EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Justin Herbert has achieved numerous personal milestones during his initial five seasons in the NFL.
However, these accomplishments have yet to translate into playoff victories for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Herbert has the chance to change this narrative on Saturday as the Chargers head to Houston for an AFC wild-card matchup.
This will mark Herbert’s second time starting in the postseason. Despite understanding the gravity of the upcoming game, he aims to maintain the same mindset as he would in any regular-season week.
“It would mean everything for us (to get a win). It is the most important game this year because it’s the next one,” he expressed.
However, these accomplishments have yet to translate into playoff victories for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Herbert has the chance to change this narrative on Saturday as the Chargers head to Houston for an AFC wild-card matchup.
This will mark Herbert’s second time starting in the postseason. Despite understanding the gravity of the upcoming game, he aims to maintain the same mindset as he would in any regular-season week.
“It would mean everything for us (to get a win). It is the most important game this year because it’s the next one,” he expressed.
Two years ago, Herbert and the Chargers jumped to an impressive 27-0 lead in the first half during a wild-card round game against Jacksonville, only to see the Jaguars stage an incredible comeback for a 31-30 victory.
One of Herbert’s priorities is to ensure that the memory of that loss does not affect their approach to Saturday’s contest.
“You never let a previous game affect the next one. There have been plenty of games we have won or lost the past couple of years we haven’t brought up,” he stated.
One of Herbert’s priorities is to ensure that the memory of that loss does not affect their approach to Saturday’s contest.
“You never let a previous game affect the next one. There have been plenty of games we have won or lost the past couple of years we haven’t brought up,” he stated.
Herbert has played a pivotal role in guiding the Chargers to 11 wins this season, their highest total since 2018.
Yet, it has been a season of mixed results for him statistically, as he averaged a career-low of 227.6 passing yards per game, despite also achieving a personal best with a 101.7 passer rating.
Notably, Herbert became only the second player in NFL history to attempt at least 500 passes in a season while throwing three or fewer interceptions, following in the footsteps of Aaron Rodgers in 2018.
Although he amassed only two games exceeding 300 yards, he holds the record for the most completions (1,945) and passing yards (21,093) in the first five seasons of an NFL career.
Yet, it has been a season of mixed results for him statistically, as he averaged a career-low of 227.6 passing yards per game, despite also achieving a personal best with a 101.7 passer rating.
Notably, Herbert became only the second player in NFL history to attempt at least 500 passes in a season while throwing three or fewer interceptions, following in the footsteps of Aaron Rodgers in 2018.
Although he amassed only two games exceeding 300 yards, he holds the record for the most completions (1,945) and passing yards (21,093) in the first five seasons of an NFL career.
At the start of the season, Herbert was adapting to his fourth offensive scheme in five years, seeking to build chemistry with a receiving corps that had lost experienced weapons like Keenan Allen and Mike Williams during the offseason.
To further complicate matters, he missed two weeks of training camp due to a foot injury and was limited in his play during the early part of the regular season due to a high ankle sprain sustained on September 15 against Carolina.
This week, Herbert acknowledged the challenge he faced with coordinator Greg Roman’s offense.
“It takes a long time, especially to have a feel for why he’s calling a certain play and understanding the different checks and what he wants,” Herbert explained.
“It’s something you can’t just learn in camps and OTAs where you’re not facing a true defense or feeling the true pressure.”
To further complicate matters, he missed two weeks of training camp due to a foot injury and was limited in his play during the early part of the regular season due to a high ankle sprain sustained on September 15 against Carolina.
This week, Herbert acknowledged the challenge he faced with coordinator Greg Roman’s offense.
“It takes a long time, especially to have a feel for why he’s calling a certain play and understanding the different checks and what he wants,” Herbert explained.
“It’s something you can’t just learn in camps and OTAs where you’re not facing a true defense or feeling the true pressure.”
This season, one of the most noticeable improvements in Herbert’s game has been his utilization of play action, which was employed on 32.6% of his drop-backs—ranking as the second-highest rate in the league.
“I feel like he has improved incredibly from day one to now,” Roman said regarding Herbert’s play action skills.
“He wasn’t into the play action a whole lot, so the ball handling, the fakes, the various actions, some quarterbacks do it well, and others it is an afterthought. It’s a token. I feel like he has really brought that level of his game up and continues to ascend.”
“I feel like he has improved incredibly from day one to now,” Roman said regarding Herbert’s play action skills.
“He wasn’t into the play action a whole lot, so the ball handling, the fakes, the various actions, some quarterbacks do it well, and others it is an afterthought. It’s a token. I feel like he has really brought that level of his game up and continues to ascend.”
Since his hiring by the Chargers last January, coach Jim Harbaugh has become a staunch supporter of Herbert, gaining a deeper admiration through observing him in practice.
“He gives no keys. There’s nothing with his eyes that tell a defender where the ball is going, nothing with his shoulder tilt or his posture,” Harbaugh noted.
“The ball is released so quickly that it is by people. Defenders don’t have the advantage of getting a set.”
Harbaugh added that for receivers, Herbert’s exceptional timing and anticipation make it challenging to predict when the ball will be thrown.
“A lot of times when they are running the routes, the ball might be halfway there.”
“He gives no keys. There’s nothing with his eyes that tell a defender where the ball is going, nothing with his shoulder tilt or his posture,” Harbaugh noted.
“The ball is released so quickly that it is by people. Defenders don’t have the advantage of getting a set.”
Harbaugh added that for receivers, Herbert’s exceptional timing and anticipation make it challenging to predict when the ball will be thrown.
“A lot of times when they are running the routes, the ball might be halfway there.”
As the Chargers prepare to face the Texans on Saturday, Herbert emphasized that their focus remains on key areas: executing on third downs, efficiently navigating the red zone, and minimizing turnovers.
They will encounter a Texans defense ranked sixth against the pass, permitting only 201 yards per game, and boasting the second-most interceptions in the league with 19.
“The most important thing is to trust yourself and know we didn’t get here by chance or luck. We earned the spot, and nothing else is given. We have to survive, make plays and trust we know what we’re doing and play the way we can,” Herbert concluded.
They will encounter a Texans defense ranked sixth against the pass, permitting only 201 yards per game, and boasting the second-most interceptions in the league with 19.
“The most important thing is to trust yourself and know we didn’t get here by chance or luck. We earned the spot, and nothing else is given. We have to survive, make plays and trust we know what we’re doing and play the way we can,” Herbert concluded.
