Chargers 27, Chiefs 21
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. I would like to focus on the defense. We that the Chiefs offense, it's a huge thing in the last six, seven years. I want to know what went through your mind in this preparation to this game? After this, in the locker room, what were your first feelings like?
DAIYAN HENLEY: For us as a defense, the thing is we worry about this year and who we are this year and this season, what we're trying to build right now.
The Chiefs have been that team like in the pasts six or seven years. They would probably say the same thing. It's about this season. What we went out today to do was show what type of team we are and what type of defense we are building right now.
Q. Quentin, a few weeks ago I talked to you and you had a matter-of-fact confidence about how you prepared this off-season, what you were thinking your chances were to succeed in '25. To then come out and perform like this in week one, what does that say about you, your confidence, what the rest of the season might look like for you?
QUENTIN JOHNSTON: Just my work ethic. As you know, past few years I've been having a lot of ups and downs. At the same time I use that to kind of fuel me, to kind of get me going into this year.
I feel like just trying to get a lot of extra work with Justin, extra work in the training room, boosting my confidence going into the season. Had a pretty good game today. Hopefully I can keep that going for the rest of the season.
Q. Quentin, about Kennan Allen, he had a great game. Do you and those young guys playing in receiver core see him as a leader, inspiration?
QUENTIN JOHNSTON: 100%. He been in the league, what, 13, 14 years now. Why not look up to him? He's done a lot of great stuff for himself, for the Chargers, just as an NFL player all around.
As soon as he came back, we were automatically looking at him for different pointers, different things that we can take off him, apply to our game, which I feel like in the receiver room this year, a lot of ideas. We're very talkative in there. We make the work environment fun. We take everything from the meeting room to the practice facility, then we take it to the game, which you seen today.
Q. Khalil, what was this first game like in terms of going against the Chiefs? Had a Super Bowl feel in terms of the halftime show. For you to come out with this kind of a win, talk about what that can mean for this team this year.
KHALIL MACK: It's always great when you come out week one with a win. You get to learn from a win instead of a loss. Just knowing that AFC West division game counts as two, always a great feeling, especially going into the next week against the Raiders.
Q. Khalil and Daiyan, at one point Chiefs were 0-7 on third down. Can you put that in perspective how tough that is to do to this offense.
KHALIL MACK: It's always tough when you're going up against a great offense like the Chiefs have, man. Just the chemistry they have between Patrick and Kelce and all those guys they have up front. It's always difficult.
It was a challenge we were willing to accept. We got to finish a lot better than that the next time we see them.
DAIYAN HENLEY: We want to say respect to our coach Jesse Minter, putting together this scheme for months now. It's to beat teams like this throughout this league.
We know we come in well-prepared. It's not supposed to be shocking or a surprise, but something that we're prepared to do, that we are prepared to keep doing.
Q. Khalil, how was the week for you? How was the atmosphere of playing oversees in an international game? Would you like to play again elsewhere?
KHALIL MACK: Absolutely, man. It was amazing being over here, man. Being around the soccer team, the Corinthians team, they came out and showed us some love. A lot of love we've been feeling since we've been here.
Everything in terms of the weather and everything was great. All in all, we came here to get the win. That's what matters the most.
DAIYAN HENLEY: Hell, yeah.
Q. Khalil, Mahomes threw deep passes in the pre-season. That looked like return into a trend on the season. You had a great job containing with the pressure. Was that a focal point of the preparation?
KHALIL MACK: Absolutely, man. Rush and coverage working together, trying to get pressure when we can, just knowing he's capable to use his legs. He's an exceptional guy when you talking about creating a few times there at the end.
Just rallying and making sure we were able to get those stops, especially that last one where he threw the deep ball over the middle. Things like that, you know you got to be ready for them when you play against this team and that quarterback, especially.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports