The buzz surrounding Justin Herbert has reached a fever pitch, with fans and analysts alike dubbing his performances either "glazing" or, in NFL parlance, "Jim Harbaughing." Regardless of the nickname, the outpouring of admiration for the Chargers' quarterback has thrust him into the spotlight as one of the most talented—and most debated—players in the league today. Herbert took the field at SoFi Stadium last weekend as the clear favorite, the player most expected to dominate the contest. Instead, he left the stadium having been outmatched by veteran Jacoby Brissett, a quarterback who has earned a reputation as a reliable bridge starter, and a young Arizona Cardinals squad that appears to be drifting away from any serious playoff conversation. Brissett and a gritty defensive effort helped the Cardinals secure a 26-14 victory over Herbert's Los Angeles Chargers in the opening week.
The win gave the Cardinals a taste of the playoff bubble they were billed as part of before the season began, though whether that hype was justified remains to be seen. For the Chargers, the result was another chapter in a familiar narrative: a showcase of individual brilliance marred by a series of miscues and collective lapses that nullified the impact of their star quarterback. If you were to hand a stranger a compilation of NFL starting‑quarterback highlights and ask them to identify the most intimidating, the most dangerous, the most elite, many would point to Herbert.
He possesses a rare combination of attributes: a cannon‑like arm, a threatening presence in the pocket, a towering frame, and the ability to launch deep passes with pinpoint velocity. Those same qualities, however, also fuel the frustration that surrounds his career to date. When Herbert is at his best, he is a spectacle—capable of dismantling any defense and providing some of the most entertaining football on the planet. Doubt about his raw skill has rarely surfaced, yet questions about his killer instinct and his standing among the NFL's elite play‑callers persist, amplified by the constant chatter surrounding his potential.
In Sunday's loss, Herbert completed 17 of 27 attempts for 209 yards, one touchdown, and an ill‑timed interception while trying to thread a pass through double coverage with ten minutes left and the Chargers trailing by nine points. The game started positively for him; he orchestrated an eight‑play, 77‑yard drive that featured three passes totaling 60 yards to Ladd McConkey.
Unfortunately, McConkey suffered a chest injury after his touchdown catch late in the third quarter, leaving Herbert without one of his most reliable targets. Without McConkey, the Chargers' offense sputtered.
Over the next five possessions, they punted, turned the ball over on downs, threw an interception, and repeated the turnover‑on‑downs sequence. Four fourth‑quarter drives failed to cross midfield, and the team accumulated six penalties—five of them in the second half—including a trio of consecutive penalties on the penultimate series. The performance came just days after head coach Jim Harbaugh made a bold proclamation about Herbert's future. "Let me be clear, like Babe Ruth pointing his bat to center field: when Herbert's career is over, I predict he'll be remembered as the greatest quarterback to ever play the position," Harbaugh declared.
"When we look back, we'll say, 'Yes, that's the best that ever did it.'" Harbaugh has been Herbert's most vocal advocate since taking over as head coach in 2024, consistently praising his protégé's potential. While that enthusiasm has elevated expectations and placed Herbert under a bright, almost cinematic spotlight, it also raises the question of whether the hype has become excessive. It's worth remembering that this is only Week One—a period notorious for premature judgments. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots both lost their opening games last season before advancing to the Super Bowl, and the heavily favored Los Angeles Rams fell to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne.
No one wrote them off, and early setbacks rarely define a season. Nonetheless, a shaky start inevitably generates more question marks.
Part of the intrigue surrounding Herbert this year stems from the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel's tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins ended in disappointment, yet his reputation for innovative schematics has led many to believe he can unlock the full potential of Herbert's "alien" arm. In Miami, McDaniel's offense relied on quick‑release passes, extensive pre‑snap motion, and a dynamic rushing attack that allowed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to thrive. Herbert will likely need to step out of his comfort zone and adapt to a similar system, a process that takes time for any quarterback‑coordinator partnership.
McDaniel's first game with the Chargers highlighted growing pains. The running game sputtered, with second‑year back Omarion Hampton managing just 43 yards on 12 carries—an average of 1.5 yards per attempt—behind an offensive line that allowed three sacks. Previously, under coordinator Greg Roman, the Chargers had cultivated a more balanced attack that helped stabilize the offense.
Without that balance, the team struggled to establish a consistent ground threat. Herbert was sacked 54 times last season, the second‑most in the league, as the Chargers missed two‑time Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the entire year and lost Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt for 11 games due to injury. Entering the 2026 campaign, Herbert had endured 225 sacks and 615 hits—the highest total for any quarterback since he was drafted sixth overall in 2020. Although both Slater and Alt returned for the season opener, interior line weaknesses persisted.
Statistically, Herbert's résumé is impressive. He has amassed 24,820 passing yards in his first six seasons, ranking second in NFL history behind only Peyton Manning. He also eclipsed Manning's record for most completions in a quarterback's first six seasons.
From 2020 to 2022, Herbert posted three consecutive 4,000‑yard passing seasons, a streak that underscored his elite passing arsenal featuring receivers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and running back Austin Ekeler. The recent departure of those key weapons has forced Herbert to lean on newer targets such as Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and tight end David Njoku.
Despite the aerial achievements, Chargers fans remain fixated on one metric: playoff victories. To date, the franchise has recorded zero wins in three postseason appearances with Herbert at the helm.
He has suffered wild‑card defeats in three of the last four seasons, including a heartbreaking collapse after leading 27‑0 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, a career‑low 43.8 percent completion rate with four interceptions against the Houston Texans in 2024, and a modest 159‑yard, touchdown‑less effort while being sacked six times by the New England Patriots last season. There is something commendable about Herbert's ability to become one of the league's most recognizable faces without yet breaking through the playoff ceiling. The AFC remains stacked with quarterback talent, and the league seems eager for Herbert to join the perennial elite. Yet games like Sunday's loss should not be a regular occurrence.
As he enters his seventh year, Herbert's narrative remains compelling, unpredictable, and undeniably captivating. For those wanting to follow the unfolding drama, the 2026 NFL season will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with every playoff game and Super Bowl LXI (scheduled for Sunday, February 14, 2027) available to stream. Subscriptions to Sky Sports or the free NOW platform provide full access to all the action.