The Chargers came away with a big win in the season opener, defeating the Chiefs, 27-21.
After picking up the victory, let’s see what national analysts think of Los Angeles.
USA Today: 7
“September 5th will go down in some Charger lore, in my opinion,” coach Jim Harbaugh said of beating the Chiefs last week in Brazil. “It was a big win.” A touch hyperbolic, Coach? Maybe? Still, the outcome was just as notable given Harbaugh, a 3 yards and a cloud of dust guy (if not an Ohio State guy) if there ever was one, watched his team pass 60% of the time in Week 1.”
NFL: 13
“Our final impression of Justin Herbert from last season was by far his worst, but last Friday’s game in Brazil was a good reminder that he’s been a very good quarterback most of the time. His showing against the Chiefs was one of his finest, and it was certainly one of his most important. You can say that about Herbert because he’s 0-2 in the playoffs and was 2-7 against the Chiefs coming in, but he was dicing up a defense that was one of the league’s best in 2024. Quentin Johnston also came up big and might yet be a true difference-maker. I was kind of fading this team a bit in the preseason after the season-ending injury to Rashawn Slater, who’s a tremendous player, but watching Joe Alt at left tackle in Week 1 made me feel a whole lot better.”
ESPN: 9
Best newcomer performance: WR Keenan Allen
“Allen is technically a newcomer. But he spent his first 11 seasons with the Chargers before the team traded him to the Bears last season following a contract dispute. He finished with seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, which came on an out route that left him wide open. The score was the 60th of his career with the Chargers, making him the third player to reach that mark in franchise history.”
CBS Sports: 7
“Justin Herbert was outstanding in beating the Chiefs, which serves notice to the rest of the AFC that this team might be a Super Bowl contender. Jim Harbaugh can flat out coach.”
Sports Illustrated: 6
“Here’s what I wrote about the fallout from Friday night’s win over the Chiefs. Vintage Justin Herbert is back, or at the very least, momentarily unholstered while the Omarion Hampton running game takes form. The silver lining of a Rashawn Slater injury making the Chargers less a road grating team is that Herbert will be called upon circa 2021 to conjure some magic.”
Bleacher Report: 9
“It appears the Los Angeles Chargers might just survive without Rashawn Slater after all. Their offensive line never felt like a major liability against the defending AFC champions, though the mobility of Justin Herbert certainly helped. Herbert’s mobility also helped put the Chiefs away, and his play is a big reason why Los Angeles can have realistic Super Bowl dreams this season. There isn’t much he can’t do, and he’ll have the chance to do it all in 2025. With new (and returning) pieces in the lineup, Greg Roman’s offense has a chance to be far more dynamic than last year’s. Coupled with a talented, well-coached defense, that makes L.A. a team poised to build on last year’s success.”
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers soar in NFL power rankings after defeating Chiefs in Week 1
Reporting by Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
