The LA Chargers suffered their worst loss of the season on Sunday and were losers of two straight heading into Thursday. Like clockwork, the Justin Herbert doubters started coming out prior to his showdown against fellow former Oregon Duck, Bo Nix.
This time is was one of Herbert's own as former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took a notable stance against Herbert leading into the game. Fitzpatrick took the stance that Herbert is not a top-five quarterback in the league and doubled down on the Thursday Night Football broadcast, even saying Herbert doesn't perform well in primetime games.
Fitzpatrick did say that Herbert is a top-10 quarterback but his criticisms of the Chargers' signal-caller rang louder than his compliments. Here was the start of the Herbert conversation, which led to Thursday's pre-game segment.
“Justin Herbert is so confusing to me”
— Fitz & Whit (@fitzandwhit) December 17, 2024
Fitz just wants Justin Herbert to step up 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/cHO63e1KSN
So how did Justin Herbert respond? With his best complete game of the season. Herbert completed 23 of 30 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He carried the ball five times for 45 yards (prior to his game-ending kneels and time-wasting incompletion to finish the game). Most importantly, he put together two excellent touchdown drives in the second half with must-see throws to put the game on ice for the Bolts.
Justin Herbert proves his doubters wrong (again) in Chargers' win over Broncos
This is not the first time Herbert has put together an excellent game on primetime right when the narrative around him started to shift. Two years ago, Fox Sports' Emmanuel Acho started a campaign of calling Herbert a "social media quarterback" and favored Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The Chargers hosting the Dolphins on primetime became Acho's Super Bowl after everything he said. And what happened? The Chargers beat the Dolphins in Brandon Staley's best game as the team's head coach with Herbert outclassing Tua.
Herbert may not pay any attention to the media or the narratives around his play but games like Thursday's are important reminders to stop doubting the Chargers' quarterback. He may not be perfect, literally no quarterback is, but anyone who watches him play knows he is a top-five quarterback in the league.
Bum ankle? Doesn't matter. Bad interior offensive line? Oh well. One of the worst receiving corps in the league? That doesn't phase Herbert. He'll just throw touchdowns to Derius Davis and Hassan Haskins like it's no big deal.
Justin Herbert proved Ryan Fitzpatrick wrong on Thursday night. And he will do the same to the next person who doubts him.