The Los Angeles Chargers’ seven-game losing streak versus the Kansas City Chiefs faded away in Brazil on Friday night. Los Angeles’ upset win in South America is an early season notice for the Chiefs.
The AFC West isn’t going to be a cakewalk for Kansas City this year.
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Justin Herbert and the Chargers controlled most of the game against the defending AFC champions and held on for the 27-21 victory. Herbert passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers preserved a lead from start to finish.
Friday’s AFC West battle was an offensive struggle for the Chiefs, who were outgained by the Chargers, 143 to 33, in the first quarter and went 0-7 on third down in the first half.
“We can learn from this as we move forward,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters postgame. “We were a little flat in the first half and that cost us.”
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles Chargers players huddle up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles Chargers players huddle up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey warms up before playing the Kansas City Chiefs at Corinthians Arena.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks on before playing the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce runs onto the field before the against the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce meets with soccer star Neymar before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
View inside the Corinthians Arena before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil.
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Chiefs and Chargers play in NFL International Series game of 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
View of the stadium before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.
Patrick Mahomes tried to will the Chiefs to victory in the second half. He had a circus third-down completion to JuJu Smith-Schuster on third down and made an amazing 49-yard pass to Hollywood Brown on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Kansas City scored on all three of its possessions in the second half, but they were playing catch up the entire evening as the Chargers seemingly padded their lead every time Mahomes and the Chiefs responded.
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Kansas City’s defense had an opportunity to give Mahomes the football again, but Herbert made the game’s decisive play with a little over two minutes remaining when he scrambled 19 yards on third-and-14 and made an overemphasize slide in satisfaction.
“It wasn’t good enough. Just in general, they came out with more energy than we did. Their defense and our offense. We didn’t execute,” Mahomes told reporters after the loss. “And obviously, we didn’t play good enough in the first half.”
Herbert is now 3-7 in his career versus Kansas City. It was the Chargers’ first victory against the Chiefs since Sept. 26, 2021. The Chargers’ win also extended Jim Harbaugh’s record to 6-0 in NFL season openers.
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Week 1 was a statement victory for the Chargers. They weren’t bullied by a Chiefs squad that’s won the AFC West for nine consecutive seasons. Kansas City’s defense allowed 394 yards and Herbert outshined Mahomes.
Yet for the Chiefs, the loss was a memo that the AFC West division is bound to be more difficult to navigate this season. The Chargers are better as they illustrated Friday night. Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos reloaded, and the Las Vegas Raiders have a new identity with Pete Carroll at the helm.
“It’s a learning moment, especially for the young guys on the team. We’re gonna get everybody’s best and we have to play up to that standard if we want to win football games. I felt like we didn’t play to that standard (Friday), everybody – offense, defense and special teams,” Mahomes said. “But credit to the Chargers. They had a great plan, came in played great football and beat us. Now we have to learn from that knowing that next week is gonna be just as tough.”
The Chiefs will get the benefit of playing at home next week. However, Week 2 will pose a daunting test against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, a team Kansas City is still licking its wounds from the Super Bowl 59 rout.
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“We got to learn fast,” Mahomes said. “We’re playing the reigning Super Bowl champs next week.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chiefs’ Week 1 loss to Chargers is an early season reality check