LA Chargers: 3 heartbreaking numbers connected to the Bolts’ 2-5 start

2. Justin Herbert’s great start and not being able to win

There are multiple stats about Justin Herbert that make this start even more heartbreaking.

Don’t get me wrong, seeing Herbert ball out has been great. It has been the one thing that Charger fans can actually root for and look forward to every single week. At least we know that the Chargers got a gem of a quarterback.

However, it is sad seeing just how good he has been in contrast to the team’s win-loss record. First of all, Justin Herbert became the first quarterback in NFL history with 1,500 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in his first six career games. That feels like a really big deal.

Herbert found the endzone three times in Week 8, becoming just the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to record three touchdowns in four consecutive games. Again, a big deal. 

Justin Herbert joins Deshaun Watson as the only rookies in NFL history with 3 Pass TD in 4 consecutive games. pic.twitter.com/TWIm68uFKx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 1, 2020

What makes this heartbreaking is when you compare Herbert to another AFC West quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is the gold standard in the NFL and Herbert’s start has not been that far off from Mahomes.

Through his first six starts (excluding his Week 17 start in 2017), Mahomes completed 63.68% of his passes for 1,865 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and four interceptions with a 112.2 quarterback rating.

Herbert, meanwhile, has completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,820 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 104.5 quarterback rating. Not far off from Mahomes — yet Mahomes and the Chiefs were 5-1 in those games. Herbert and the Chargers are 1-5.

Sigh.