Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats (Sep 5, 2025)
Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers beat Kansas City 27-21 to snap a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry. Herbert completed 25 of 34 attempts, finding Quentin Johnston twice for touchdowns while Keenan Allen added seven catches for 68 yards and a score in the September 5, 2025 season opener at Arena Corinthians in Brazil.
Patrick Mahomes went 24 of 39 for 258 yards with one passing touchdown and ran six times for 57 yards with another score. The loss ended Kansas City’s NFL-record 17 consecutive victories in one-possession games and marked the first time since September 26, 2021 that Los Angeles defeated its AFC West rival.
Table of Contents
Game Summary
Final Score: Los Angeles 27, Kansas City 21
Location: Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil
Attendance: 47,627
| Stat Category | Kansas City | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 347 | 394 |
| First Downs | 18 | 22 |
| Third Downs | 5-14 (36%) | 7-13 (54%) |
| Time of Possession | 27:16 | 32:44 |
| Penalties-Yards | 10-71 | 6-49 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Scoring by Quarter
| Quarter | Kansas City | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 7 |
| 2nd | 6 | 6 |
| 3rd | 6 | 7 |
| 4th | 9 | 7 |
| Final | 21 | 27 |
Scoring Summary:
- 1Q – Johnston 5-yard TD pass from Herbert (Dicker kick), 9:11
- 2Q – Dicker 39-yard FG, 13:47
- 2Q – Butker 35-yard FG, 4:50
- 2Q – Dicker 36-yard FG, 0:45
- 2Q – Butker 59-yard FG, 0:00
- 3Q – Mahomes 11-yard TD run (kick failed), 8:05
- 3Q – Allen 11-yard TD pass from Herbert (Dicker kick), 0:32
- 4Q – Kelce 37-yard TD pass from Mahomes (pass failed), 12:04
- 4Q – Johnston 23-yard TD pass from Herbert (Dicker kick), 5:02
- 4Q – Butker 27-yard FG, 2:34
Why This Game Mattered
Jim Harbaugh won his sixth consecutive Week 1 game as an NFL head coach, tying the league record. The Chargers came to Brazil after repeated failures against Kansas City, including playoff defeats and late-game collapses.
“September 5th will go down in some Charger lore, in my opinion,” Harbaugh said after the game. “It was a big win.”
Kansas City entered as nine-time defending AFC West champions. Xavier Worthy suffered a shoulder injury when he collided with teammate Travis Kelce on the third offensive snap and did not return.
NFL.com reported that Kansas City’s defense struggled in the season debut as Herbert picked apart the secondary. Offseason losses in the defensive backfield became evident throughout the night.
Quick Stats
- Herbert: 73.5% completion rate, zero interceptions, 131.7 passer rating
- Los Angeles converted 54% of third downs vs Kansas City’s 36%
- Chargers held Chiefs scoreless on first seven third-down attempts
- Joe Alt: zero pressures allowed in 41 pass-blocking snaps
- Harrison Butker’s missed extra point kept it a one-score game in third quarter
- Herbert’s 19-yard scramble on third-and-14 sealed the win with 2:14 left
Quarterback Performance
| Stat | Patrick Mahomes | Justin Herbert |
|---|---|---|
| Comp-Att | 24-39 | 25-34 |
| Completion % | 61.5% | 73.5% |
| Yards | 258 | 318 |
| TD Passes | 1 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 89.5 | 131.7 |
| Times Sacked | 2 | 3 |
| Yards Lost | 9 | 14 |
| Rush Attempts | 6 | 7 |
| Rush Yards | 57 | 32 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
Herbert became just the third quarterback in Chargers history to pass for 300-plus yards and three touchdowns in a season opener, joining Dan Fouts (330 yards, three TDs vs Cleveland in 1981). His previous 300-yard, three-touchdown game came in Week 10 of 2023 against Detroit.
Mahomes kept Kansas City close with his mobility, rushing six times for 57 yards and a touchdown. His 11-yard scoring run in the third quarter cut the deficit to 13-12, though Butker’s missed extra point prevented a tie.
He threw to seven receivers but completed just two of four deep attempts over 20 yards. Without Worthy stretching the field, Kansas City relied on shorter routes that allowed Los Angeles to play more aggressively on defense.
Pass Catchers
Los Angeles Pass Catchers
| Player | Rec | Targets | Yards | TD | Long | YAC* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keenan Allen | 7 | 10 | 68 | 1 | 15 | 20 |
| Ladd McConkey | 6 | 9 | 74 | 0 | 23 | 17 |
| Quentin Johnston | 5 | 7 | 79 | 2 | 33 | 39 |
| Tyler Conklin | 2 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 33 | 22 |
| Will Dissly | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 13 |
| Omarion Hampton | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
*YAC = Yards After Catch
Johnston caught Herbert’s first touchdown of the season (five yards in the first quarter) and delivered the decisive score late in the fourth (23 yards with 5:02 remaining).
Allen caught six passes that resulted in first downs, including three on third down. His 11-yard touchdown late in the third quarter pushed the Chargers ahead 20-12 after Kansas City had pulled within one point.
McConkey caught six passes for 74 yards and delivered downfield blocks. His blocking helped spring Johnston loose on the opening drive’s 33-yard gain that set up the first score.
Kansas City Pass Catchers
| Player | Rec | Targets | Yards | TD | Long | YAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquise Brown | 10 | 16 | 99 | 0 | 49 | 39 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 5 | 5 | 55 | 0 | 16 | 26 |
| Travis Kelce | 2 | 4 | 47 | 1 | 37 | 24 |
| Tyquan Thornton | 2 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 38 | 5 |
| Kareem Hunt | 2 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Brown caught 10 passes for 99 yards but didn’t score. His 49-yard reception on fourth-and-seven in the fourth quarter set up a field goal that cut the lead to 27-21.
Kelce’s 37-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter brought Kansas City within two points at 20-18. The two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping the Chiefs down by two possessions after Los Angeles answered with another touchdown.
Rushing Performance
Los Angeles Ground Game
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omarion Hampton | 15 | 48 | 3.2 | 0 | 11 |
| Justin Herbert | 7 | 32 | 4.6 | 0 | 19 |
| Najee Harris | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Team Total | 25 | 90 | 3.6 | 0 | 19 |
Kansas City Ground Game
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Mahomes | 6 | 57 | 9.5 | 1 | 15 |
| Isiah Pacheco | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 0 | 10 |
| Kareem Hunt | 5 | 16 | 3.2 | 0 | 6 |
| Xavier Worthy | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team Total | 17 | 98 | 5.8 | 1 | 15 |
Hampton played 52 of the offense’s 65 snaps in his NFL debut. He converted fourth-and-one at the Chargers’ 35-yard line in the third quarter to sustain a scoring drive.
Harris played just 12 snaps with one carry. Signed in free agency, he saw minimal action in the opener.
Defensive Leaders
Los Angeles Defense
| Player | Total | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alohi Gilman | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daiyan Henley | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr. | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Troy Dye | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Hart | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elijah Molden | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TFL = Tackles for Loss, PD = Passes Defended
Kansas City Defense
| Player | Total | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamarri Conner | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bolton | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaylen Watson | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Drue Tranquill | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Trent McDuffie | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jaden Hicks | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Henley sacked Mahomes on third-and-goal from the nine in the second quarter, forcing a field goal instead of a touchdown. He finished with eight tackles and a sack.
James made five solo tackles and two quarterback hits. He tackled ball carriers near the line of scrimmage and blitzed on third downs.
Tranquill recorded two sacks. His third-quarter sack of Herbert forced a field goal, and his late sack gave Kansas City one final opportunity that fell short.
Pass Protection
Joe Alt allowed zero pressures on 41 pass-blocking snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him the highest pass-blocking grade (91.4) among all offensive linemen in Week 1. Alt transitioned from right tackle to left tackle after Rashawn Slater’s preseason injury.
Los Angeles Protection
| Player | Position | Pressures Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Alt | LT | 0 |
| Zion Johnson | LG | 1 |
| Bradley Bozeman | C | 2 |
| Mekhi Becton | RG | 0 |
| Trey Pipkins III | RT | 3 |
| Team Total | 13 |
Kansas City Protection
| Player | Position | Pressures Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Simmons | LT | 5 |
| Trey Smith | LG | 0 |
| Creed Humphrey | C | 0 |
| Kingsley Suamataia | RG | 3 |
| Jawaan Taylor | RT | 2 |
| Team Total | 20 |
Chiefs.com reported that Kansas City coach Andy Reid acknowledged his team needed more emotion from the start. The offensive line allowed 20 total pressures compared to just 13 for Los Angeles.
Special Teams
Harrison Butker made all three field goal attempts, including a 59-yarder as time expired in the first half that kept Kansas City within 13-6. His missed extra point after Mahomes’ third-quarter rushing touchdown changed the game’s dynamics.
Instead of tying the score at 13-13, Kansas City trailed 13-12 and needed touchdowns to take the lead. When Los Angeles scored to go up 20-12, the Chiefs faced an eight-point deficit requiring a touchdown and two-point conversion just to tie.
| Kicker | Team | FG Made-Att | Long | XP Made-Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Dicker | LAC | 2-2 | 39 | 3-3 | 9 |
| Harrison Butker | KC | 3-3 | 59 | 0-1 | 9 |
Los Angeles punter JK Scott averaged 53.0 yards on two attempts, while Kansas City’s Matt Araiza averaged 38.7 yards on three punts. Neither team generated significant return yardage.
Four Plays That Decided It
Third Quarter, 8:05: Mahomes scrambled 11 yards for a touchdown, cutting Los Angeles’ lead to 13-12. Butker’s extra point attempt sailed wide right. Kansas City remained one point behind instead of tying the game at 13-13.
Third Quarter, 0:32: Herbert found Allen for an 11-yard touchdown on third-and-one, capping a 12-play, 74-yard drive. The score gave Los Angeles a 20-12 lead and answered Kansas City’s touchdown.
Fourth Quarter, 5:09: Facing third-and-one at the Kansas City 25, the Chargers gave the ball to tight end Tyler Conklin on a direct snap. He gained two yards to convert. Two plays later, Herbert hit Johnston for the 23-yard touchdown that made it 27-18.
Fourth Quarter, 2:14: Herbert faced third-and-14 from the Chargers’ 34 after Kansas City had cut the lead to 27-21. He scrambled right for 19 yards, sliding in bounds to keep the clock running. Los Angeles ran out the final two minutes.
First Half Defense
Los Angeles held Kansas City to 133 yards and zero touchdowns through the first two quarters. The Chargers stopped the Chiefs on all seven third-down attempts in the opening half.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter sent linebackers and safeties on blitzes while cornerbacks pressed at the line. Kansas City’s longest play in the first half covered just 33 yards.
Herbert built a 13-6 halftime lead. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman used play-action frequently. Herbert completed nine of 11 play-action attempts for 169 yards during the game.
Series History
According to Pro Football Reference, the all-time series now stands at Kansas City leading 71-59-1 in regular season games. The Chiefs have won nine consecutive AFC West titles, but this opening week result gave Los Angeles early positioning in the 2025 division race.
Harbaugh became one of just two coaches in NFL history to start 6-0 in Week 1 games, tying for the most such wins without a loss. His emphasis on physicality and disciplined play showed immediate results against a Kansas City team that had dominated through finesse and fourth-quarter execution.
What Changed
Herbert completed passes to eight different receivers. He averaged 9.3 yards per attempt compared to Mahomes’ 6.6 yards per attempt.
Los Angeles converted seven of 13 third-down attempts (54%) while Kansas City made just five of 14 (36%). The Chargers controlled possession for 32:44 compared to Kansas City’s 27:16.
NFL.com’s game analysis noted that Herbert was “incredible” in the victory.
Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns, Johnston caught two scores, and Alt allowed zero pressures in 41 snaps at left tackle. Full match player stats available here for tracking the 2025 NFL season.
