Justin Herbert is everything you want in a franchise quarterback. He's tall, strong, mobile, has an incredibly high football IQ and can quite literally make every throw in the book.
However, the Herbert-led Chargers falling short in painful and/or heartbreaking fashion has become an annual tradition of sorts. There's always an alibi (or excuse), too, whether it's poor coaching, offensive line problems or limited weapons around him.
Frankly, Los Angeles should be a perennial Super Bowl contender if Herbert is as good as many believe. It's time for the two-time Pro Bowler to put up or shut up and get the proverbial monkey off his back. Otherwise, he may never meet expectations and shed the dreaded "overrated" label bestowed upon him.
FanSided's Jason Reed conducted a survey to determine the NFL's nine "most overrated players." Based on a "points system" derived from "every NFL Division Site Expert [ranking] their top three" candidates, Herbert came in at No. 4.
Chargers' Justin Herbert might be facing defining season to shed 'overrated' tag
Yes, Herbert has the natural ability and counting stats to go toe-to-toe with virtually any of the game's truly elite signal-callers. But as Reed alluded to, the low points can be brutal to watch:
"There is no denying how much raw talent Justin Herbert has. In fact, it's the exact reason why many consider him to be overrated. Herbert arguably has the most arm talent in the sport, is an underrated scrambler, and has put up numbers while chaos has ensued around him.
"The argument against Herbert is rather simple. Those who think he is overrated, as well as some frustrated Chargers fans, want Herbert to simply not look terrible in the playoffs. Wins aren't a QB stat, but it does matter that Herbert is 0-3 in the playoffs with three bad performances."
It'd be one thing if Herbert weren't at the root of the problem. He's completely flamed out under the bright lights, though, and the numbers bear that out. His regular and postseason splits are quite stark.
Justin Herbert's Career Regular-Season Stats | Justin Herbert's Career Playoff Stats |
|---|---|
261.3 passing yards/game | 224.7 passing yards/game |
96.3 passer rating | 64.7 passer rating |
66.5 completion percentage | 54.7 completion percentage |
4.7 passing touchdown percentage | 1.9 passing touchdown percentage |
1.7 interception percentage | 3.8 interception percentage |
6.14 sack percentage | 10.92 sack percentage |
47.3 percent passing success rate | 37.8 percent passing success rate |
Note: Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
What must Justin Herbert fix do to silence the doubters?
Herbert has to be better in every facet, point-blank. The elite-tier QBs, which he's widely considered to be, find ways to elevate subpar rosters and overcome adversity. 2026 presents him with a prime — potentially final — chance to validate his status as a bona fide difference-maker.
By virtually every metric, Herbert has been a liability when the Bolts have needed him most. They've scored just one touchdown and 15 total points in their last two Wild Card losses. He was on the wrong end of the third-largest comeback in league playoff history in 2022, disappearing in the second half.
Now paired with a young, innovative offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel and a revamped supporting cast, Herbert has nowhere to hide. Los Angeles' star bookend tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, are also healthy and have help along the interior. Oh, and the club also brought in several new playmakers.
Another disappointing end to a season won't cut it. The ball is in Herbert's court; how he responds is up to him.
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