Chiefs vs. Chargers in São Paulo: Mahomes Magic Meets Herbert’s Answer
By Trinity Barnette
The spotlight shifted to Brazil on Friday night as the Chiefs and Chargers clashed in São Paulo. Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert shared the stage in the NFL’s second game of the season, and the result was a wild back-and-forth that ended with the Chargers making the first big statement in the AFC West.
The Chiefs’ night unraveled almost immediately. On the opening drive, rookie receiver Xavier Worthy collided with Travis Kelce on a crossing route. At 165 pounds against Kelce’s 250, Worthy took the worst of it. He left with a shoulder injury and never returned — a crushing loss for a Kansas City offense already missing Rashee Rice due to suspension.
From there, the Chiefs looked flat. Their passing game stalled, their rhythm evaporated, and the Chargers wasted no time taking control.
Herbert Sets the Tone
Justin Herbert came out sharp, completing 12 of 18 passes for 171 yards before halftime. The Chargers controlled possession and tempo, mixing in big runs from rookie Omarion Hampton with quick darts to Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston.
A late mistake nearly swung momentum — Hampton ran out of bounds on third down, saving the Chiefs precious seconds before halftime. That miscue gave Patrick Mahomes just enough time to connect with Tyquan Thornton on a 38-yard strike, setting up a 59-yard field goal from Harrison Butker as the half expired.
Instead of a 13–3 cushion, the Chargers went to the locker room with a 13–6 lead and the sense they’d let Kansas City hang around.
The Spotlight Shifted to Mahomes
The second half looked like vintage Patrick Mahomes. With the Chiefs’ receivers struggling to separate, he put the offense on his back — scrambling for first downs, lowering his shoulder into defenders, and even scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run to close the gap.
His highlight reel grew in the fourth quarter: on a third-and-5, Mahomes was tripped mid-sprint yet somehow managed to fire a strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster as he fell forward. A few plays later, he connected with Travis Kelce for a 37-yard touchdown, pulling Kansas City within two at 20–18.
But the Chiefs couldn’t complete the comeback. Twice they failed on conversions, and twice Herbert responded with answers of his own.
Heated Moment: Tart vs. Kelce
The rivalry got chippy in the second half when Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart smacked Travis Kelce’s helmet after a play. The move only drew a penalty, but plenty of fans and analysts argued it should’ve been an ejection. The incident fueled the intensity of an already physical game and highlighted just how much tension exists in this AFC West matchup.
Herbert Closes the Door
With the Chiefs threatening late, Justin Herbert showed why this night belonged to Los Angeles. After Kansas City trimmed the deficit to 20–18, Herbert marched the Chargers downfield and capped the drive with Quentin Johnston’s second touchdown of the game, stretching the lead back to 27–18.
Even then, Mahomes nearly pulled off another miracle — converting a desperate fourth down with a 49-yard strike to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. But the drive stalled, forcing Kansas City to settle for a field goal before the two-minute warning.
The final blow came moments later. Facing third-and-14, Herbert escaped the pocket, tucked the ball, and scrambled for 19 yards and a first down. That run sealed a 27–21 Chargers victory, snapping Kansas City’s NFL-record streak of 17 straight wins in one-score games.
Takeaways
Justin Herbert isn’t overrated. He threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and iced the game with his legs. He outdueled Mahomes and made a statement in the AFC West.
The Chiefs look shaky. Back-to-back games (including the Super Bowl) without a first-half touchdown is alarming. Losing Xavier Worthy on the opening drive only highlighted how thin they are at receiver without Rashee Rice.
Flags and mistakes piled up. Both teams had costly penalties, but Omarion Hampton’s rookie mistake before halftime nearly shifted momentum. Small moments matter against Kansas City.
The Chargers finally finished. Instead of folding late, they answered Mahomes drive for drive and broke the Chiefs’ one-score game streak. That feels huge for their identity moving forward.
Raw Reflections
I’ll admit it — I called Justin Herbert overrated before. But last night? That was different. He stood in the pocket, made every throw, and shut the door when Mahomes tried to work his usual magic.
As for the Chiefs, I wasn’t that shocked. I clocked it in the Super Bowl when they fell apart, and last night felt like a continuation. They still have Mahomes, but the supporting cast looks rough and the mistakes piled up. The Chargers didn’t just win — they looked like the better team for most of the night.
