NFL Week 14 Notebook: Herbert’s Grit, Chiefs’ Next-Man-Up Mentality, and Steelers’ Locker Room Loyalty
Justin Herbert: Broken Hand, Unbreakable Will
What Justin Herbert did in Week 14 wasn’t just gutsy - it bordered on cinematic. Playing through a broken hand just a week removed from surgery, the Chargers quarterback suited up, took the field, and led Los Angeles to a 22-19 overtime win over the Eagles. It wasn’t just about the numbers or the win - it was about the sheer will to compete.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t hold back when describing Herbert’s performance. “It felt like I was in a movie,” Harbaugh said.
“The quarterback’s doing these things and you get to the point where you go, ‘OK, this is getting a little unrealistic.’” And honestly, it did feel that way.
Herbert wasn’t just throwing through pain - he was stiff-arming defenders with a broken hand. That’s not just toughness.
That’s next-level, refuse-to-lose kind of stuff.
Harbaugh called him a “superhero quarterback,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Herbert’s competitiveness has never been in question, but this game took it to another level.
Playing quarterback in the NFL is demanding enough when you're healthy. Doing it with a broken hand?
That’s a different kind of warrior mentality.
Chiefs Dig Deep on the O-Line
In Kansas City, the offensive line has been a revolving door lately, and Week 14 brought another shake-up. When left tackle Wanya Morris went down, the Chiefs had to turn to undrafted rookie Esa Pole - a name most fans hadn’t heard before Sunday. But when the lights came on, Pole stepped up.
Andy Reid was quick to praise the young tackle after the game, and rightfully so. “He had no reps in practice for the most part,” Reid said.
“Just a couple of fill-in things.” That’s not exactly an ideal prep week for your NFL debut, especially on a team with championship aspirations.
But Pole held his ground, literally, against some quality pass rushers.
Reid’s confidence in Pole wasn’t just about the performance - it was about the poise. “He jumps in and did some pretty good things against what I think is a pretty good football player,” Reid added.
For a rookie with barely any practice time, that’s a big-time moment. The Chiefs’ offensive line has been banged up, but if guys like Pole can step in and hold their own, Kansas City’s depth might be better than we thought.
Steelers Rally Behind Tomlin Amid Rumors
There’s been a lot of noise surrounding Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh, but inside the locker room, it’s clear where the players stand. Heading into a crucial Week 14 matchup against the Ravens, the Steelers weren’t just playing for playoff positioning - they were playing for their head coach.
Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf made it clear that the team wasn’t buying into the outside chatter.
“We knew not to pay attention to any outside noise,” Metcalf said. “Coach T is a great leader for us, and he’s done nothing but take the bullets for us.”
That’s the kind of loyalty you don’t manufacture - it’s earned over time.
Tomlin’s consistency, even in the face of criticism, has been a stabilizing force for the Steelers. “Even when we’re high and when we’re low, he’s always come in every day, has been steady and stayed the same,” Metcalf said.
That message clearly resonated. The Steelers showed up in a big way against the Ravens, taking control in one of the league’s fiercest rivalries.
“We knew what was at stake - first place in this heated rivalry,” Metcalf said. “And yeah, the better team came on top.” It was a statement win, and more importantly, a statement of support for a head coach who’s been the face of the franchise for nearly two decades.
Bottom Line
Week 14 gave us a little bit of everything - a quarterback playing through pain like it’s a Hollywood script, a rookie lineman answering the call on football’s biggest stage, and a locker room rallying around its leader. This is what December football is all about: grit, resilience, and teams finding out exactly who they are when the pressure hits.