LA Chargers: Ranking all 15 of Justin Herbert’s starts in 2020

8. Week 9 vs. Las Vegas Raiders

This was a game that was so close to going differently for the LA Chargers, making it the perfect metaphor for this season. The Chargers had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds but two goal-line fades to Mike Williams and Donald Parham were dropped.

This was the perfect example of poor coaching and play calling. Two goal-line fades in a row is inexcusable as it is a play that has such a slim margin for error, which we saw. Herbert’s throws were as good as they could have been, but it did not matter.

Herbert had a great game in this one. He finished with two touchdowns, no interceptions and completed 28 of 42 attempts for 326 yards.

7. Week 2 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

From a pure output standpoint, number eight on this list probably deserves to be ranked ahead of Justin Herbert’s first game. However, the way in which Herbert took the defending Super Bowl champions to the brink of defeat on 15-minute notice is quite remarkable.

Most quarterbacks would crash and burn in this situation, but not Herbert. With no first-team reps in practice and no preseason to even see other NFL defenses, Hebert had to come in and play the best team in the league.

And he was great. Herbert completed 22 of 33 passes for 311 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown. He did have an ugly interception that could be chalked up to a rookie mistake, but that is not what cost the game.

It was a story made for Hollywood. Fitting that it happened in the Bolts’ first game at brand-new SoFi Stadium.