LA Chargers: Justin Herbert ties rookie TD record – game grade

Justin Herbert tied a record in primetime on Thursday Night Football.

Justin Herbert secured his fourth win as the starter of the LA Chargers as the Bolts bested the Las Vegas Raiders in overtime on a walk-off Herbert quarterback sneak.

This game turned into a battle of Oregon quarterbacks as Derek Carr pulled up with a groin injury in the first quarter. Marcus Mariota took over for the Raiders and was actually quite good, making sure that the Raiders did not lose much in quarterback play in the process.

However, at the end of the day, he was the losing Oregon quarterback as Herbert was able to play a wildly efficient game in which the coaching staff, for whatever reason, did not use him as much as they should have.

How does Herbert’s winning game grade out?

Justin Herbert Week 15 game grade: A-

When I say A- I really mean like a 92%. It is an A- that is right on the cusp of being a regular A. If his teacher, in this case Anthony Lynn, just gave him more chances to prove himself then he would have pumped it up to an A.

Despite being very efficient tonight and being fantastic early on, Herbert only threw the ball one time in the fourth quarter. They did march down the field as a result of a long Austin Ekeler run and Herbert quarterback option, but then played for the field goal that was eventually missed by Michael Badgley anyway.

Herbert completed 22 of 32 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. He also rushed the ball for 14 yards, including the game-winning quarterback sneak. His biggest throw of the night was a deep bomb to Jalen Guyton in overtime that set the team up at the two-yard-line and eventually got the win.

Herbert also tied Baker Mayfield‘s rookie passing touchdown record at 27. Herbert, who did not play in Week 1, now has two games to get one passing touchdown to break the record. He also needs four combined touchdowns to tie Cam Newton‘s total touchdown rookie record at 35.

An A- might seem unfair but we have to make A and A+ and exclusive grade to get for the absolute best games. Herbert would have easily improved his grade if he got more chances late and this really could have been a 400-yard game for him, which would have kept them from going to overtime and would have turned this into a comfortable win.

But hey, at the end of the day a win is a win and Justin Herbert had a great game leading the Chargers to that win.