Justin Herbert is back-and just in time for one of the biggest games of the Chargers’ season.
Despite undergoing surgery on a broken left hand just a week before Los Angeles' Week 14 overtime win over Philadelphia, Herbert toughed it out and played through the injury. Now, heading into a pivotal Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chargers’ star quarterback is off the injury report and ready to roll.
At 9-4, the Chargers are in a strong position in the AFC playoff race, currently holding the No. 5 seed. But this game carries even more weight than just postseason implications. A win over Kansas City would give L.A. the season sweep and the tiebreaker over their division rivals-an edge that could prove crucial down the stretch.
Herbert’s numbers this season speak for themselves: 2,981 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and another 419 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He’s been one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league, balancing his rocket arm with the kind of mobility that keeps defenses honest. That said, his performance against Philly last week wasn’t his cleanest-he completed just 46.2% of his passes in that game-but the Chargers still found a way to win in overtime, and Herbert’s presence alone continues to make this team dangerous.
Oddsmakers have the Chargers as 5.5-point underdogs heading into Arrowhead, but this isn’t unfamiliar territory. Back in Week 1, Herbert lit up the Chiefs for 318 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 32 yards on the ground, as the Chargers pulled off a statement win. That version of the Chargers looked like a legitimate contender-and if Herbert’s hand holds up, there's no reason they can’t replicate that success.
The stakes are high. According to NFL.com’s playoff projections, a win in Week 15 would boost the Chargers’ postseason chances to 92%.
That’s a massive swing, and it reflects just how much this game means. DraftKings currently lists L.A. at -340 to make the playoffs, implying a 77.27% chance, but that number could surge with a win in Kansas City.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, aren’t the same juggernaut we’ve come to expect. They’ve dropped four straight and have struggled to win convincingly all year-only five of their victories have come by more than five points.
That’s a far cry from the dominant Kansas City teams of years past. And while Arrowhead is never an easy place to play, the Chargers have already proven they can win there.
With Herbert cleared, the Chargers have their leader back under center and a real shot to take command of their playoff destiny. This one has all the makings of a heavyweight AFC clash-and it just might be the game that defines the Chargers' season.