Justin Herbert is out of excuses

That sudden and violent shaking of the ground beneath your feet you felt at approximately 6:57 PM EST Sunday evening was every usual suspect racing to their respective platforms to let you know that Justin Herbert isn’t to blame for the Los Angeles Chargers’ second consecutive home loss to a team that was drafting in the top three this past April. Because it’s never Justin Herbert’s fault. According to some, he is “what it should look like” when it comes to quarterback play, even when he throws a pair of interceptions and posts a QBR of 15.6 against the defense that ranked 23rd in EPA per pass in 2025. Hello, Mr. Orlovsky, it’s good to see you. Someway, somehow, there will always be an excuse. A justification for Herbert’s shortcomings will always be found, and his mediocre play will nearly always be pardoned by his biggest and loudest defenders. Two weeks into the season, though, it’s time for those vocal advocates of Herbert to admit that their unrelenting faith in this quarterback – and this team year in and year out – is ill-founded. Herbert was undeniably brilliant in his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021. Over that two-year span, he threw for over 9,000 yards – which featured a 5,000-yard season in 2021 – 69 touchdowns, and had a passer rating north of 97 in both seasons. On top of that, he was 10th in EPA per play, sandwiched between No. 9 Drew Brees and No. 11 Matthew Stafford (min. 400 snaps). Since then, though, Stafford has been… fine? Since 2022, among all quarterbacks to play 250 snaps, Herbert has a 0.03 EPA per play, per Sumer Sports – the same mark as C.J. Stroud and Michael Penix. Now, to his credit, he’s also fourth in yards and eighth in touchdown passes, but he’s also missed the playoffs as many times as he’s made them, and he’s statistically one of the worst playoff quarterbacks of the last 25 years. But let’s focus on the here and now. In the Chargers’ first two games of the season, Herbert has laid two massive eggs. Thus far, he has two touchdowns to three interceptions, is completing just 59 percent of his passes, and is 27th in EPA per play despite the Bolts being gifted two games against teams that they were expected to beat. They were 9.5 point favorites against the Cardinals, per FanDuel Sportsbook, which was the biggest line of Week 1. Herbert completed just over 60 percent of his passes for one touchdown and one interception and couldn’t put up more than 14 points. That loss immediately became more embarrassing after Drew Lock was able to unload for three scores as the Seahawks beat Arizona by 24 in Week 2. In their own Week 2 game against Vegas, the offense had eight drives of six plays or fewer – all of which ended in a punt or turnover. Now, after losses to two teams who were projected to be among the worst in the NFL, the Chargers face the hardest schedule in the NFL. In Week 3, they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills’ buzzsaw offense that is playing on extended rest. They then go to Seattle to face the Seahawks followed by a home game against the Denver Broncos before a road game against the Chiefs followed by a date with the Rams and another road trip to Houston before the bye. So what is the excuse this time? “His offensive line is bad.” Both tackles are healthy and Herbert has the 12th-lowest pressure percentage in the league. “It’s coaching.” All we heard all offseason was that Mike McDaniel would unleash the best version of Herbert, and he got better results out of Tua Tagovaila than he has with Herbert early on. “He has no top tier receiver.” Josh Allen won an MVP with Mack Hollins as his top target and Patrick Mahomes won a Super Bowl throwing to Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore. And if Herbert needs more, that’s fine – most quarterbacks do. But let’s stop putting him in conversations he has no business being in. That’s the cold open – this is the Hot Read. Three and out The New Orleans Saints have arrived The Saints were one of the hottest teams to close out the 2025 season, winning four of their last five games and potentially finding something in second-round pick Tyler Shough. Through about two and a half quarters against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, though, it looked as if we were getting the same old Saints. However, Shough then led New Orleans to a 21-point second-half comeback that took the game into overtime. And while the Saints came up short, their second-year quarterback topped 400 yards passing in a gutsy performance. A second straight road game against a tough opponent awaited them, though, in the form of the Baltimore Ravens, and once again, the Saints leaned on Shough and his late-game heroics. The Louisville product led the Saints on a 16-play drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock late in the fourth quarter. Shough went 7-of-8 for 61 yards throughout the course of the drive, which culminated with him pounding the ball into the end zone from a yard out to give the Saints the lead. The Ravens would have a chance to tie the game, but a Lamar Jackson interception to Julian Blackmon sealed the biggest win for the Saints since the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era ended. Through two weeks, Shough leads the league with 662 passing yards and has five total touchdowns, and he is getting terrific support from his weapons. Chris Olave has 18 catches for 268 yards in two games. Devaughn Vele has stepped up as a strong No. 2 in the absence of first-round pick Jordyn Tyson with 12 catches, while tight end Juwan Johnson has added seven catches. For years, we’ve criticized the Saints for their lackluster roster construction that has put a perpetual low ceiling on them. However, their current combination of youth and veteran talent is a refreshing change. In a wide open NFC South, this Saints team can host a playoff game come January. And should that be their ultimate destination, the vehicle that gets them there will be the right arm of their second-year quarterback, as well as the terrific play-calling of head coach Kellen Moore. The Raiders have finally found the right head coach Since 2020, the Las Vegas Raiders have gone through five head coaches, going 39-62 over the last six seasons. After firing Pete Carroll following a 3-14 record in his lone season at the helm, the Raiders went back to the Seahawks well to hire offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak after he helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl win, and it looks as if they have finally found the right guy to lead them going forward. The Raiders began the Kubiak era with a 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, but it was Week 2 where this Vegas team showed that they aren’t the franchise we had grown used to seeing. Going on the road to face the Chargers, the Raiders’ defense forced three takeaways and racked up three sacks en route to a 26-14 statement win over their division rivals. Kirk Cousins turned back the clock a bit, as well, going 19-of-29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. What’s even more impressive is that the Raiders are doing this without Brock Bowers, which should only excite fans even more for his return. These aren’t fluke wins. These aren’t low-scoring games they are barely eking out – they have dominated both of their opponents thus far to the combined score of 51-27. Does this mean they’ll be a playoff team? No, but that’s not what this is about. This is about a franchise that has tried rebuilding several times, but couldn’t even make it past putting up the studs. Kubiak appears to be who fans have long been waiting for, and that is more important than a surprise playoff berth in Year One. That said, don’t be too surprised if that is the end result should the Raiders keep up this level of play. Surprise, surprise – the Rams are good Well, would you look at that. When the Rams aren’t making a 16 hour flight 10 minutes before kickoff, they are the dominant team we all expected them to be. After a dreadful showing in Week 1 against the 49ers in Melbourne, the Rams put on an offensive clinic in their home opener against a New York Giants team that was flying high after a big Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Davante Adams showed that even though he is getting older, he hasn’t aged. The future Hall of Fame hauled in eight catches for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns, picking up the slack for an offense that was without an injured Puka Nacua. Defensively, the Rams were without Myles Garrett, but added Aaron Donald, who was making his return to the NFL. The former Defensive Player of the Year totaled three tackles, including one for loss, in his first game since the 2023 season. Matthew Stafford also looked like his MVP self, finishing the night with 327 yards and four touchdowns as Los Angeles cruised to a 28-6 win. Once this team of Avengers is fully assembled, God help the poor fools who stand in their way. One play that changed everything The Ravens were running the ball at just under five yards a clip when they faced 3rd-and-1 with just over eight minutes remaining against New Orleans. But instead of leaning on the ground game with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle dialed up a deep shot to Chris Moore. Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry broke up the pass to force an incompletion. And, once again, rather than lean on their ground game, the Ravens punted. New Orleans would then put together that aforementioned 16-play touchdown drive. If not for the Ravens’ decision to go deep, and then not go for it on fourth down, they may be sitting here 2-0. Instead, the Saints get their signature win. This is the play that changed the game for the Ravens. 3rd and 1. They decide to go deep to Chris Moore. It's broken up by Kool-Aid McKinstry. Baltimore punts and doesn't touch the ball again until there is 1:24 left in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/alIavIpcnT — Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) September 22, 2026 Buy or sell Buy: The Dallas Cowboys are real threats After beginning their season like Kevin with his pot of chili, the Cowboys got back on track in grand fashion. Dak Prescott threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns, becoming Dallas’ all-time leader in touchdowns in the process. CeeDee Lamb also had the quintessential CeeDee Lamb game, catching eight passes on nine targets for 153 yards and two scores as Dallas raced away to a 37-20 win over the Commanders. A massive contest in Week 3 with the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil awaits them – a game they will win to get to 2-1. Sell: Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs are 0-2 and gave Deshaun Watson his best performance as a Brown. Through two games, Baker Mayfield looks like the guy Tampa was worried they’d get after paying him. he’s averaging just 6.4 yards per attempt and 199 passing yards per game with one touchdown and two turnovers through two games. Being in the NFC South will naturally give the Bucs a long leash, but they are a complete sell in terms of teams that should be taken seriously. Buy: The Bills are better off without Sean McDermott We won’t know whether or not this has merit until January, but through two games, the Bills look like a team that isn’t playing with its food. They put up 36 on a Texans defense that many believe to be the best in the NFL, and they followed that up by dropping 41 on the Lions four days later on a short week. Josh Allen has nine touchdowns and no turnovers while looking like the early MVP frontrunner, and Greg Rousseau has quickly settled into the new scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard incredibly well by racking up a league-leading four sacks. While the Bills of the past would far too often take their foot off the gas, these Bills are out for blood and have made an early statement with their explosive play. Sell: New England Patriots offense New England rebounded from their blown 10-0 lead in Week 1 to the Seahawks by getting a 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but their offense continues to struggle. Their offense is 26th in EPA per play and has scored just 23 points through two games. Drake Maye also doesn’t look anything like the MVP runner-up from a season ago, as he’s already thrown four interceptions. Prediction to track The Rams will defeat Denver handily in Week 3 The Rams and Broncos will end the Week 3 Sunday slate on Sunday Night Football. Los Angeles is currently 2.5-point favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook, and they will cover that spread with ease. The Broncos’ offense is currently 27th in EPA per play, and the Rams have the best defense they’ve faced thus far, as well as the best offense. They’ll defeat Denver 27-13, and talks of Sean Payton taking back play-calling duties will get very loud.

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