Herbert Shines In Debut But Chargers Lose In OT

BY JEFF MILLER – LA Times
INGLEWOOD, CA
The Chargers played the franchise’s first game Sunday at SoFi Stadium, the shiny, critically acclaimed architectural marvel.
Incredibly, on this day, there was a more notable debut for the team.
Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert was a late replacement as the starting quarterback, producing several highlights, a pair of touchdowns and the first of what could be many 300-yard passing games.
But the Chargers were unable to hold onto a double-digit third-quarter lead, falling to Kansas City and its young star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, 23-20 in overtime.
Saying Herbert was a late replacement might not be strong enough. Tyrod Taylor warmed up before the game, working with the first team and appearing ready to go.
But coach Anthony Lynn said he was told Taylor would be unable to start just after the coin toss. Herbert said Lynn informed him he was starting “five or 10 seconds before kickoff.”
“It took me about 30 seconds to process,” Lynn said. “I didn’t know what was going on.”
Taylor was late coming out of the locker room before the game. The Chargers announced a short time later that he was questionable because of a chest injury. He eventually emerged from the tunnel and made it to the bench, where he was flanked by medical personnel. Taylor then exited the field again.
The Chargers said in a statement Sunday night Taylor “experienced difficulty breathing” before kickoff and eventually “was transported to the hospital shortly thereafter to undergo further evaluation. … (He) has since been discharged from the hospital.”
“I think everybody on the whole team was surprised,” cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. “We just tried to rally around the young boy, let him know that we had his back. … I thought he played a solid, great game.”
Herbert, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft in April, finished 22 of 33 for 311 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.
Taylor opened the season as the starter and was expected to hold the job as long as the Chargers (1-1) were successful. At the same time, Herbert would be groomed as a potential long-term solution at the position.
Suddenly, everything changed. With nearly no warning.
“He was in a little bit of shock,” Lynn said of Herbert. “I think he thought I was joking. I had to tell him a couple times, ‘No, seriously, you’re the starting quarterback.’ Once he realized he was the guy, he was fine.”
Herbert said he really didn’t believe Lynn was kidding, admitting only that he was “surprised a little bit.”
His performance indicated he wasn’t overly nervous. Herbert led the Chargers on an eight-play, 79-yard scoring drive to start the game. He ran 4 yards for the touchdown to cap his first series as a pro.
“He did not flinch,” Lynn said. “I was pleased with the way he stepped up and handled the situation.”
Herbert led the Chargers on an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive in the second quarter. He connected with Jalen Guyton from 14 yards out for his first career touchdown pass.
Under Herbert’s direction, the Chargers also produced second-half drives that lasted 12 and 17 plays and resulted in field goals.
The output represented a stark departure from a week earlier, when the Chargers’ offense appeared clunky throughout a 16-13 victory at Cincinnati.
“It was great to see Herbie out there,” defensive end Joey Bosa said. “For it being his first game, I thought he showed a lot of great stuff.”
The lowlight for Herbert was his first NFL interception. The Chargers were leading 17-9 and driving late in the third quarter, the possibility of moving up two scores on the reigning Super Bowl champions almost in reach.
On second-and-2 at the Kansas City 39-yard line, Herbert had room to scramble for the first down. Instead, he stopped and lofted the ball over the middle toward Keenan Allen. The pass was picked off by cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
“It would have been great if I had just taken off and got what I could have,” Herbert said. “Unfortunately, I threw it. … We can’t turn the ball over to a team like that and expect to get away with it.”
Matters finally caught up with the Chargers late when Mahomes starting scrambling for first downs and Harrison Butker kicked a 30-yard field goal as time expired to make it 20-20.
Butker kicked a 58-yarder — his second from that distance on the day — to win it with 1:55 left in overtime.
Butker sent the ball through the uprights from 53 yards, but Kansas City (2-0) was called for a false start. Then the Chargers called timeout, giving him a rehearsal kick from 58 before the one that counted.
“To have two practice kicks is only going to help you,” Butker said. “I got a little bit more angry with every kick because I was trying to finish it off. I felt more confident on the last one. I slowed down my leg swing and hit a better ball.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Miller writes for the L.A. Times.