Joe Namath’s Super Bowl guarantee. Terry Bradshaw’s desperation throw and Franco Harris’ immaculate reception. Joe Montana’s pass and Dwight Clark’s leaping catch in the back of the end zone. John Elway’s 99-yard drive. Tom Brady’s comeback(s). Nick Foles’ Philly Special.
If a quarterback’s reputation is forged in the playoffs – and the NFL’s history tells us that it most definitely is – then it’s now Justin Herbert’s turn to establish his when he makes his postseason debut with the Chargers against the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night in Jacksonville.
Herbert, 24, has thrown for 14,089 yards in three seasons, the third most in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes (14,829) and Brady (14,643) since 2000. He has thrown 94 touchdown passes, sixth most behind Mahomes (116), Aaron Rodgers (111), Josh Allen and Brady (108) and Kirk Cousins (97) since 2020.
He was, however, typically unfazed when asked about his playoff debut, downplaying any notion that it would be a bigger game than any of the 49 regular-season contests he has already played since the Chargers selected him sixth overall in the 2020 draft after a stellar career at the University of Oregon.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “but if there was extra fire in my belly this week, it would imply that I didn’t have enough during the regular season. I think we’re treating it like another game because we gave our best effort week in and week out. This is just another great opportunity to go play football, and this team is special. We’re looking forward to the challenge, the opportunity of going out there and playing football.”
No big deal.
But will that really be the case?
After all, wide receiver Mike Williams was ruled out of Saturday’s game because of a back injury suffered in the second quarter of the Chargers’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Initial tests Sunday and Monday were negative, but a scan Friday morning revealed a small transverse process fracture.
