Justin Herbert spent the previous two seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers’ fixer, able to overcome whatever injuries or issues were hindering their offense through his talent and effort.
asserted
injuries → spend → talent
That no longer seems to be the case, as demonstrated in a disastrous fourth quarter of the Chargers’ 23-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
asserted
That → seem → Sunday
Having started the final period with a 17-10 lead, Herbert had five possessions in the final 15 minutes.
asserted
Herbert → start → minutes
They resulted in a three-and-out, a turnover on downs, a lost fumble, an interception and the clock running out when Herbert took a game-ending sack without getting a Hail Mary attempt off.
asserted
Herbert → result → attempt
“We got to do whatever we can to win football games, make plays, and do what we can to score points,” Herbert said.
asserted
Herbert → got → points
“We haven’t been doing that, and we got to do that better.”
asserted
we → do → that
The offensive line started four rookies against Denver because of injuries.
asserted
line → start → injuries
He didn’t have two of his top receivers to start the game — the Chargers were so beat up that Ladd McConkey was active seemingly to field a CBA-compliant game day roster; he didn’t practice all week because of a foot injury, and the TV broadcast indicated he was never going to play — before another wideout went down in the third quarter.
asserted
wideout → have → quarter
It means everything is on Herbert, and he looks to be feeling the pressure in ways the Oregon product never has previously.
asserted
product → mean → ways
He fumbled the ball trying to throw it while in the grasp of Broncos defensive end Zach Allen, setting up Denver’s go-ahead field goal.
asserted
He → fumble → goal
Herbert nearly lost the ball in almost identical fashion on the Chargers’ next possession, only for it to end up right back in his hands.
asserted
it → lose → hands
That drive ended on a fourth-down interception when he threw the ball directly to safety Brandon Jones.
asserted
he → end → Jones
He shook two defenders on a 10-yard scramble early in the third quarter to offset a holding penalty, then moved in the pocket to buy time before finding tight end Charlie Kolar on a third-down reception to move the chains two plays later.
asserted
He → shake → chains
A single-wing sweep allowed Herbert to pop a big run and get the offense into the red zone, and the drive ended with his lone touchdown pass of the afternoon.
asserted
drive → allow → afternoon
But Herbert is also taking plenty of abuse, another all-too-common sight.
asserted
Herbert → take → abuse
He was sacked five more times, taking his total to 17 through five games.
asserted
He → sack → games
Herbert came up limping when he was yanked down by his left leg by Nik Bonitto, the kind of hit the Chargers hoped to alleviate when they brought in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator.
asserted
they → come → coordinator
At 0-5 and with no signs of help on the way, it doesn’t look like things will be getting easier for Herbert any time soon.
asserted
things → look → Herbert
“It’s tough,” Herbert said.
asserted
Herbert → ’ → ?
“It’s definitely not where we want to be in the process.”
asserted
we → ’ → process
What’s working
The defense is starting to settle in under new coordinator Chris O’Leary.
asserted
defense → work → O’Leary
The Chargers limited the Broncos to 224 total yards, 3.9 yards per play, and 1 of 12 (8.3%) on third down, despite being without versatile safety Derwin James because of a hamstring injury.
asserted
Chargers → limit → injury
What needs help
McDaniel needs to simplify his offense to accommodate the ridiculous number of injuries on that side of the ball.
asserted
McDaniel → need → ball
The Chargers can move the ball when things are kept basic, such as Kimani Vidal ripping off a 42-yard touchdown run on a textbook outside zone play, but McDaniel’s insistence on trickery and motion is slowing things down.
asserted
insistence → move → things
Rookie OLB Akheem Mesidor had his best game yet, finishing with a team-high eight tackles, a strip-sack, and a tackle for loss.
asserted
Mesidor → have → loss
The 22nd pick out of Miami, Mesidor is getting more comfortable every week, and his growth is allowing the defensive front to hit its stride.
Stock down
RB Omarion Hampton averaged a season-low 2.36 yards per carry, netting 33 yards on 14 attempts.
asserted
Hampton → get → attempts
Drafted in the first round in 2025, Hampton needs to be more dynamic to help balance the offense and reduce the pressure on Herbert.
asserted
Hampton → draft → Herbert
Even against a defense as strong as Denver’s, he shouldn’t be getting outgained by Vidal or Herbert, who combined for 111 yards on their 14 attempts.
asserted
who → outgaine → attempts
Key injuries
WR Tre Harris left with a hamstring injury he sustained while run blocking when Hampton ran into him to start the second half.
Key number
14 — The Chargers outscored the Broncos 14-0 in the third quarter and outgained them 125 yards to 5.
asserted
Chargers → leave → 5
It was their highest-scoring quarter of the season and second-most productive in terms of yardage, after their 168-yard fourth quarter against the Seahawks in Week 4.
asserted
It → score → Week
Up next
The Chargers visit another AFC West foe, Kansas City, this weekend, looking to avoid their first winless start through six games since 2000, when they finished 1-15.
asserted
they → visit → 2000
The Aporia
