Justin Herbert is still getting tagged with the word “promising,” folks, but after a brutal 26-14 loss to the Raiders on Sunday, that adjective is carrying a heavy load for Chargers fans. He has all the tools, the size, the arm strength, the ability to run, and can make those jaw-dropping throws we all see on highlight reels. Yet, he has not hit the heights everyone expects. It is just baffling to watch.
Another Underwhelming Performance, Another Loss
Seriously, the Chargers are sitting at 0-2 on the year. Let that sink in. Their losses came against the team that just picked No. 1 in the draft and a “moribund” Arizona squad that picked No. 3. This is not exactly a gauntlet of elite teams, is it? NFL decision-makers are out there saying Herbert is roughly the sixth-best QB in the league, but then they immediately follow up with, “He should have more accolades at this point.” Yeah, no kidding. He should definitely have more wins this season. Sunday felt like a gut punch, watching the 28-year-old get outplayed by Kirk Cousins, who is a full decade older. Cousins might have thrown a pick and taken two sacks, but he was way more efficient from play to play, rocking an 8.7 yards per attempt compared to Herbert’s 7.1.
The Sputtering Offense is a Head-Scratcher
Herbert’s stat line from Sunday is just tough to look at: 15 completions on 27 passes, one touchdown, and a whopping two interceptions. He also took three sacks. It felt like the offense was stuck in neutral all game. Out of 13 total possessions, the Chargers only managed to put together two long touchdown drives. The rest of the time? They barely marched more than 30 yards in a series. That is simply unacceptable for a quarterback with Herbert’s talent and a team with such high expectations. Is he underperforming, or is the team letting him down? That is the question on everyone’s mind right now.
With an 0-2 start, the heat is absolutely on for Herbert and the Chargers. Every game moving forward is a must-win to even think about turning this season around. The next opponent is not named, but they better figure out how to get this “promising” quarterback to start delivering on all that promise, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Guardian.
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