Is "Herbert Derangement Syndrome" becoming a real issue in the league? (via Twitter)
Of course. But do we really expect anything less?
By the way, if we frame this question another way, it's simply asking whether or not Justin Herbert gets enough credit for how well he's playing this season.
And the answer to that is definitely not.
Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman agreed with that notion last week.
"When you look at his body of work, it's better," Roman said, noting that Herbert is playing the best football of his career right now.
I'm in agreement with that and here's why.
On the surface, Herbert's traditional stats are about where they typically are. He's thrown for 2,610 yards (second in the NFL) and 19 touchdowns (tied for third) this season.
But a deeper dive shows just how valuable Herbert has been, especially when you narrow in on the fact that he has been pressured more than any other quarterback in the league.
The Chargers have had to patch together their offensive line for most of the season. And while that group has battled valiantly all year, it's no surprise that Herbert has been pressured 173 times, according to Pro Football Focus.
That's the most in the league and 33 pressures more than New England's Drake Maye, the second quarterback on the list.
Herbert, according to PFF, has also been hit nine times right as he's thrown, which is tied for the most in the league.
Despite that, Herbert has still produced an overall PFF grade of 91.8, which is fifth among quarterback.
Oh yeah, he's led the Chargers to a 7-3 record and a current Wild Card spot in the AFC playoff standings, with the AFC West still in reach with seven games to go.
The simplest way I can put it is this: Justin Herbert is playing like an MVP this season, even if most people outside the building don't realize it.
But the Chargers know it. And they wouldn't want anyone else at quarterback leading the way.