The LA Chargers flew all the way to Sao Paulo, Brazil looking to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Kansas City Chiefs and are flying home with a 1-0 record and the first-place spot in the AFC West.
Los Angeles went into Brazil and upset the defending three-time AFC Champions in a game the Chargers controlled from the opening whistle. While the Chiefs had a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, the Chargers were still firmly controlling the first matchup of the season.
Patrick Mahomes did his typical magician tricks to give the Chiefs a chance to steal the game like they have so many times in the past. It wasn't enough this time, though, and Mahomes didn't mince any words when speaking to the media after the game. Mahomes was quite blunt in his post-game assessment — the Chiefs simply couldn't match the Chargers' effort.
Patrick Mahomes: “They definitely came out with more energy than we did. … We’re not just going to come back & win every game.”
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) September 6, 2025
Patrick Mahomes gets blunt about the Chiefs' effort vs. the Chargers
Mahomes didn't just bring up the energy disparity; he was also quite candid about the Chiefs' execution in the game. Mahomes said the Chiefs weren't good enough, and even placed some of the blame on himself for missing some throws.
A quarterback is always going to shoulder the blame even when they shouldn't, but Mahomes really has no reason to accept any blame for the Chiefs' loss. He was the only reason Kansas City was actually in the game.
The Chargers were the better team on Friday night, plain and simple. They out-executed the Chiefs and brought an energy to the game that was not matched. Los Angeles played like a team hungry to make a statement on a large stage. The Chiefs looked like they were still thinking about February's Super Bowl loss.
One game does not decide an entire season, but Chargers fans have to feel confident exiting Friday's game. This wasn't a fluke win where the Chargers barely escaped with a victory. It also wasn't a game where the Chiefs beat themselves and the Chargers have no real reason to be proud.
This is a game where the Chargers thoroughly outplayed the Chiefs from the opening whistle to the last. This Chargers team proved in 60 minutes of game action that they can hang with the best teams the NFL has to offer.
Mahomes' comments after the game aren't just brutally honest about Friday night, they also are foreshadowing what could be a special season for the Bolts.