LA Chargers fans have been spoiled as they went from a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Philip Rivers to one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL in Justin Herbert. Herbert had the greatest rookie season by a quarterback in NFL history in 2020 and in 2021 he is putting together arguably the best season for a Chargers quarterback in franchise history.
Herbert entered Week 17 with 34 passing touchdowns, putting him one shy of Philip Rivers' franchise-record 35 passing touchdowns from 2008. Herbert struggled a bit early against the Denver Broncos and it seemed like we might have to wait another week for Herbert to break the record.
However, Herbert dialed up a bomb to break the record in perfect fashion. Herbert has wowed NFL fans in his two seasons with his arm strength and ability to connect on massive touchdown passes and there was no better way for Herbert to break the record than connecting with Mike Williams on the dagger.
Justin Herbert to Mike Williams for the 45-yard TD!
— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022
Herbert's 35 passing TDs are the most in one season in @Chargers history. #BoltUp
?: #DENvsLAC on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/gYp1floeUe
Just a beautiful ball to Mike Williams from Justin Herbert. Some would call it the perfect ball, well, because it was. And just like most of his long touchdown passes, Herbert made the record-setting touchdown pass look so easy.
Justin Herbert is well on his way to the greatest quarterback season in LA Chargers history
The LA Chargers have had two all-time great quarterbacks in Dan Fouts and Philip Rivers put together some extremely impressive seasons. And despite the bar being so high, Justin Herbert is on his way to having the greatest season in franchise history as a sophomore.
Herbert has already passed Rivers' touchdown mark and has another game to extend his lead over Rivers. If Herbert has a really big game against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 18 then he could even hit 40 passing touchdowns, which is just absurd for a second-year quarterback.
Dan Fouts has the franchise record for the most passing yards in a season for a Chargers quarterback at 4,802 passing yards. Herbert would not have beaten the record without the 17th game but because of the 17th game, he is probably going to beat it. Herbert needed to average just 204 yards in the final two games to surpass Fouts and he threw for more than that against the Broncos.
Herbert also entered Week 17 just 51 completions shy of Rivers' record for completions that he set in 2015. He put himself in a good position to break that record in Week 18 as well.
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So as long as Justin Herbert just has a decent game for his standards, he will have the most touchdown passes, completions and passing yards in Chargers franchise history. In his second season. This guy is special.