Is Justin Herbert The MVP?

Through 5 games in the 2021 season the Los Angeles Chargers are 4-1. They are in first place in the AFC West and have beaten contending teams like the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns, largely due to Justin Herbert.

Chagers Improvement

This new found success is because of many different things. Their new Coach Brandon Staley appears to have been a great hire. His style of coaching is unique and it is perfect for this team. He has been doing things that are fairly unprecedented. He routinely goes for it on 4th down and more than 5 to go. Sometimes when they are in their own territory. The offensive weapons this team has is elite.

Keenan Allen has been a Pro Bowler 4 years in a row. Austin Ekeler is one of the best pass catching running backs in the league and is on route to having a career year. Mike Williams who was the 7th overall pick in the 2017 draft is finally having his breakout year. Through 5 games this year he already has  6 touchdowns and 471 yards while also averaging 15 yards per reception. Their defense led by Derwin James is heavily improved. While the Chargers have improved in almost every phase of the game the number one reason they have become contenders is because of Justin Herbert.

Justin Herbert Rise

Justin Herbert was drafted 6th overall in the 2020 draft and had a great rookie season throwing for 31 touchdowns and 4,336 yards and winning offensive rookie of the year. This year he has taken a massive leap and he has led the Chargers to their best start in years along with playing himself into the MVP conversation.

Herbert’s Impressive Start

He already has thrown for 13 touchdowns and 1,576 yards. And this past Sunday against the Browns he had a career defining game against the Browns. He threw for 400 yards and had 5 total touchdowns. 4 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown. The Chargers needed every bit of that from him in order to win the game which they ended up winning 47-42. Herbert has shown that he not only has unbelievable potential but is already an elite Quarterback. He has all the attributes necessary to be a great Quarterback in the luague for a long time. Herbert is 6 foot 6 and 240 pounds he has a cannon of an arm and is very mobile. He can make plays inside the pocket or outside the pocket on the run. And as this year he has clearly put it all together. And is a serious candidate for MVP. 

5 Other MVP Candidate’s Compared to Herbert

There are 6 players in the MVP race right now and it is hard to find someone with a better case than Herbert. The 5 other candidates besides Herbert are Tom Brady, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Dak. Herbert is having a better year than Josh Allen without a doubt as he leads him in every statistical category the same goes with comparing him to Dak there is not much of a competition between Herbert and Dak this year. The other 3 players have very legitimate cases against Herbert.

Kyler Murray has led the Cardinales to an undefeated season thus far. He has been very impressive but statistically Herbert has an edge on him and Kyler has not had a season defining incredible performance like Herbert had last week. Lamar on the other hand has had that and like Herbert it happened for him last week. Lamar had arguably the best game of his career last week leading the Ravens to a come from behind victory against the Colts.

However the only reason Lamar is in the MVP debate is because of this game. While he was having a good start to the season the level of play during his first 4 games did not compare to Herberts. In the first three games of the season Lamar did not reach 300 yards. Herbert has been more consistent than Lamar throughout the season. But Lamar has put himself in the debate and either Lamar or Kyler is a good MVP pick.

Brady vs. Herbert

And the last Candidate, the other guy who really is neck in neck with Herbert right now is Tom Brady. It is unbelievable in itself that Tom Brady is even in this discussion at this age and stage of his career. Brady is 44 and in year 22 of his career and despite that through 5 games he has thrown for over 1700 yards, 15 touchdowns only 2 picks and has led the Buccaneers to a 4-1 record. Herbert and Brady are neck and neck and it really is a coin flip on who should be MVP between the two. 

Regardless if Herbert wins the MVP this year he is on pace to have a Hall of Fame Career. He has a very good roster around him, the Chargers have found their coach for the future and he is putting up unbelievable numbers for a second year quarterback and he will only get better. The Chargers are in good hands. 

JC