LA Chargers: Justin Herbert falls just short of rookie passing yards record

Justin Herbert broke just about every rookie quarterback record except one.

Justin Herbert has been the lone beacon of light for the LA Chargers this season. In what has been a very disappointing season that will likely lead to a coaching change, Herbert has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Herbert hasn’t just been phenomenal, he has been historic. We have been saying here at Bolt Beat that Hebert is the greatest rookie quarterback of all-time. Hebert broke just about every record you could break, except one.

Herbert needed 341 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs to break Andrew Luck‘s record and early on it appeared as if the Chargers’ M-O was to get him the record. However, down the stretch, Anthony Lynn took the ball out of his hands, ran the ball and then eventually kneeled down to end the game.

Herbert finished 39 yards short of breaking the record — a record that he absolutely would have broken if he would have played in Week 1.

However, as we mentioned, Herbert does have a mantle-full of other records. He has the rookie passing touchdown record, completions record, the most 300-yard games by a rookie quarterback, the most two-touchdown games by a rookie, the list goes on and on.

Most notably, Herbert has the record for the most combined touchdowns by a rookie quarterback. He tied Cam Newton at 35 with a QB sneak in the first half and broke the record in the second half with his third passing touchdown of the game — a 48-yard bomb to Mike Williams.

https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/1345878641150889985

Even without the passing yards record, this seemingly clinches the Offensive Rookie of the Year award for Justin Herbert. There is a debate between him and Justin Jefferson, who broke the rookie receiving yards record in a Minnesota Vikings win in Week 17.

Jefferson is phenomenal and any other year in recent history he would have been a runaway winner of the award. However, quarterback is a much more impactful position and as we have outlined, Herbert is the best rookie quarterback of all-time.

How is the best rookie quarterback of all-time not going to get the Offensive Rookie of the Year award? It is noted that quarterbacks get MVP votes more often for this same reason. The same logic has to be translated into the Rookie of the Year award.

The LA Chargers absolutely have the foundation to be a Super Bowl-contending team in the coming years. The formula for recent Super Bowl contenders has been getting great young quarterbacks on their rookie deal and using the salary cap to surround them with weapons.

The Bolts have a top-five receiver, top-five dual-threat running back, top-five safety and the best rookie quarterback of all-time.

If that is not a Super Bowl foundation then I do not know what is.