Chargers QB Justin Herbert shows up big in first NFL start, but Chiefs still come back to win in OT

From the start of the Chargers-Chiefs game on Sunday afternoon, we knew there was something special brewing. The Chargers offense took the field and to the surprise of everyone, it was rookie Justin Herbert behind center instead of veteran Tyrod Taylor.

We soon learned that Taylor had suffered a chest injury pregame and was a late scratch, opening the door for Herbert to take the field for the first start of his young career. And with the way Herbert played, he Taylor may have great difficulty getting his job back.

Herbert came out dealing. The No. 6 overall pick showed off many of the skills that made him a star for the Oregon Ducks. He threw a pass into the right flat to Joshua Kelley who ran for 35 yards. Then a read-option pitch play to Kelley and a back-shoulder pass to Austin Ekeler for 16 yards.

Not looking like a rookie at all, Herbert broke out left off the play action and ran it in for the game-opening touchdown.

That was Herbert introducing himself to the NFL with his first touchdown. In the second quarter, he would throw a wicked back left corner fade for his first touchdown through the air.

That would put the Chargers up 14-6 over the Chiefs at the half. Come the third quarter, the Chargers would extend the lead to 17-6 with a field goal. And to get in range, Herbert through this dime to Keenan Allen between defenders and with a defender in his face.

It was a coming-out party for Herbert for sure. But later in the third quarter, on a play in which he could’ve run for the first down, and put his team in scoring range, he decided instead to throw across his body over the middle and it was picked off.

Down 17-9 at that point, the Chiefs took advantage and drove for a touchdown and added a two-point conversion to tie it at 17 all early in the fourth quarter.

A near ten-minute drive by Herbert and the Chargers would lead to a field goal to re-take a 20-17 lead. But Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs came back out and drove for their own field goal to tie it and take it to overtime.

The Chargers got the ball first in the extra period, but couldn’t pick up the first down and opted to punt it on 4th and one from their own 34.

With all the momentum and Patrick Mahomes now feeling it, the Chiefs would drive down the field with a win in sights.

Already with a 58-yard field goal under his belt in this game, Harrison Butker came out to try another one, this time to win it. He nailed it and the Chiefs pulled out the 23-20 win in LA.

Herbert finished the day 22 of 33 for 311 yards with one TD, one interception, and a rushing TD as well.

The AFC West learned they have a new big-time arm in the division along with being reminded who the top dog is. The Chiefs improve to 2-0 on the season while the Chargers dropped to 1-1.

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