Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus searched through all 32 NFL teams to find the player with the highest grade against them since 2020. For the Saints, he landed on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Herbert has only battled against the Saints twice in his career, first during his rookie season in 2020 and then last season. While he has a split record at 1-1, Herbert has performed well against the Saints.
Justin Herbert made an impression early vs. the Saints
In that first game, Herbert went 20/34 for 264 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a QBR of 122.7. A standout play from this matchup was when Herbert targeting Mike Williams against cornerback Marshon Lattimore in a play that put them in field goal range with less than a minute left.
Los Angeles missed the field goal and sent the game to overtime, but Herbert's choice to go at the Saints top corner in a pivotal moment of the game was memorable. It was third-and-one, and the quarterback took a shot play. This play showed the ability to rise to the occasion and not back down from a challenge.
The game would end with a Saints victory in overtime, but Herbert definitely showed the Saints what he's capable of that day. Later that season, he would win the offensive rookie of the year award.
Herbert grabbed a victory in his second attempt against New Orleans
When the Saints took on the Chargers last season, Herbert went 20/32 for 279 yards and two touchdowns with a QBR of 111.3. The numbers dropped slightly, but he would also have a crucial 38-yard scramble.
There would be no need for overtime as he led the Chargers to a 26-8 victory over the Saints. Herbert's connection with rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey proved to be dangerous as well, as the latter had six receptions for 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The connection between him and McConkey apparently started in OTAs, according to the quarterback.
Herbert mentioned this connection after the game against the Saints."He came up, showed up, and just made plays. He's so friendly to the quarterback," Herbert said of McConkey. "He's got such a great understanding of defenses and leverage, and he just goes out there and makes plays. You gotta find ways to get him the ball, because something good is going to happen."
The Saints haven't had to face Herbert many times. Whether it was a big play to Mike Williams or Ladd McConkey, the young quarterback has performed well versus the Saints. PFF calls him the Saints Achilles heel. It's hard to not at least concede he's been a thorn in the Saints' side.
