Quite a bold statement
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 19-for-31 with 159 scoreless passing yards during the team’s 16-3 loss in the AFC wild-card round vs. the New England Patriots on Sunday night.
Behind an injury-ravaged offensive line and still recovering from a recent hand injury, Herbert took six sacks for 39 yards and committed two fumbles, losing one of them.
Still, Chargers center Bradley Bozeman wasn’t going to let anyone bash his quarterback in the wake of the loss.
Bozeman argued that Herbert not only was a better signal-caller than New England Patriots MVP candidate Drake Maye, but the former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was the best quarterback in the league.
“Bradley Bozeman on why he’s confident Justin Herbert will get a playoff win: ‘Because he’s the best (expletive) quarterback in the league. Flat out. That’s all I got to say about that. The guy’s special, and it sucks to not get him there because he’s that kind of caliber,” Chargers insider Daniel Popper of The Athletic posted on X.
Bozeman and Herbert just finished their second season together and Los Angeles’ setback against New England is likely painful for Chargers fans and players alike.
Herbert is also coming off his second Pro Bowl season, but with the likes of Maye, Buffalo Bills reigning MVP Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (albeit injured) still residing in the AFC, the Oregon product isn’t even the best signal-caller in the conference.
For as good as Herbert has been in the regular season, his struggles in the playoffs are noteworthy.
He’s now 0-3 in the postseason with just two touchdown passes against four interceptions and a 64.7 passer rating.