Chargers’ season-end defeat negates Justin Herbert’s heroism in the finale – Orange County Register

Austin Ekeler pointed to Justin Herbert and how he bailed the Chargers multiple times during his fourth and long-term game against the Las Vegas Raiders as to why Coach Brandon Staley shouldn’t be questioned for his positive decision. him on the field.

“People wonder why we dropped Wednesday,” said Ekeler. “Well, you’re gone. … That’s what (Staley) knows he has. ”

Herbert’s inevitable fourth-quarter conversion streak erased a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to keep the Chargers’ season alive until the last second following a heartbreaking 35-32 loss in extra time to the Raiders on Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium.

The charger converted five times down to a fourth in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, and again in overtime – all 6 yards or more from the first marker down. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, they have a 0.01% chance of converting all six of the fourth drop.

“Are you kidding me?” Rashawn Slater talks about seeing his back four repeatedly switch down to fourth. “The things he can do are unbelievable.”

Close-knit Patriots Hunter Henry, a former Charger, texted Ekeler to praise Herbert’s sensational performance in front of a nationwide audience.

“Man, ‘J-Herb’ is special,” Henry wrote to Ekeler.

Henry knew Herbert was special when he caught passes from him during the quarterback’s rookie season, but somehow Herbert continued to raise the bar.

Those who follow the Chargers regularly know Herbert is one of the most promising young players in the league and others are taking notice after witnessing Herbert’s latest heroic moves.

“Herbert’s touchdown store opens in Las Vegas,” shouted Adrian Garcia-Marquez on the Chargers’ Spanish-language radio program after Herbert completed a stunning 19-play, 83-yard touchdown to take the ball. match into extra time. “A classic quarter-final performance. ‘Time Prince’. … A miracle, my son! ”

The English translation of the dart hitting Herbert’s whistle to the Mike Williams wide receiver didn’t match the level of excitement Garcia-Marquez showed in his voice alongside the 62,000 screaming fans. in the stadium and millions of people watching from home.

It’s not fair that football fans won’t get to see a Herbert performance in the knockout stages. That may have been Staley’s biggest disappointment after striker Daniel Carlson scored a 47-yard goal into the game at the end of extra time, clinging to the fifth seed for the Raiders (10-7) and sending the Chargers (9-8) on another reason for the question.

“That’s why I hate that we’re not in the league because he’s one of the best players in the NFL,” said Staley, whose team has lost three of its last four games (two in the second half). extra).

Staley lost a lot of heat on his decision-making after their once-promising season abruptly ended on Sunday night. But with the season already here, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco was also fired for his squad decisions.

Staley’s defense could be the reason Herbert has to wait to make his debut after the season. The first-year head coach couldn’t make it fit the roster that Telesco had built, which was filled with high draft picks.

Mid laner Kenneth Murray, who was picked in the first round of 2020, seems to have lost most of the season and is struggling in the crucial game against the Raiders. Former first-round defender Jerry Tillery and recently paid full-back Michael Davis have been inconsistent for most of the season.

Safety Nasir Adderley and frontier rider Uchenna Nwosu have finally shown who they can be, but perhaps not enough.

Staley had his full starting defense on the field in Las Vegas for the biggest game of the season, but that didn’t eliminate their season-long problems down to third and against running track. Now the question is is Staley not coaching well enough or Telesco not adding the right players to their defense or a combination of the two?

Telesco looks safe to return in its 10th season with the Chargers, despite only two playoffs, no division titles and a 69-76 record during his tenure. Telesco drafted Herbert and saw six Chargers players named in Pro Bowl 2022, including left rookie Rashawn Slater.