The buzz surrounding Justin Herbert has reached a fever pitch, with admirers dubbing his play "glazing" and critics referring to it as "Jim Harbaughing." Regardless of the terminology, the quarterback’s recent performances have drawn intense scrutiny, positioning him as one of the most talented yet polarising figures in modern football. Herbert entered SoFi Stadium last weekend appearing to be the clear star of the matchup. By the final whistle, however, he found himself out‑performed by veteran Jacoby Brissett, a quarterback who has become a fan favorite, and a struggling Arizona Cardinals squad that is still figuring out its postseason aspirations.
Brissett’s steady leadership, coupled with a gritty defensive effort, propelled the Cardinals to a 26‑14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the opening week. The win kept the Cardinals within the conversation for a playoff spot, though whether that conversation is justified or merely hype remains to be seen. For the Chargers, the game was a textbook example of the disconnect that has plagued the franchise for years: a collection of miscues and missed assignments that neutralized the impact of their most gifted player.
If you were to hand a newcomer a compilation of highlight reels featuring the league’s starting quarterbacks and ask them to identify the most dangerous, most feared, or simply the best, many would likely point to Herbert. He embodies the archetype of a quarterback with a cannon for an arm, a keen sense of the ground game, an imposing frame, and the ability to launch deep passes with pinpoint velocity. Yet those very attributes also fuel the frustration that surrounds his career to date. When Herbert is at his peak, he is a spectacle—capable of dismantling any defense and delivering a performance that feels like a blockbuster event.
Doubt about his raw talent is virtually nonexistent; the conversation instead revolves around his killer instinct and whether he truly belongs among the NFL’s elite play‑callers. In Sunday’s loss, Herbert completed 17 of 27 attempts for 209 yards, tossed one touchdown, and threw an ill‑timed interception while trying to thread a pass through double coverage with ten minutes left and his team trailing by nine points. The game began brightly for him, as he orchestrated an eight‑play, 77‑yard scoring drive that featured three passes totaling 60 yards to Ladd McConkey.
Unfortunately, McConkey suffered a chest injury after his touchdown catch, leaving Herbert without one of his most reliable weapons. The Chargers’ offense sputtered after that injury. Over the next five possessions, they punted, turned the ball over on downs twice, threw an interception, and failed to cross midfield in four fourth‑quarter drives.
The unit also accumulated six penalties, five of which came in the second half, including three consecutive infractions on a critical late‑game series. This chaotic performance came on the heels of head coach Jim Harbaugh’s bold proclamation that Herbert would be remembered as the greatest quarterback in history. Harbaugh’s words were unequivocal: "When his career is over, we’ll look back and say Justin Herbert is the best quarterback that ever played the position." Since taking the helm in 2024, Harbaugh has been Herbert’s most vocal champion, constantly extolling his protégé’s potential.
While that unwavering support has elevated expectations to near‑celebrity levels, it also raises the question of whether the hype has become excessive. It is worth remembering that this is only Week 1—a time when premature panic is common. Last season, both the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots stumbled in their opening games before ultimately reaching the Super Bowl. Similarly, the heavily favored Los Angeles Rams fell to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, yet no one wrote them off.
A rocky start does not define a season, but it does sow doubt that will need to be addressed. Another layer of intrigue this year is the arrival of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel’s tenure with the Miami Dolphins ended on a sour note, but his reputation for innovative schematics has led many to believe he can unlock Herbert’s “alien arm.” In Miami, McDaniel’s offense thrived on rapid‑release passes, extensive pre‑snap motion, and a dynamic rushing attack that gave quarterback Tua Tagovailoa multiple options. For Herbert, this means stepping out of his comfort zone and adapting to a system that demands quick decision‑making and versatility.
The success of any quarterback‑coordinator partnership takes time, and McDaniel is eager to prove himself as one of today’s premier offensive minds. The Chargers’ ground game, however, has struggled to find its footing under the new regime.
Second‑year back Omarion Hampton managed just 43 yards on 12 carries, averaging a paltry 1.5 yards per attempt, while the offensive line allowed three sacks. This is a stark contrast to the previous two seasons under Greg Roman, when a run‑heavy approach helped stabilize the offense. The lack of a balanced attack has been a glaring weakness.
Protection has also been a persistent issue for Herbert. He was sacked 54 times last season—the second‑most in the league—partly because the team missed two‑time Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the entire year and lost Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt to injury for 11 games.
Entering the 2026 campaign, Herbert had endured 225 sacks and 615 hits, the highest totals for any quarterback since he was drafted sixth overall in 2020. Although both Slater and Alt returned for the opening weekend, interior line vulnerabilities remained evident. Statistically, Herbert’s résumé is impressive. He has amassed 24,820 passing yards in his first six seasons, ranking second all‑time behind Peyton Manning.
He also surpassed Manning for the most completions by a quarterback in their first six years. From 2020 to 2022, Herbert set the record for three consecutive 4,000‑yard passing seasons, a feat achieved with the help of elite receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and running back Austin Ekeler. As those stars have moved on, newer targets such as McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and tight end David Njoku have stepped into the spotlight. Despite these individual accolades, Chargers fans remain fixated on one metric: playoff victories.
To date, the franchise has not secured a single postseason win in three appearances. Herbert has experienced three Wild Card exits in the past four years, including a heartbreaking collapse after leading 27‑0 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 playoffs, a career‑worst 43.8 % completion rate with four interceptions against the Houston Texans in the 2024 postseason, and a modest 159‑yard, touchdown‑less performance while being sacked six times by the New England Patriots last season.
There is a certain admiration for a player who has become a marquee face of the league without yet breaking through the ultimate glass ceiling. The AFC is brimming with quarterback talent, and the league seems eager for Herbert to cement his place among the perennial elite. Yet games like Sunday’s loss illustrate that the Chargers cannot afford to linger in this developmental stage.
As Herbert embarks on his seventh season, the narrative surrounding him remains both compelling and unpredictable. The question now is whether he can translate his prodigious skill set into consistent postseason success, or if he will forever be remembered as the most promising quarterback who never quite fulfilled the lofty expectations set by his early career and the relentless hype surrounding him. Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027.
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