Justin Herbert is one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s got a cannon for an arm, he’s accurate, and he can make all the throws. But when it comes to the playoffs, he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype.
Herbert had a chance to change the narrative in the Chargers’ Wild Card matchup against the Texans. But instead, he turned in a disastrous performance, throwing four interceptions and posting a passer rating of just 40.9.
Take away a garbage-time touchdown pass, and Herbert’s stat line looks even worse: 13 of 31 for 146 yards and four interceptions. That’s not the kind of performance you expect from a quarterback of his caliber.
Herbert’s playoff numbers are a cause for concern. He’s now 0-2 in the postseason, with a completion percentage of just 52% and a passer rating of 60.7. He’s thrown more interceptions in two playoff games than he did in the entire regular season.
Now, it’s not all Herbert’s fault. The Chargers struggled against playoff teams all season, and their defense couldn’t stop the Texans. But a player of Herbert’s talent should be able to elevate his team in big moments, and he hasn’t done that yet.
It’s still early in his career, and two playoff starts is a small sample size. But the narrative is starting to form: Justin Herbert struggles in the playoffs. He needs to find a way to overcome those primetime jitters and prove he can lead his team to victory when it matters most.
