Justin Herbert continues to show why he's one of the toughest quarterbacks in the league-both physically and mentally. Just two weeks removed from undergoing surgery on his left (non-throwing) hand, Herbert led the Los Angeles Chargers to a gritty 16-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. It wasn’t his flashiest performance, but it was exactly what the Chargers needed to secure their 10th win of the season and keep their playoff momentum rolling.
Herbert finished the day 19-of-29 for 210 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Not eye-popping numbers on the stat sheet, but considering the context-playing through a broken hand, dealing with relentless pressure, and facing a Chiefs defense that’s been among the league’s best-it was a gutsy, high-level performance.
And let’s talk about that pressure. Over the last month, Herbert has been getting sacked at a concerning rate-five times per game over his last four outings.
That kind of punishment would rattle most quarterbacks, especially one recovering from surgery. But Herbert?
He’s still stepping into throws, still standing tall in the pocket, and still delivering when it matters. That kind of resilience doesn’t show up in the box score, but it’s what separates the good from the great.
Former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman took notice of Herbert’s toughness on his “Games With Names” podcast, praising the quarterback for taking snaps under center just six days after surgery. That might sound like a small thing, but it’s not.
Putting pressure on a broken hand to take a direct snap-especially in live game action-is no joke. It’s the kind of thing that speaks volumes about Herbert’s competitive fire and pain tolerance.
The Chargers, now 10-4, are riding a three-game win streak and are positioning themselves as a legitimate playoff threat. They’re getting hot at the right time, and Herbert’s leadership is a big reason why. Whether he's threading a pass through tight coverage or simply managing the game when needed, he’s showing the kind of poise that teams need in December.
Next up: a Week 16 showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, who are trending in the opposite direction. At 6-7-1, Dallas has dropped two straight and is clinging to postseason hopes by a thread.
The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and it’s shaping up to be a pivotal matchup for both sides.
For the Chargers, it’s a chance to keep stacking wins and solidify their playoff position. For the Cowboys, it’s do-or-die time. And with Herbert playing through pain and still delivering, the Chargers are starting to look like a team no one wants to face in January.