16. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
I mean, what in the heck was that? The Chargers got embarrassed by the Cardinals in Week 1, and this wasn’t some close loss, but rather a 12-point defeat. The Chargers didn’t score more than seven points in a quarter and scored 0 points in the second and fourth quarters.
Justin Herbert was 17/27 for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and just did not at all look comfortable.
The Chargers do have two new coordinators, which could mean things take time to fully get going, but this team is also one where there always seems to be some sort of cloud of uncertainty hovering over their heads.
We’ve seen them get into the playoffs each year of the Jim Harbaugh era, but they’ve been blown out in the Wild Card Round each time, and Herbert just doesn’t seem to have that extra gear you want your franchise QB to have.
The Chargers’ schedule also gets a lot tougher coming up, so this loss does set them back more than you might think.
15. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield definitely didn’t play as good a game as the 98.8 passer rating would say he did. Mayfield was sacked four times and had a trio of fumbles, which gave Cincy extra opportunities on offense. Mayfield and Tampa Bay were able to agree on a long-term extension before the season, so this marriage is going to continue, but Mayfield isn’t the type of QB who is going to lead this team into a deep playoff run.
He’s very solid and has been that way his entire Buccaneers career, but there is a clear ceiling with the veteran passer, and he does play some sloppy football at times. With that said, the Bucs have been able to rather easily win the NFC South in recent years, and as of now, Mayfield is the best passer in the division.
In the coming weeks, Mayfield’s play should improve, and we should see Tampa begin to stack some wins. Despite the three fumbles and four sacks, Mayfield was still an efficient 23/28 through the air. He only had 216 passing yards, but he’s also someone who can be a prolific passer when he finds his groove.
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