LA Chargers: Team grades in the shocking Justin Herbert Chiefs’ game

Special teams and final grades

Neither Desmond King nor Joe Reed really had much in the way of returning in this game. That’s to be expected though, as the Chiefs’ special teams unit is certainly more solid than Cincinnati’s.

My favorite play of the game on special teams had to be Tillery’s blocked PAT. That certainly made a difference down the stretch in getting the game to overtime in the first place. Otherwise, Harrison Butker‘s kick at the end of regulation would’ve outright won the game.

Ty Long had another solid game, although he did get lucky with how much the blocked punt rolled. Granted, the blocked punt is really more the fault of the special teams blocking than his.

Michael Badgley knocked in two chip shots. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Chargers decided to go for it on 4th and 5 on one of the first Herbert drives instead of kicking a 50 yard field goal with Badgley. He missed one last week, but he’s generally pretty efficient.

Up 7-0 on the Chiefs in the first quarter, Badgley has to be the one that gets the call there. If they make a field goal at that moment, the game might not have gone to overtime with all the offensive line problems Kansas City was having on the final drive of regulation.

Offense: B+

Defense: B+

Special Teams: B-

Herbert’s debut was something that no one expected until just a few minutes prior to kickoff. To see him do as well as he did was surprising when it felt like the expectations were just for him not to have his arm fall off during the game. Herbert demonstrated precision passing, quick decision making, mental processing, and what he can do with his mobility.

While the Chargers beat the Bengals and lost to the Chiefs, most fans would say that it felt like the results of both games were flipped. To an extent, the feeling is understandable, but the Chargers made quite a few mental errors that lost them this one. Not kicking the field goal on 4th and 5, Herbert’s easily avoidable interception, no QB spy on Mahomes, etc. were the types of decisions that absolutely lost them this game.

Ultimately though, LA Chargers fans have to feel pretty encouraged by the Week 2 effort heading into the Carolina game next week. A quarterback decision looms on the horizon for Lynn.