I was joking with my good friend and broadcast partner, Tom Tolbert, this week about how teams ought to call us before they make horrible decisions. The two situations we referred to in our conversation was the Cleveland Browns offering a guaranteed “bazillion” dollar contract to a quarterback with issues off the field. And how the New York Giants could get backed into a corner where they made Daniel Jones one of the highest paid players in the league is beyond comprehension.
Now I’m going to point out another dumb move a National Football League coach is making while earning a lot more money for his opinion than Tom and I make for ours. Jim Harbaugh, who has returned to the NFL ranks after a successful stint at the University of Michigan following his four-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, 2011 to 2014, is now leading the Los Angeles Chargers.
He opened his second NFL career with wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers, then got beat last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. In that game, he decided to play his franchise quarterback despite Justin Herbert nursing a high ankle sprain. He lost both the game to Mike Tomlin and company and aggravated Herbert’s injury in the process. Herbert had to be pulled from the Steelers contest in the second half.
Now, even though Herbert is not fully healed, Harbaugh is publicly proclaiming that he will start his top signal caller on Sunday against his most hated AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs.
If he would have called Tom or I, he didn’t, we would have told him last week to rest Herbert until he was at 100% and certainly don’t have him in action again this week while the injury is probably more systematic than it was before last week's game.
High ankle sprains do not heal while they are being taxied by NFL battles. Want to make Herbert a season long injury problem? You are on your way.
Obviously, Harbaugh didn’t think he could win in Pittsburgh with Herbert’s backup, Taylor Heinicke, running the offense. He played his starter until a mid-third quarter sack further inhibited his play on the bum ankle and the Chargers didn’t score the rest of the way in a game that ended in a 20-10 defeat.
Now he is going to perhaps start Herbert against the Chiefs because he thinks this game is what, more important than having a healthy quarterback for the rest of the season?
There is one other problem with starting Herbert on Sunday, the Chargers aren’t going to beat the Chiefs with or without him. Kansas City is in a perfect position to extend their mastery over their division opponents, which now stands with Andy Reid’s squad earning a 31-6 mark against AFC West competition since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback.
Kansas City has not had a romp win over any of their first three opponents, edging the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons in highly contested contests. So, why lay a touchdown in this one and expect Kansas City to run up the score?
Because, and you will have to take my word on this, a team poised to win that has been playing close games is a lot more likely to score a blowout victory than a squad coming off lopsided victories.
So, the Chargers are going to lose on Sunday, and they are going to likely further inhibit Herbert’s long-term prospects for this season by aggravating his injury.
Before you make this mistake Coach Harbaugh, give Tom and me a call to set you straight.
Qoxhi Picks: Kansas City Chiefs (-6½) over Los Angeles Chargers