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Former Los Angeles Chargers Star Shawne Merriman put Naysayers on notice after the team Walloped Las Vegas Raiders Monday night, 20-9, to move to 2-0 on the season.
Merriman told Pakinomist Digital in a recent conversation that the all-round performance from the team showed that they are true challengers to the conference title.
“If anyone didn’t think they would be challengers, not only in AFC West, but in AFC in general, you haven’t been aware,” he said. “First of all, Jim Harbaugh won by every program, organization he has been in the last several years. Two, this is Justin Herbert’s first year who has a steady situation where he has had the same head coach, the same offensive coordinator you know the same, the same.
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Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) hand over the ball to Los Angeles Chargers, who runs back Najee Harris (22) at Allegiant Stadium on September 15, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imag images)
The first seasons of Herbert, who had 242 passing yards and two passers -by -time touchdowns against Raiders, had the same offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022 with Joe Lombardi, while Brandon Staley was the main coach. With Harbaugh as the main coach, he has kept Greg Roman on as the offensive coordinator from last season for this season.
Merriman also proclaimed how the whole team has been built and that they no longer have to trust that Herbert is trying to get all the plays to win a game.
“Now you have a team that is not addicted to Justin Herbert to win more,” he said. “If he plays well, great. If he doesn’t, they can still win. The fact that you have quarterback with the biggest arm in the National Football League that can win games for you is a bonus. But this team is physical on both sides of football. … This is a big, strong, physical team – it’s their DNA.”
Kansas City Chiefs has been the cream of the crop in AFC West for the past nine years. But going into week 3, they find themselves 0-2 to start the year.
Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver Quentin Johnston (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of a NFL football match, Monday 15 September 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
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Merriman noted that Chiefs can no longer trust Patrick Mahomes to do everything for them and will have to tackle the holes in their team and aging stars.
“This is not a bank at Chiefs at all, but you can only trust Patrick Mahomes for so long. We’ve seen it with some of the biggest quarterbacks in the industry,” he told Pakinomist Digital. “How long have we been seeing it with Aaron Rodgers? They didn’t give him a # 1 wide recipient. They didn’t get people around him. They just say, ‘Hi, you’re Aaron Rodgers. You can win a lot of football matches for us. You don’t need any help.’ And it gets you so far because you can win a lot of games with big quarterbacks.
“Travis Kelce can go down as the biggest or top three biggest tight end of all time, but he’s like the rest of us. He’s getting older. He can’t do what he used to do five years ago. Xavier dignified with a shoulder. They don’t have a deep threat right now. They can’t run football effectively. But the bosses are still a good team. you, and you are not.
Los Angeles Chargers Safety Tony Jefferson (23) celebrates after making an interception against Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football match, Monday 15 September 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Chargers get their home opener on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
