Harbaugh publicly critiques Herbert: 'Be better' — SkimNews
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- Jim Harbaugh publicly criticized QB Justin Herbert's decision-making after a 24-16 loss to Buffalo, telling him "Be better" — a rare break from his pattern since 2023 of blaming teammates instead of his quarterback.
- Justin Herbert finished with 226 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Bills, but the source notes he could have had three picks if Buffalo defenders hadn't dropped two; the lone interception was nearly thrown directly to safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
- The Los Angeles Chargers are still searching for their first win of the season, losing Sunday despite a defense that forced five turnovers while the offense scored just 14 points.
- Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme — built on anticipatory throwing and wide zone runs and installed after GM Joe Hortiz retooled the roster in the offseason — has Herbert looking "less comfortable" than any of his first three games in the system, per the source.
- Fox analyst Tom Brady called Herbert's interception "poor awareness, poor decision" and "a meatball sub," underscoring the national attention on the Chargers' offensive dysfunction.
- The context makes the critique land harder: Harbaugh has called Herbert "the greatest quarterback of all time" and said last week he "wouldn't change a thing about Justin," making Monday's public criticism the sharpest of his tenure.
Why it matters: The Chargers are 0-3 after GM Joe Hortiz spent the offseason reshaping the roster around coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme, yet the defense forced five turnovers Sunday and the offense still scored only 14 points. Harbaugh's public criticism — after he called Herbert the GOAT last week — marks his sharpest break from his 2023 habit of shielding the QB, raising the temperature on a Chargers offense that has yet to find its footing.
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