{"id":205198,"date":"2025-09-06T14:36:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T14:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/205198\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T14:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T14:36:13","slug":"how-a-playoff-loss-fueled-justin-herbert-in-season-opening-win-over-chiefs-a-different-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/205198\/","title":{"rendered":"How a playoff loss fueled Justin Herbert in season-opening win over Chiefs: \u2018A different 10\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00c3O PAULO, Brazil \u2014 He hears it and he sees it. He will not respond with words because that is not who he is, not how he was raised, not how he conducts himself. He will respond the only way he knows how: on the field.<\/p>\n

Consider this Justin Herbert\u2019s official statement.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-21<\/a>, in Friday night\u2019s season opener. The win ends a seven-game losing streak for the Chargers against one of their biggest rivals. And they were led there by Herbert, who harnessed the very best version of himself in his first game since a career low point in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s people bashing him, talking about he can\u2019t make plays in big games,\u201d said receiver Ladd McConkey. \u201cJustin\u2019s not somebody that\u2019s going to go and say something to somebody saying something bad about him. He\u2019s going to let his play do the talking, and he did that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herbert dazzled in every way a quarterback can. It was football genius. It was a virtuoso performance.<\/p>\n

This Herbert was missing in the playoff loss to the Houston Texans last season.<\/p>\n

This is the Herbert who can lead the Chargers to a championship.<\/p>\n

He completed 25 of 34 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns. Herbert did not have a turnover. Most importantly, Herbert showed off the creative part of his game \u2014 the facet he must tap into to lift the Chargers late in games and topple the NFL\u2019s giants, like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n

There was no better example of this creativity than on the final drive of the game. The Chargers faced a third-and-13 with 2:14 remaining. The Chiefs were out of timeouts. A first down would ice the game.<\/p>\n

Herbert took the shotgun snap and dropped back. He recognized man coverage. Herbert initially wanted to throw to Quentin Johnston, who led the Chargers with five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. But the Chiefs bracketed Johnston in double coverage.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs had no one assigned to spy Herbert.<\/p>\n

So he took off.<\/p>\n

Herbert escaped around Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones around the edge. He surged up the right sideline, his strides lengthening with each step as he hit top speed. Herbert passed the first down marker. He passed midfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hauling ass trying to catch him,\u201d center Bradley Bozeman said.<\/p>\n

Then Herbert slid feet first, the ball raised in his right hand in celebration.<\/p>\n

\n

JUSTIN HERBERT CALLS GAME. WHAT A NIGHT.<\/p>\n

KCvsLAC on YouTube https:\/\/t.co\/JVXS9sMrs3<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SslSt8mKPd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI could work on my ball security,\u201d Herbert quipped after the game.<\/p>\n

It could be considered a flamboyant gesture from the typically reserved Herbert.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love when he shows emotion,\u201d said right guard Mekhi Becton, who played despite dealing with a stomach illness. \u201cWhenever he shows emotion, I get excited, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teammates feed off this version of Herbert, and he has been building to this moment ever since that loss in Houston on Jan. 11.<\/p>\n

Herbert threw a career-high four interceptions in that game. Despite facing considerable pressure because of a leaky offensive line, Herbert did not scramble a single time. The game was screaming for playmaking from the star quarterback, but he had none to offer.<\/p>\n

All offseason, in quiet moments at the Chargers facility, safety Derwin James Jr. saw a more motivated Herbert. He was fueled by falling short, fueled by missing out on another chance to win his first playoff game.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince that game,\u201d James said, \u201che hasn\u2019t stopped working.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Derwin James and Bradley Bozeman celebrate with Herbert after his game-clinching scramble for a first down. (Amanda Perobelli \/ Reuters via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

During camp practices, Herbert would often spend special teams periods running sprints with members of the training staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been seeing him working on his speed and his endurance so much,\u201d said McConkey, who caught six passes for 74 yards. \u201cIt\u2019s paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday night in Brazil was a culmination.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never had more trust in a quarterback,\u201d safety Elijah Molden said.<\/p>\n

A reminder.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor him to come and ball like he did,\u201d said edge rusher Khalil Mack, \u201cyou can see what he\u2019s been thinking about all offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne game last year doesn\u2019t define someone,\u201d Molden said. \u201cHe is who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

James could tell he was watching \u201ca different 10\u201d early in the game. The play was called back for a holding penalty, but it was a sign of what was to come. Herbert escaped to his right on a first-and-20 scramble from inside Chiefs territory. He juked linebacker Drue Tranquill, his former teammate, in the open field. He ran over cornerback Jaylen Watson. He ran through linebacker Nick Bolton. He initially picked up a first down.<\/p>\n

The flag was less meaningful than the creativity and playmaking Herbert showed on this snap.<\/p>\n

\u201cA new level, a new focus, a new leader,\u201d James said. \u201cThis 10 is scary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mahomes tried to pull off another escape act. He did this over and over against the Chargers during the seven-game winning streak. He scrambled for a touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter. On the next possession, he seemed to levitate in midair, body parallel to the grass, as he found receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for a mind-bending third-down conversion. Later in that possession, Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce on a 37-yard touchdown. On the final drive, he kept the Chiefs alive with a 49-yard completion to Hollywood Brown on fourth down.<\/p>\n

Each time, though, Herbert had an answer. Finally, after nearly four years of getting knocked to the mat by Mahomes, Herbert seized his turn to deliver the decisive blows.<\/p>\n

He answered the scramble touchdown with a touchdown throw to Keenan Allen, who finished with seven catches for 68 yards. He answered the Kelce touchdown with a touchdown throw to Johnston. He answered the Brown deep shot with that third-and-13 scramble.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a problem,\u201d coach Jim Harbaugh said of Herbert.<\/p>\n

It is only one game, and Herbert will have to stack more performances like this. He has flashed his creative side in individual games before, including in a Week 16 win over the Denver Broncos last season.<\/p>\n

The true step forward will come when he is this threatening, dangerous playmaker week after week.<\/p>\n

But based on how he played Friday night and how his teammates raved, it is quite possible the Texans loss awoke something inside Herbert.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe put on his hero cape today,\u201d Mack said, \u201cand saved the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

A great superhero origin story must sometimes begin with tragedy.<\/p>\n

(Photo: Ettore Chiereguini \/ AGIF via Associated Press)<\/p>\n