Ryan Clark gives wild ‘whenever it matters’ take on Justin Herbert as Chargers face Chiefs

Ryan Clark says Chargers QB Justin Herbert ‘whenever it matters, has been terrible’

Ryan Clark says he doesn’t care one bit what Patrick Mahomes does in Sao Paolo due to his winning pedigree. Instead, his shift focused on Herbert.

It was actually an all-timer of a rant from the former NFL veteran, who won a Super Bowl and spent 13 seasons in the league with the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and the Steelers.

Speaking on First Take, he said: “For Justin Herbert, right, this dude that we crowned a top-10 quarterback…

“This person that his own coach says everybody else needs to raise their level of play in order to be in the position that he’s in, you’re talking about the last time Patrick Mahomes played?

“I know you watch a lot of film. You probably watch so much film [to Dan Orlovsky], and you didn’t backlog so much stuff. You probably pushed away what Justin Herbert looked like against the Texans.

“You probably thought ‘There ain’t no way Justin Herbert threw more interceptions in one playoff game than he did the entire season’.

“‘Not Mr. I-Can-Throw-A-Football-Through-A-Pinhole. Not him. Not, ‘Look how tall he is. Look at his light, his flowing locks. Look who his new girlfriend is…’

“Not that guy. Justin Herbert, whenever it matters, has been terrible. Justin Herbert didn’t win big games in college, as talented as he was. Justin Herbert has played in two games in the playoffs in the league.

“You lose a 27 -0 lead. You throw four interceptions against the Texans. I think Justin Herbert is extremely talented. I also think Justin Herbert is the fun friend. Right?

“Justin Herbert is the friend you invite over when you’re having a party. If something serious is happening, you don’t bring him over because he’s not responsible, accountable, and you can’t depend on him.”

Herbert has a 3-1 record in the NFL in Week One, Chiefs biggest test

Justin Herbert is 3-1 in Week One since being drafted sixth overall by the Chargers in 2020, having not been named a starter in that season until Week Two, stuck behind Tyrod Taylor.

Interestingly, in his first game under Jim Harbaugh after he was announced as head coach, Herbert threw it considerably less than in his other Week One games.

Perhaps less surprisingly on the running front, Harbaugh named former Baltimore Ravens OC Greg Roman, who worked under his brother John Harbaugh, as his offensive coordinator.

The clash against the Chiefs in Brazil, the second year in a row the NFL has held an opener there, is without a doubt Herbert’s biggest season-opening game.

Herbert has played their AFC West rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders, twice and won both times. The only loss came via the Miami Dolphins, while he beat Washington in his first-ever season opener.

Each of those teams pales in comparison to the team that has played in three consecutive Super Bowls, and it is the ideal time for Herbert to leave his mark on the season.