Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers suffered a significant defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots in the AFC wild-card round, marking Herbert’s third consecutive playoff loss. Despite this setback, analyst Danny Parkins remains optimistic about Herbert’s potential, comparing his career trajectory to that of Peyton Manning, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who also struggled in his early playoff appearances.
Manning, who went 0-3 in his first three playoff games, eventually won his first playoff game in his sixth season and went on to win two Super Bowls. Similarly, Herbert has just completed his sixth season in the NFL and is still considered a top 10 quarterback. Parkins notes that Herbert’s struggles in the playoffs are not uncommon, even for talented quarterbacks like Manning.
Herbert’s regular-season performance has been consistent, with at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in six consecutive seasons. However, his playoff record has been underwhelming, with losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans in previous seasons. The latest defeat to the Patriots has raised questions about Herbert’s ability to perform under pressure.
The Chargers’ hiring of Jim Harbaugh as head coach was intended to help the team make deep postseason runs, but so far, they have been unsuccessful, going one-and-done in the playoffs twice under his tenure. This offseason will be crucial for both Herbert and Harbaugh, as they look to improve the team’s supporting cast and address Herbert’s playoff struggles.
With Herbert’s talent and potential still evident, the upcoming season will be a make-or-break year for the quarterback and his coach. The Chargers will need to lock in and come back stronger if they hope to make a deep playoff run. As the NFL playoff landscape continues to evolve, Herbert and the Chargers will be under scrutiny to deliver on their promise.
