Herbert and strong defense lead Chargers to 20-9 win over Raiders

By Canadian Press on September 15, 2025.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Justin Herbert passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Chargers to a 20-9 victory over the Raiders on Monday night and giving Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh a win over rival Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll.

The Chargers, however, lost defensive end Khalil Mack to a left elbow injury late in the first quarter. He went to the locker room, but returned with his arm in a sling.

Herbert also led the Chargers in rushing with 31 yards. His two TD passes went to Quentin Johnson and Keenan Allen, who returned to the Chargers on a one-year contract after playing last season in Chicago.

It was Los Angeles’ defense that suffocated the Raiders, holding them to 218 yards. Linebacker Daiyan Henley set the tone from the first play with an interception, and he also recorded 10 tackles that included two for loss and a sack. He also broke up two passes.

For the Raiders (1-1), Geno Smith threw three interceptions while completing 24 of 43 passes for 180 yards. Ashton Jeanty, taken sixth in this year’s draft, gained 43 yards on 11 carries and has 81 yards through two games.

This win puts the Chargers (2-0), who open this season with three consecutive games against divisional opponents, atop an AFC West that has belonged to Kansas City since 2016. Los Angeles is making an early claim on a division in which the Chiefs are off to an 0-2 start.

Harbaugh has at least temporary bragging rights over Carroll in their first meeting since Dec. 14, 2014. Their combative history as opposing coaches dates to 2007 when Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll at Southern California. They later became NFC West rivals, Harbaugh in San Francisco and Carroll in Seattle.

Carroll, who turned 74 on Monday, had some help with Raiders minority owner — and Fox Sports NFL analyst — Tom Brady in the coaches’ booth wearing a headset. Brady was in Las Vegas also to promote a flag football tournament next year in Saudi Arabia.

The Chargers took a 20-6 lead midway through the third quarter and then forced the Raiders to eat clock. Las Vegas took 11:15 to go 62 yards on 19 plays before settling for a field goal.

But then Los Angeles perhaps got too cute, trying an end run on a fourth-and-1 at its 44-yard line that resulted in a fumble. But Smith threw his third interception shortly afterward, and that was it for the Raiders’ last realistic threat.

Raiders linebacker Devin White joined New Orleans’ Demario Davis as the only players with at least 600 tackles and 20 sacks since 2019.

Still celebrating big win

Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium to become the unified super middleweight champion. Crawford remained in Las Vegas and attended this game, though he admitted in an ESPN interview during the game that he’s a Green Bay fan.

Up next

Chargers: Host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Raiders: Visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Mark Anderson, The Associated Press

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