Justin Herbert struggled against a young Las Vegas Raiders defense that keeps creating turnovers. Can this surging group carry Las Vegas through October?
The Raiders treated Herbert like a piñata, and the Chargers offense kept handing them the stick. In a 26-14 win at SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback finished 15-of-27 for 192 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions, three fumbles and a 59 QBR. Los Angeles is now 0-2. Fan reaction online was harsh, with some questioning whether Herbert will ever be more than average. The Chargers’ offense under Mike McDaniel also hurt itself with false starts and a Tre’ Harris fumble while in motion. Days earlier, Herbert had said the Raiders’ defense had no weaknesses.
The Raiders’ young defenders did the damage…
Rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses made his first NFL start in place of the injured Darien Porter and intercepted Herbert twice, the first after David Njoku juggled a pass. Malcolm Koonce added 1.5 sacks, and Eric Stokes’ sack forced a Herbert fumble near his own goal line.
Maxx Crosby’s pressure drew an end-zone holding call for a late safety. Las Vegas finished with three sacks and nine quarterback hits. Nakobe Dean forced a late Omarion Hampton fumble, and Jeremy Chinn returned it 43 yards to set up the touchdown that made it 24-14. The Chargers still ran for 127 yards, so the takeaways decided the game.
Related: Klint Kubiak’s viral speech could carry the Raiders in October
For the depth chart and cap, the takeaway is cost-efficiency. Masses and fellow rookie Jermod McCoy give the cornerback room a cushion when Porter is sidelined. First-year players on rookie-scale deals are supplying starter-level production at a fraction of veteran prices, which helps the Raiders’ cap flexibility (that part is my inference, not a reported figure). The defense is already up to five turnovers through two games, more than a quarter of its 2025 total.
The concern is the other side of the ball. Ashton Jeanty carried 21 times for 48 yards, and the Raiders averaged just 2.0 yards per rush, so the defense can’t keep bailing out the ground game.
Klint Kubiak will depend on this ballhawking group again in New Orleans as the offense will continue to need it until the run game finds its footing.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images