Jakobi Meyers up the seam but he instead drew too much attention from Chargers safety Derwin James, who tipped the pass. Donte Jackson corralled the loose ball for the interception. It is Smith’s fifth career game with three picks.

The drive went on for 11 minutes and 15 seconds but ended with only three points, as the Raiders still trail by two possessions, 20-9. 

Las Vegas is 8-for-14 on third downs but is 0-for-2 in the red zone. Geno Smith has completed 19 of 30 passing attempts for 146 yards. 

Daniel Carlson hit his third field goal of the game, this one from 37 yards away. The drive took 19 plays to go 62 yards.

The Chargers possessed the ball for half of the third quarter, as their seven-minute, 30-second drive ended with a 20-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker to make it 20-6, advantage road team. 

Los Angeles couldn’t add another touchdown despite having a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. They did convert a fourth-and-2 earlier in the drive and covered 72 yards over 12 plays, the biggest a 24-yard completion from Justin Herbert to rookie Tre Harris.  

An arm punt perhaps, but the pass goes into the record books as Geno Smith’s second interception of the game. 

Smith heaved a third-and-7 play he extended to his right to the Chargers’ goal line where Tony Jefferson leapt for the pick. Dont’e Thornton Jr. was Smith’s intended target. Smith is now up to three interceptions on the season and it gave the Chargers another possession before halftime. 

The Quentin Johnston renaissance rolls on. Justin Herbert had plenty of time in the pocket to find Johnston who was streaking wide open down the field for a 60-yard touchdown on the first play out of the two-minute warning before halftime. The Chargers lead 17-6 with 1:51 to go in the second quarter. It was Johnston’s third touchdown of the young season after he caught two in the Brazil opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Cameras caught Khalil Mack back on the Chargers sideline with his arm in a heavy bandage and also a sling. There has been no official diagnosis for Mack, outside of being ruled out of the game with an elbow injury.

On the final play of the first quarter, Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack got his left arm caught between ballcarrier Tre Tucker and Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still. Mack appeared to be in plenty of pain as he entered the medical tent on the sideline. He would later make his way to the locker room with a trainer.

It didn’t take too long for the Chargers to jump back on top, with Justin Herbert and the L.A. offense getting going with an eight-play, 72-yard touchdown drive. Herbert capped it off with a strike to Keenan Allen in the back right corner of the end zone.

On a first-quarter scramble, quarterback Justin Herbert took a helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Isaiah Pola-Mao as the quarterback was sliding. Pola-Mao was flagged for the hit, and Herbert wouldn’t miss any snaps afterwards.

If there was any question about how involved Tom Brady might be as a minority owner, at least some of them would be answered when the ESPN broadcast showed Brady up in the coaches’ box with a headset on during the game. It’s unclear what Brady’s doing, but he may be just taking in the game from a player’s perspective.

The Raiders tight end, who is dealing with a knee injury, caught his first pass of the night on a third down deep in Raiders territory. Bowers is wearing a heavy brace on his knee and jogged gingerly off the field after the catch.

Gaining a second possession less than 90 seconds into the game, the Raiders went 42 yards in 10 plays to set up kicker Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard try to tie the game at 3 with 9:02 left in the first quarter. Ashton Jeanty had a 13-yard rush to get things going for Las Vegas.

On his first carry of the contest, Ashton Jeanty made his presence known by lowering his shoulder and sending Alohi Gilman into the turf.  

It didn’t take long for Raiders QB Geno Smith to cough up the football. Smith looked for receiver Tre Tucker on the first offensive snap of the game, but Chargers safety Alohi Gilman tipped the ball to third-year linebacker Daiyan Henley for the interception. It was Henley’s second career interception. 

After a Chargers three-and-out, Cameron Dicker made a 38-yard field goal for the quick 3-0 lead. 

What time does Raiders vs. Chargers start?  

  • Date: Monday, Sept. 15
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) 
  • Where: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+ 

ESPN will be the broadcast home of the Monday night clash between the Raiders and Chargers. Chris Fowler will be on the call handling play-by-play duties. He will be flanked by Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick.

Watch “Monday Night Football” with Fubo (free trial)

Raiders vs. Chargers live betting odds, moneyline, over/under

The Raiders defense is still suspect and the offense needs to find its identity, which is going to be very difficult to do against a violent Los Angeles unit. Couple that with the interesting pass-heavy game plan that L.A. had in Week 1, and the Chargers pick up the road win in Vegas. – Joe Rivera

Prediction: Chargers 24, Raiders 20

Tyler Dragon: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll meet again. Harbaugh has the better quarterback and team. Justin Herbert played like a top 5 quarterback last week. The Chargers swept Las Vegas in Harbaugh’s first year as head coach.

Christopher Bumbaca: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

Justin Herbert does not appear to be messing around in 2025. Welcome to the big-boy table, Justin, although Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is a worthy adversary.

Jon Hoefling: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

The Raiders don’t have the luxury of an elite D-line like Kansas City had against Los Angeles last week. Expect the Chargers to waste the clock away with a heavy dose of Hampton.

Jordan Mendoza: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

This may finally be the year the Chargers take the next step in becoming a legit AFC power. Justin Herbert continues the hot steak and pulls away from Las Vegas in the fourth quarter for a solid victory.

Lorenzo Reyes: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

I think the Chargers are a team that could become a contender in the AFC. The defense is aggressive and generates turnovers, and the offense is diverse. Justin Herbert can sling it around the field, and the Chargers can run the ball. I really like Los Angeles in this spot.

Blake Schuster: Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5)

Between the Chargers’ run-heavy offense and the Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty, the under might be the best bet here. Still, I’m going with Justin Herbert after he turned Kansas City’s defense into goop with 300-plus yards and three touchdowns.

With Raheem Mostert inactive, the Raiders backfield will be comprised of Ashton Jeanty, Zamir White and Dylan Laube. Brock Bowers is officially active.

Here are the rest of the inactives:

No surprises for the Chargers as they enter their matchup relatively healthy vs. the Raiders. Here are the inactives for tonight’s game:

The Raiders tight end is expected to play despite not having practiced the majority of last week. Bowers exited Las Vegas’ Week 1 matchup with a knee issue.

The Raiders head coach turns 74 on Sept. 15, the oldest active coach in the NFL.

Carroll is 7 years older than Andy Reid, who is 67.

Brady owns a 5% minority stake in the Raiders as of October 2024.

His purchase of the stake from principal owner Mark Davis required approval from three-quarters of NFL team owners – 24 of 32. The owners voted unanimously to approve the deal last fall.