Is Justin Herbert Failing to Elevate the Los Angeles Chargers When It Matters Most?

The Los Angeles Chargers are gearing up for a crucial Week Seven showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs after a disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With a record of 2-3, the pressure is on, but one Los Angeles Times writer, Dylan Hernandez, believes the blame lies with their star quarterback, Justin Herbert, who may not be elevating his team as expected.

Key Takeaways:

• The Chargers are struggling with consistency in both offense and defense.
• Dylan Hernandez points to Justin Herbert as a potential issue, suggesting he may not be elevating the team.
• Herbert’s performance is compared to his time at Oregon, where similar concerns arose.

The Los Angeles Chargers find themselves in a precarious position as they head into their Week Seven clash with the Kansas City Chiefs. A recent 20-17 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys has left them with a less-than-ideal 2-3 record, and the pressure is mounting. The team can ill afford any more setbacks as they aim to stay competitive in a tough AFC West.

“The Chargers have an offensive-ground-game problem. They have a defensive-third-down problem. Now, they also have a Justin Herbert problem. Herbert might not be the reason why the Chargers were defeated on Monday night, but he couldn’t make himself the reason they won either. And that’s a problem.”

Per Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times

While there are multiple factors contributing to the Chargers’ struggles, one prominent voice, Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times, places the spotlight squarely on the shoulders of star quarterback Justin Herbert. Despite being hailed as one of the NFL’s promising young talents, Hernandez questions whether Herbert is truly elevating his team when it matters most.

Herbert, who was drafted by LA in 2020, has shown glimpses of brilliance but has also failed to consistently meet the high standards he’s set for himself. In the recent loss to the Cowboys, he didn’t singlehandedly take control of the game to secure a crucial victory. While Herbert has acknowledged the need to improve, it’s worth questioning how many times such statements can be made without substantial changes on the field.

“I gotta make more plays at quarterback,” said Herbert, who played with a fractured middle finger on his non-throwing left hand.

Per Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times

This pattern of inconsistency is not new for Herbert. Hernandez draws parallels with the quarterback’s college career at Oregon, where the Ducks had the potential to achieve more but often fell short of soaring to new heights. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Herbert may not possess the innate ability to elevate his team in pivotal moments.

While it’s essential to acknowledge that not every challenge faced by the Chargers can be attributed to Herbert alone, as the quarterback, he inevitably shoulders a significant portion of the responsibility, both in victory and defeat.

Hernandez’s perspective raises a compelling question: Is Justin Herbert truly the dynamic force that the Chargers need to reach their full potential? As fans and analysts await Herbert’s response to this scrutiny, the narrative surrounding the talented quarterback may be due for a recalibration.

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