NFL Trade Rumors
We already took one crack at breaking down what we learned from the bounty of new information that Week 1 provides, but after closer review of the weekend’s action, the notebook was still overflowing with takeaways and observations. So here’s a bonus column digging in even deeper to the week that was.
When the Chargers hired HC Jim Harbaugh, it was pretty clear what type of philosophy he’d be bringing to Los Angeles from all his previous stops, including Michigan, the 49ers and Stanford. When he hired OC Greg Roman, it was an exclamation point on the team’s identity as a run-first, ground and pound squad. They seemed to lean even more into that identity with the selection of first-round RB Omarion Hampton this spring.
But the Chargers surprised the Chiefs and likely the rest of the NFL last Friday with a pass-first gameplan that featured QB Justin Herbert as the tip of the spear. Herbert diced up Kansas City’s defense to the tune of 318 yards, three touchdowns and no picks on a 73.5 completion rate. He dropped back to pass 41 times in a game the Chargers never trailed.
Chargers pass rate over expected …
2024 Weeks 1-6: -7.2%
2024 Weeks 7-18: +4.8%
2025 Week 1: +13.5% (!!!)
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) September 7, 2025
The Athletic’s Mike Sando, a Seattle-based reporter, developed a metric he calls the “Cook Index” (sparked by the “Let Russ Cook” narrative around the Seahawks back in 2020). It ranks teams based on how often they drop back to pass on early downs in the first 28 minutes of a game, a split designed to hone in on how much a team wants to pass in neutral situations. Since Week 10 of last year, the Chargers are second in the NFL on the Cook Index at 63 percent, behind only the Chiefs.
On the one hand, it makes perfect sense that a team with Herbert at quarterback would be looking to unleash him instead of turning him into a glorified game manager. On the other hand, this is a clear departure from how Harbaugh and Roman have designed offenses in the past. Roman in particular has designed some of the most effective rushing attacks of the past couple decades. Friday was one of the most aggressive, pass-heaviest games he’s ever called. And with a trendline that goes back to last season, this version of Herbert and the Chargers doesn’t seem like a one-off just to beat the Chiefs. It seems like it’s here to stay.
The most exciting thing for teams, fans and media to talk about is a young quarterback, especially one who’s flashed some potential or was drafted high. Everyone is always on the lookout for the next big thing and it’s pretty easy for the narratives on players to get out over their skis. When that happens, there’s...
