Justin Herbert showed leadership taking the blame for losing. Was he right? And how does the media hype match the play on the field.
When Justin Herbert got KO'd this postseason he took it on the chin and took the blame too. While others as recently as the same day skipped out on media availability, Herbert put the onus on himself. That shows a certain amount of leadership that could bode well for the team going forward. Is it enough to silence his critics though? I've seen a “Justin Herbert should never be seen as a top 10 quarterback” quote or two.
Analyst and former player Damien Woody said the Chargers let the Ferrari loose when Herbert lit up the Chiefs in a season opening win. Their abrupt playoff exit was a carwreck that totaled the sportscar. The way the season ended was a headscratcher given some of the Bolts’ regular season highlights. The Patriots’ defense is formidable. But are they 3 points from a Justin Herbert team good?
He definitely put the team on his back all season, broken left hand and all, but he came up small on Wildcard Sunday. He took some vicious hits all year and that game was no different. He'll be significantly helped by a healed offensive line next year. As receivers go, Ladd McConkey regressed after a stellar rookie season. If he can't regain his form they'll need some help on the perimeter in the form of more reliable playmakers. With the right conditions there Herbert seems capable of MVP campaign and spearheading a deep playoff run. But it admittedly hasn't happened yet and his doubters are louder than ever.
As he said post-game he "made no plays". As beat up as his league worst offensive line is, his talent should be good for more than 3 points. It seems a stark contrast to the Herculean show of willpower from reigning MVP Josh Allen. When you consider Herbert's past playoff shortcomings, you'd hope he'd have it figured out by now. It seems people are done giving him a pass at this point in his career. Chargers nation is tired of the playoff futility. He has a great presence at head coach and arm talent that is up there with the best of them.
The eye test on Herbert confirms he's an amazing talent at the position. It is yet to be seen if he can be a winner in the NFL. But him taking ownership for the loss shows maturity. Hopefully the results will follow. He's on the clock.