Four interceptions glared in neon following the Los Angeles Chargers' humbling playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
Having lost in dreary fashion in each of his playoff appearances, quarterback Justin Herbert drew ample criticism and blame for the latest Chargers postseason failing.
Safety Derwin James is done with the Herbert slander.
"He don't deserve it," James said recently on Micah Parsons' "The Edge" podcast. "We play a team sport. When you're the quarterback, you're the D-end, or, like I'm the safety, it all lies on our shoulders. When it ain't going right or if it is going right. I just feel like it's always going to be on [No.] 10's shoulders no matter how the guys are playing around him or how he's playing. It's always going to be on his shoulders."
Indeed, heavy is the helmet worn by the quarterback, who's going to get the flowers after a victory and the scrutiny after a defeat.
Herbert is now 0-2 in his playoff career. He was under center during a colossal collapse against the Jacksonville Jaguars to end the 2022 season and at QB this past season when the Texans trounced him and the Bolts.
In the most recent loss, Herbert finished 14 of 32 for 242 yards, a touchdown and a whopping four interceptions. It's unlikely each of the INTs were strictly on Herbert, but a final, blinding number such as that will fuel a narrative.
While it's hard to argue that Herbert didn't struggle against Houston, he did have an overall excellent first season in Greg Roman's offense. In particular, he threw just three interceptions in 17 starts -- which made his playoff gaffes all the more startling.
Herbert threw for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns and had a career-best 101.7 passer rating and a career-high 306 rushing yards.
One area of need for Herbert and the Chargers is wide receiver.
Rookie Ladd McConkey was stellar, finishing with a team-high 82 receptions and 1,149 yards. Thereafter, struggles were abundant despite some improvement from 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston.
One impending free agent is Cincinnati Bengals stalwart Tee Higgins, who's likely to be the apple of plenty of offenses' eye.
James would surely like Herbert to have Higgins at his disposal.
"Hey, what's up Tee? Tee, any receiver out there, like what's up? What's happening? Let's go do it," James said.
James' top selling point would be having Herbert throwing to him.
"Who wouldn't want to play with Herbert?" James said.
James wouldn't want to play with any quarterback other than Herbert, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Herbert's coming off one of the worst performances of his career in the loss to the Texans, but James, a four-time Pro Bowl safety, is behind him all the way as the Chargers turn to 2025.
"Y'all stop disrespecting him," James said. "I promise you. I can't wait for y'all to see this next season when I know we're going to do what we do, for y'all really get to see the real 10. I know how hard he works. I wouldn't rather have no other quarterback."
