Given the circumstances he’s been handed in Los Angeles this season and the fashion he’s often carried the Chargers’ offense, 2025 has arguably been one of the best seasons of his career. Herbert has thrived despite being under constant attack, posting a 94.1 passer rating and throwing for 3,727 yards (ninth-highest total among all qualified passers entering Week 18) and 26 touchdowns (13 interceptions). He has five-plus sacks in five games this season, winning four of them. If that’s not impressive enough, Herbert has also played through a broken left hand that has been surgically repaired for the past month and has shown no fear for his safety, completing 75 of 116 passes for 885 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown this season.
In the Chargers’ Week 17 loss to Houston, the theme once again proved true. Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown and also led the Chargers in rushing with 37 yards on six scramble attempts. Without him, it’s fair to wonder if the Chargers could have even competed against the NFL’s best defense.
With the AFC West title now out of reach, there is little reason to risk Herbert’s health in Week 18. However, there is plenty on the line for the Broncos, who would earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win over the Chargers.
All that remains to be decided for the Chargers is where they will land in the conference finals, an outcome Harbaugh prefers to leave up to the football gods.
“There’s no way to predict,” Harbaugh said of the playoff situation. “We are going away in the first round. All possible teams will be good and we will get ready for that.”