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Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat the Chiefs but limped at the finish line

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Justin Herbert, Chargers had chances to beat the Chiefs but limped at the finish line

Facing a tie score in the fourth quarter for a second consecutive week, the Chargers lined up with a chance to make a strong statement. Fourth and one from the Kansas City three-yard line, Justin Herbert dropped back. Before he could even set his feet to pass, Kansas City’s Chris Jones was in the quarterback’s face.

Herbert could only throw the best chance to knock off their AFC West rival through the back of the end zone.

The quarterback played through a high-ankle sprain for a second consecutive week but couldn’t will his shorthanded team to an upset over the Chiefs, who did convert on their critical chances in the fourth quarter Sunday to win 17-10 at SoFi Stadium.

The two-time defending Super Bowl champions won their sixth straight game over the Chargers (2-2) with five of the six coming by one possession.

Outside linebacker Khalil Mack, now in his third season with the Chargers, said this week that the championship pedigree of the Chiefs shows up as the team “find[s] ways to win games.”

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The statement he made with equal parts envy and awe in front of his locker Thursday played out on the field.

The Chargers (2-2) came up empty from the three-yard line. The Chiefs (4-0) pieced together the game-winning five-play, 60-yard drive in the fourth quarter that broke a 10-10 tie.

“We had a chance to do something special, man,” Mack said, “and wasn’t able to hold on to the rope when it mattered the most.”

Including a 20-10 loss to the Steelers last week, the Chargers have not scored a second-half point in consecutive games. The Chargers, who allowed just one red zone touchdown in the first three games, gave up the decisive score on a two-yard touchdown run by Samaje Perine.

The Chargers dominated the first quarter behind a shorthanded defense that forced takeaways on each of the Chiefs’ first two drives.

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A fumble forced by Tuli Tuipulotu and recovered by Elijah Molden led to a seven-yard touchdown pass from Herbert to Ladd McConkey, who tapped his toes in the back of the end zone for his second NFL touchdown.

Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey (15) hauls in a touchdown pass in the first half behind Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6).

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

But Herbert got up from the play limping after absorbing a strong hit from Kansas City defensive end Malik Herring. Already hobbled with a high-right ankle sprain, Herbert was sacked twice and hit 10 times behind an offensive line without starting tackles Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (knee).

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Herbert finished with 179 yards and one touchdown on 16-of-27 passing.

“Gotta get him just a little bit more time,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Some of the throws he made, some of the plays he made were incredible.”

The patchwork offensive line that featured Sam Mustipher at starting right guard one day after the third-string center was elevated from the practice squad struggled in all aspects. The Chargers rushed for just 55 yards and had nine penalties, including five from offensive linemen.

Cornerback Kristian Fulton intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 29 yards to the Kansas City 20. However, penalties by Mustipher and new left tackle Jamaree Salyer turned that opportunity into a 50-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first quarter.

That kept the Chiefs well within striking distance and they finally took advantage in the second quarter on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Xavier Worthy to draw within three.

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Chargers' injured starting offensive tackles Joe Alt (left) and Rashawn Slater watch action against the Chiefs.

Chargers’ injured starting offensive tackles Joe Alt (left) and Rashawn Slater watch action against the Chiefs.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

“We gotta be more disciplined,” left guard Zion Johnson said. “But I think that’s the thing, that we can go to the drawing board, and fix those things and the future’s bright once we fix those things.”

The upcoming off week that at first seemed too early is now coming at the right time for the Chargers, who were also without safety Derwin James Jr. (suspension) and outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip).

Herbert, who played with an additional brace around his ankle Sunday, finished the game but came up limping after several hits. Getting Slater and Alt back will be necessary to stabilize an offense that wants to rely on its rushing attack, which has been held to 116 yards over the last two games.

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Mack, now in his 11th year in the league, will focus on nursing his ailing hip and knee. After consecutive losses, however, the Chargers still are expected to practice once during the off week.

“Can’t really think about this as a bye week,” Mack said, “gotta think about it as a work week.”

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Chargers’ Justin Herbert gushes over Madison Beer in heartfelt birthday tribute: ‘Changed my life forever’

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Chargers’ Justin Herbert gushes over Madison Beer in heartfelt birthday tribute: ‘Changed my life forever’

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert gushed over 27-year-old singer Madison Beer in a heartfelt birthday tribute on social media, offering fans a rare glimpse into the couple’s relationship. 

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who normally shies away from the public eye, posted a series of photos to his Instagram Stories on Thursday. 

Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 8, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

“Happy birthday to my favorite person of all time,” Herbert wrote in a post that showed the couple on the sidelines of one of his NFL games. “I love you so much. You’ve changed my life forever.”

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In another photo appearing to show the couple out to dinner, Herbert wrote, “I am the luckiest guy alive…”

Herbert, who turns 28 later this month, shared another photo of the “Make You Mine” artist petting goats and captioned the photo, “My goats.”

The couple was first linked together in August when they were spotted together on the set of one of Beer’s music videos in Los Angeles. Herbert and Beer were photographed in October on the sidelines of a Chargers game at SoFi Stadium, seemingly confirming the dating rumors. 

Quarterback Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and singer Madison Beer attend an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 24, 2025. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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The same month, Herbert went viral after blocking a rogue basketball from hitting Beer when the two sat courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game.  

Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers in July 2023. Despite proving himself to be one of the elite young quarterbacks in the NFL, Los Angeles’ offensive struggles have seen the team fall short in back-to-back playoff appearances.

Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) of the Los Angeles Chargers blocks a basketball from hitting Madison Beer as they attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 24, 2025. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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 The team’s offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, was fired in January and replaced with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in football. 

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Shohei Ohtani’s second-inning grand slam propels Japan to a rout in World Baseball Classic opener

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Shohei Ohtani’s second-inning grand slam propels Japan to a rout in World Baseball Classic opener

The last time Shohei Ohtani was seen wearing a World Baseball Classic uniform with “Japan” across his chest, he was striking out Mike Trout of the United States on a ninth-inning, full-count slider to give his country a victory in the championship game three years ago.

So much has happened in Ohtani’s life between then and now. He has a wife and a daughter, a new interpreter, a new Major League team, two World Series championships and three more Most Valuable Player awards.

Yet unforgettable WBC memories continue. This time, he delivered from the batter’s box instead of the pitcher’s mound.

In the second inning of Japan’s WBC opener against Chinese Taipei on Friday at the Tokyo Dome, Ohtani smacked a hanging curve a few feet over the right-field wall for a grand slam, triggering an offensive onslaught that resulted in a 13-0 victory.

“I thought it might land as an out, so above all, I really wanted to get the first run on the board,” Ohtani told reporters afterward.

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Ohtani led off the game with a double and singled in his second at-bat of the second inning, when Japan put up a WBC-record 10 runs. He added a run-scoring single in the third inning, giving him five runs batted in.

In 2023, Ohtani hit and pitched Japan to the WBC title, batting .435 with eight RBIs and allowing only two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings on the mound. This year, he will only bat, saving his pitching for the Dodgers, who begin their quest for a third consecutive World Series title in three weeks.

Japan’s starting pitcher Friday was a decorated Dodger nevertheless. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, MVP of the 2025 World Series, threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings, walking three and striking out two while giving up no hits.

His command wasn’t pinpoint — he threw 53 pitches, 33 for strikes — but it is still spring training, even though the atmosphere was electric for Japanese players competing in front of a crowd of 42,314 that included actor Timothy Chalamet and superstar Bad Bunny.

“I know there will be some tough battles ahead, but if the fans and the team can unite and everyone can help build the excitement together, it will really encourage us,” Ohtani said.

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Russell Wilson escalates feud with Sean Payton, labels Broncos coach ‘classless’

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Russell Wilson escalates feud with Sean Payton, labels Broncos coach ‘classless’

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Russell Wilson and Sean Payton spent just one NFL season together, but tension lingered after a rocky year.

And it appears the tension that built up from that tumultuous stretch continues to linger.

Wilson’s interview on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, recorded before last month’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, recently resurfaced. 

In the interview, Wilson doubled down on his October comment labeling Payton “classless,” saying he felt slighted by his former coach’s remarks.

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Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks to quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Aug. 11, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

“[When] you’ve been on the same side or this and that, and I got the same amount of rings as you got, meaning Sean, right?” said Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as Payton did coaching for the New Orleans Saints. 

“I got a lot of respect for him as a play-caller, this and that, but to take a shot, I don’t like. I don’t think it’s necessary, you know, I mean, especially when I’m not even on your own team anymore. So, for me, there’s a point in time where you have to, I’ve realized, I’ve stayed quiet for so long. There’s a there’s a time and place where I’m not.

“I know who I am as a competitor, as a warrior, as a champion, too, and, you know, I’ve beaten Sean, too. You know, like we’ve been on the same place and the same thing. And so, it’s not a matter of disrespect. Just don’t disrespect me.”

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Sean Payton and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos during an a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver, Colo. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

After a rocky one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Wilson joined the New York Giants last offseason. However, he was relegated to a backup role after just three games.

Rookie Jaxson Dart quickly showed promise once he had the chance to start, but his season was briefly derailed by injury. Jameis Winston — not Wilson — stepped in for Dart in a handful of games. Dart threw three touchdowns in a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos, nearly pulling off an upset in what was eventually a close loss.

After the game, Payton said Dart provided a “spark” to the Giants’ offense.

“I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game,’” Payton said.

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The New York Giants’ Russell Wilson attempts to escape a sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) in the first half of a game Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Payton also said the Broncos would have faced less of a challenge had Wilson been under center.

“Classless … but not surprised,” Wilson responded in a social media post. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later though the media.”

Despite last season’s struggles and chatter about his football future, Wilson does not appear ready to call it quits in 2026.

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“I wanna play a few more years for sure,” he said. “I think, for me, I’ve always had the vision of getting to 40, at least. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It’s not, you know, we get hit hard, but … there’s certain rules. I mean, back in the day when I started, bro, it was you just get [clobbered]. 

“I mean, so I feel like the game allows you to, you know, live a little longer, I guess. I feel healthy. I feel great. But I think, more than anything else is, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everybody loves the winning part of it, but it’s process. There’s a journey that you got to be obsessed with. And that part I’m obsessed with.”

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