Tom Krasovic: As long as Justin Herbert is on the field, Chargers have a chance

It’s no secret why the traffic light between the Chargers and the AFC playoffs remains green.

Justin Herbert, despite being treated too often as the NFL’s largest pinata, has managed to stay on the field.

Monday, the Chargers will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Kroenke Dome.

In their previous 11 games this year, the Chargers were favored on Las Vegas betting lines, per Sports-Reference.com.

You might be surprised the Chargers were favored in 11 straight games.

I doubt you’re surprised why.

Herbert was available to start each of those 11 games, giving his team a perceived critical edge going into each kickoff. In the only game in which the Chargers weren’t favored, opposite Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes in Week 1, Herbert and a strong defensive showing led L.A. to victory as a three-point underdog.

Likewise, Herbert best explains why the Chargers (8-4) are given a 60% to 65% chance to snag a playoff berth.

More to the point, it’s his ability and availability.

Herbert entered the NFL in 2020. He’s been available to start all but four Chargers games. Among NFL franchise quarterbacks, only Josh Allen has been more available to his team in the same span.

About that green playoff light Herbert has illuminated: it’s not the brightest, nor does it signal Jim Habaugh’s team has a good chance to go the distance this winter.

I maintain that the season-ending injuries to offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater ultimately will prevent the Chargers from reaching the Super Bowl.

Subpar blocking will sink most teams, and almost always before a team can get to the trophy game.

Herbert knows how to cope. Having improved at Mahomes-like escapes, he has overcome protection leaks to pull out wins over the Broncos and Dolphins.

But even if the victories come, unreliable blocking will chip away at any quarterback’s game. Two games ago, in the road loss to the Jaguars, Herbert showed those signs.

Now, although fortified by the bye week and a win over the last-place Raiders, Herbert must also contend with the limitation of playing with a cast or splint on his left hand.

Herbert, Harbaugh and playcaller Greg Roman will make adjustments.

The quarterback sneak, an underrated strength of Herbert’s, may become less of an option. Ditto certain types of ballhandling moves.

The return of running back Omarion Hampton, who’s expected to face the Eagles, will help.

Injuries have weakened other playoff contenders, too.

Giving the Chargers an injury advantage Monday, their defenders will face an Eagles offensive line that’s fallen off multiple levels from its NFL-best blocking of last season.

Similarly, Herbert and his blockers welcome that Jalen Carter won’t be suiting up for this game due to shoulder issues. Defensive statistics show Philadelphia’s defense is much less effective without Carter. If Carter were able to play, he’d go against L.A.’s not-so-good trio of interior blockers and accentuate a pretty good group of edge rushers.

AFC drama

Mahomes may have it tougher than Herbert.

The Chiefs’ offensive line may be without three of its top four blockers Sunday night against the Texans. San Diego’s Josh Simmons, K.C.’s left tackle, was lost on Thanksgiving Day to a dislocated and fractured left wrist. Former Chiefs All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz described the rookie Simmons — a former Madison High School standout who started his college career at San Diego State — as perhaps the NFL’s most athletic left tackle.

• The Texans aren’t sympathetic, either, when it comes to Herbert’s injury challenges. A concussion sidelined their quarterback, C.J. Stroud, for three recent games. Going 3-0 with QB Davis Mills enabled DeMeco Ryans’ team (7-5) to remain in the AFC South race. Ryans’ NFL-best defense picked up the slack; its eight sacks of the Bills’ Allen led to the biggest of the three wins.

• The Colts are 1-3 without DeForest Buckner. The defensive tackle had a big say in the team’s 7-1 start. Chargers blockers had a bad game against Buckner in the Colts’ 38-24 win in Week 7, a week before he suffered a neck injury. Coach Shane Steichen said Buckner may be back soon.