FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Late within the fourth quarter, with nearly all of the Chargers’ starters standing on the sideline ready out a 40-7 rout over the New England Patriots, Derwin James Jr. leaned in near Justin Herbert. The protection had watched the way in which the Chargers’ star quarterback stayed late on the apply facility. How he watched movie instantly after getting off the group airplane after street video games. How he gritted his enamel by way of accidents to hobble round on sprained ankles this season.
James needed to ensure Herbert knew it was all appreciated.
“I wouldn’t rather have no other quarterback,” the two-time first-team All-Professional security mentioned.
Herbert performed what coach Jim Harbaugh known as a “near flawless” sport to assist the Chargers clinch their first playoff berth since 2022, blowing out the hapless Patriots (3-13) at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
Herbert accomplished 26 of 38 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns because the Chargers (10-6) put up a season-high in factors. Even whereas watching the top of the sport from the sideline after leaving with a 30-point lead and 10:54 remaining, Herbert was nonetheless among the many first gamers onto the sphere to high-five and encourage teammates after every drive.
“I can’t think of one play or one throw or one check or one ball placed where it shouldn’t have been,” Harbaugh mentioned. “Just an incredible performance by an incredible player.”
It felt like enterprise as ordinary for Herbert.
A primary-quarter spotlight reel catch from receiver Derius Davis — who specified by a full Superman place to reel in his second landing in as many video games — elicited calm high-fives from Herbert.
When he laced a ball by way of 4 defenders to Ladd McConkey for a six-yard landing within the second quarter, Herbert gave the rookie receiver a proper handshake. The Chargers had jumped forward 17-0, a lead that felt insurmountable for a Patriots group that was vying for draft positioning as an alternative of playoff hopes.
“It’s a testament to all the hard work that we’ve put in this offseason,” Herbert mentioned of returning to the playoffs. “The way things have gone, it’s been an honor to play alongside this team. We had a huge opportunity tonight and we went out and took it.”
McConkey, who completed with eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, claimed Chargers rookie receiving data with 77 catches and 1,054 yards this season.
Herbert grew to become the third quarterback in NFL historical past to go for 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in every of his first 5 professional seasons, becoming a member of Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. He additionally surpassed Manning for essentially the most yards passing within the first 5 NFL seasons, however is now fixated on a extra vital achievement.
The Chargers haven’t received a playoff sport since 2018.
Chargers security Derwin James Jr. data one among his two sacks of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10).
(Robert F. Bukaty / Related Press)
“We know a new season is just beginning,” mentioned James, who had two sacks, each on fourth down, for the primary multi-sack sport of his profession. “We’re not settled just getting in the playoffs. We know where we want to be, we know what type of team we want to be, so, man, we just want to keep going.
The Chargers, who spent much of the season jockeying between the sixth and seventh seeds, could move into the fifth seed next week. To get in position for a favorable postseason matchup at No. 4 seed Houston (9-7), the Chargers would have to win in Las Vegas (3-12) and get a Steelers loss to the Bengals in Week 18.
Pittsburgh (10-6) owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Chargers with a Week 3 victory, but has lost three consecutive games to fall from the top of the AFC North.
Herbert left the game against the Steelers in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. The Chargers struggled to find rhythm on offense throughout the season with their quarterback playing sometimes at 20% health in a new system with unfamiliar receivers.
With back-to-back games of season-high point totals, however, Herbert has the Chargers rolling into the postseason. His teammates are ready to follow him there.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert wears a hat with a picture of an elevator crossed out after a win over the Patriots.
(Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)
“The guy has battled his ass off all year,” middle Bradley Bozeman mentioned. “Just truly, the definition of grit.”
“Everyone plays for each other,” Herbert mentioned. “They play for the coaches, and they obviously play for the Chargers fan base as well.”
Earlier than escaping the chilly and moist afternoon and ducking into the locker room, Herbert made one closing play for that loyal fan base. He greeted the group of soggy followers gathered behind the Chargers bench, posing for footage and signing autographs.
