Justin Herbert is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. He can throw the ball with accuracy and make plays that few others can. During the regular season, he has put up impressive numbers and has led the Los Angeles Chargers to victories.
But when the playoffs arrive, Herbert and the Chargers seem to struggle. This became very clear after the Chargers lost badly to the New England Patriots on Sunday night. Fans and analysts are noticing a pattern. Herbert’s postseason performance has not matched his regular-season success.
Some statistics have made this point even clearer. One measure called expected points added per play, or EPA, shows that Herbert’s playoff numbers are negative. In simple terms, this means that his plays in the playoffs have, on average, slightly helped the other team. To put it in perspective, his numbers are similar to Shedeur Sanders’ rookie numbers for the Browns, which were also poor.
On Reddit, users highlighted this fact. One user wrote that saying “Justin Herbert becomes Shedeur Sanders in the playoffs” is one of the harshest ways to describe his struggles. Sanders has potential, but as a rookie, his performance was far from impressive.
The situation is strange because Herbert is clearly a star quarterback. He has talent, skill, and experience. He shines in the regular season, but the playoffs seem to bring out the worst in him.
There are many reasons this could happen. Playoff opponents are always strong. The sample size of playoff games is small compared to a full season. Pressure and high stakes may also play a role.
Still, Herbert has earned a reputation as a quarterback who struggles in the postseason. He is not alone in this. Many great quarterbacks, including Peyton Manning, faced similar challenges early in their careers. Manning eventually overcame it, winning Super Bowls and proving that early playoff struggles do not define a career.
Chargers fans can only hope Herbert will improve in the playoffs over time. They want him to show the brilliance he shows in the regular season and to lead the team to big wins in the postseason. If he can do that, he could change his narrative from being a regular-season star who struggles in the playoffs to a quarterback who delivers when it matters most.
