A month ago, Jim Harbaugh was talking up Justin Herbert like he was already etched into Canton, predicting the guy would retire as the greatest quarterback ever. Now, after Herbert’s latest head-scratcher against the Broncos, Harbaugh’s flipped the script, pinning his star QB’s struggles on something he calls “desperation time.” What in the world is going on down there?
The Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore
Forget the GOAT talk for a second, because the stats Herbert is putting up are bringing some serious questions. In their loss to the Broncos, Herbert went 14-of-24 for a measly 121 yards, with one touchdown and, yep, another interception. And it’s not just one game, folks. Through five games this season, the dude has tossed five touchdowns to seven interceptions. Seven! His nine turnovers tie him with Drake Maye for the absolute most in the entire league. You gotta wonder how long this “desperation time” can last before it’s a bad season.
Harbaugh’s Defense: Blame the Team, Not the QB?
So, what’s Harbaugh’s play here? He came right out and said, via Noah Furtado of TheAthletic.com, “There are definitely times when he was trying to make a play, and too many times this season, there’s been that desperation time. That’s what I’d attribute that to. Doing anything and everything he can.” It’s like he’s saying Herbert is trying too hard because the team isn’t good enough around him. Harbaugh even doubled down, saying he’s not going to tell Herbert to do anything different, that Herbert is “doing anything and everything that he can to help us win,” and he applauds that. Instead, Harbaugh put the onus squarely on the team, saying it’s their job to put Herbert in better positions to succeed. Remember 2021? Herbert threw 38 touchdowns that year, even with 15 interceptions, which was his season high. So the arm talent is clearly there. But if the coach is already talking “desperation” five games in, and it’s the team’s fault, what does that really say about the state of affairs?
Harbaugh is sticking by his guy, praising Herbert’s effort while pointing the finger at the team’s ability to support him. With Herbert already tying for the league lead in turnovers, the Chargers have to figure out how to get out of this “desperation time” fast. It’s on them to make sure that GOAT prediction doesn’t look completely wild by the end of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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