Justin Herbert and the Chargers Set Sights on Deep Playoff Run
Justin Herbert is back where he belongs—in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback is poised to make his second career postseason start this Saturday as the Bolts face the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium. After leading the Chargers to an impressive 11-6 record and the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs, Herbert and his team are brimming with confidence heading into the postseason. “I think our whole purpose as this team is to win games,” Herbert said. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time. We’ve got a very good opponent that we’re playing on Saturday. For us, we have to have our focus, dial in all week, and have a great week of preparation.”
The 26-year-old quarterback is riding high after a stellar close to the 2024 regular season. Herbert led the Chargers to three consecutive victories, with the offense exploding for an NFL-best 108 points over those games. His Week 18 performance against the Raiders, featuring 346 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, drew high praise from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. “That was a perfect game played by the quarterback,” Harbaugh declared.
Herbert has been especially lethal in play-action situations this season, earning a league-high 96.0 grade from Pro Football Focus otherwise known as PFF. His mastery of play-action passes—completing 74.7% of his attempts for 1,617 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions—has made the Chargers’ offense one of the most dynamic in the league. “We’ve done a great job of marrying the run and the pass game,” Herbert said. “Having the threat of being able to run the ball out of a certain set and throw the ball out of the same set, it’s tough on defenses.”
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh hasn’t been shy about his admiration for his quarterback. This week, he compared Herbert’s skill set to NFL legends Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana, even likening his pocket footwork to “Dancing With The Stars.” “He’s an artist. It’s artistry,” Harbaugh said. “Who wouldn’t appreciate him more than his teammates and his coach? I can’t imagine he’s not highly respected by all.”
Herbert enters the playoffs with a 23 to three touchdown-to-interception ratio this season, one of the best in NFL history. However, with a winless playoff record, Herbert is eager to flip the script and lead the Chargers on a deep postseason run. “I think adversity is a great teacher,” Herbert said. “We’ve seen our fair share of it, having gone through the tight games, the close ones, the tough losses. We’re better because of it.”
The Chargers face a tough challenge against the Texans, but with Herbert at the helm, they have every reason to believe this could be the start of something special. Harbaugh’s confidence in his quarterback is unwavering. “Nobody can appreciate him as much as us,” Harbaugh said, “But I wouldn’t want anyone else leading us into the playoffs.” As the Chargers prepare for the Wild Card Round, fans and analysts alike are watching to see if Herbert and the Bolts can translate their late-season momentum into postseason success. With Herbert’s leadership and Harbaugh’s guidance, the Chargers might just shock the NFL world this January.
