INGLEWOOD, CA — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers’ 31-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders didn’t come without a scare.
Herbert left the game briefly in the first half due to a fracture in his left hand. He returned to the game with a white glove on the injured hand.
“He’s as tough as they come. Taped it up with a glove,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He played a great game.”
Sunday’s victory improved the Chargers (8-4) to 4-0 in the AFC West, and they currently occupy fifth place in the AFC playoff picture.
However, Herbert’s health looms large. Herbert is scheduled to undergo a procedure to repair his left hand on Monday, a week before the Chargers host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chargers quarterback is optimistic he’ll be able to play in the prime-time game.
Herbert’s been under constant pressure this season as the Chargers adjust to life without starting offensive tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle), who are both out for the year.
Herbert faced pressure an NFL-high 188 times entering Week 13, according to Pro Football Focus. He was sacked three times and hit another four times Sunday.
The Chargers can ill-afford to be without Herbert for any duration if they hope to get into the playoffs. Los Angeles is currently second in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos (9-2). Surpassing Denver in the division appears unlikely, so a wild-card spot seems to be the team’s most realistic path to the postseason. Sunday’s win gave the Chargers a 61% chance to reach the postseason as the calendar flips to the December stretch run.
However, the Chargers are approaching a daunting five-game stretch to close the regular season as they face the Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Broncos to end the year. All five opponents are .500 or better and in the playoff hunt. Week 13’s tilt was a game the Chargers needed to have as they embark on a five-game gauntlet.
‘We got some great teams coming up, all playoff caliber teams,’ Chargers safety Derwin James said. “This was a big win moving forward. And any time you can stay 4-0 on the division, you give yourself a chance with five games left.”
Chargers players know what’s on the horizon, beginning with the Eagles, but they insist they aren’t looking too far ahead.
“For us to be able to come away with a win (Sunday) was big for us,” Herbert said. “I think it’s just week by week. We got to do our job. Especially when we when we play on Sundays, or whether we’re playing on Monday. All we can control is our attitude, our effort, and how we take care of business. Anything outside of that is out of our control. You can monitor it, but you can’t do too much to change it.”
The Chargers did “take care of business” against the lowly Raiders (2-10). But it came with an injury scare. The Chargers’ most indispensable player needs a fracture in his left non-throwing hand repaired, and questions about the team’s ability to protect him are bound to persist.
All the while, the next handful of games will determine their playoff fate.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.