Herbert and strong defense lead
Chargers to 20-9 win over Raiders
[September 16, 2025]
By MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, battling fever
and an illness, set the tone on the game's first play from scrimmage
by intercepting Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
Henley went on to have a big performance — as did the rest of the
Los Angeles defense.
They shut down the Raiders, Justin Herbert passed for 242 yards and
two touchdowns and the Chargers went on to a 20-9 victory Monday
night to give 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. Harbaugh said Mack will need
to undergo imaging tests.
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, beginning with Henley's interception.
“It definitely set the tone,” Henley said. “One thing we've been
preaching with our defense is to start fast. We know it's a long
game and we have three more quarters to go. We just wanted to make
sure we finished strong as well.”
Henley recorded 10 tackles that included two for loss and a sack. He
also broke up two passes.
“He's a true competitor,” Herbert said. “We know how bad he's
feeling. For him to show up and give us his best effort like that,
he's a true leader on the team.”
For the Raiders (1-1), Smith threw three interceptions while
completing 24 of 43 passes for 180 yards.
“Geno is a 70% guy, and he wasn’t that tonight,” Carroll said. "And
more so because of the attempts that we made. I thought they took
away from that (with deep pass coverage), and we just got to take
what’s given to us. I’m not sure that that’s the case until I see
the film, but I bet that’s what it is.”
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.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs with the
ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL
football game, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David
Becker)
“It was a battle like all the ones you play the
Raiders and a Pete Carroll team,” Harbaugh said. “Both teams were
just fighting. Everybody was all in out there. There was nobody that
was just right down the middle.”
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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