Quarterback Justin Herbert led the Los Angeles Chargers to a dominant 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning praise from opposing coach Pete Carroll. However, his own head coach didn’t seem happy.

Despite the win, the Chargers’ coach Jim Harbaugh turned his attention to the team’s underwhelming rushing performance. “We wanna be better there,” he said of the ground game.

The visitors’ offense might be constructed on paper with balance, but against the Raiders, it was quarterback Herbert who commanded the whole show. He completed 19 of  27 attempts for 242 yards. His 60-yard touchdown to WR Quentin Johnston was the highlight of the evening.

Keenan Allen scored a 10-yard touchdown to give Los Angeles an early lead. Herbert led the team in rushing with nine attempts.

That performance followed another standout showing.

In Chargers’ matchup against the Chiefs, the quarterback threw for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns, completing over 70% of his passes in both games without an interception. It’s something that might look beneficial, but as Harbaugh explained, it could eventually become predictable to the opposition. That’s why it justifies Jim’s doubt and worry.

Even with wins over the Chiefs and Raiders, the coach wants to improve the run game to avoid being one-dimensional. The real challenge now is keeping this style effective against stronger defenses that know the Chargers’ tendencies.

That concern about predictability didn’t go unnoticed, even by the opposing sideline.

Pete Carroll on Jim’s QB amid loss

This was hardly the first Harbaugh-Carroll battle, but it could be one of the most telling signs of where their respective teams are in 2025. Carroll at 74, is still a legend with a wealth of experience, but Harbaugh’s unit appears younger, deeper, and more agile.

That quickness might come from Harbaugh changing his usual style: passing more, trusting Herbert, and spreading out the offense. Carroll, to his credit, was lavish in his admiration of Herbert even in his own team’s anemic effort. He said to give Justin Herbert credit for the plays he made tonight.

Carroll also said that they just misread the corner route to WR Quentin Johnston. His compliment appeared as much about recognizing the disparity between the two squads as it was about giving his cap tip to a quarterback who’s quickly becoming an MVP contender.

The Raiders managed only field goals from Daniel Carlson, highlighting the Chargers’ defensive dominance. Quarterback Geno Smith threw three interceptions and continues to struggle with turnovers, red-zone efficiency, and third-down conversions. In Week 1 against the Patriots, he was sacked four times for 29 yards.

The Chargers’ win reinforced Herbert’s elite status and hinted at Harbaugh’s evolving philosophy. Despite success, Harbaugh expects more, especially from the run game.