Justin Herbert produced heroics to rescue a Week 6 win for the Los Angeles Chargers over the Miami Dolphins, delivering a play that will stay with head coach Jim Harbaugh for the rest of his life.
The Chargers, coming off a home loss to the Washington Chargers in Week 5, looked set to drop to 3-3 on the season after surrendering a 26-13 lead late in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.
Herbert and Co. were left with 45 seconds with which to drive down for a game-winning field goal, and it appeared as if they would fail when Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips had the Chargers quarterback in his grasp on second-and-10.
However, Herbert somehow broke free of the clutches of Phillips before resetting his feet and finding wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who sidestepped a defender and surged 42 yards down the left sideline to put the Chargers in range for the game-winning kick, which Cameron Dicker duly sent through the uprights to seal a 29-27 victory.
justin herbert how ???? pic.twitter.com/j7pD9kV2EO
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 12, 2025
The victory sees the Chargers retain the lead of the AFC West, with Harbaugh needing only 16 words of effusive praise to sum up the brilliance of Herbert's Houdini act.
Herbert throw reserved for 'the best of the best'
“That play will be burned in my mind until they throw dirt over top of me,” Harbaugh said in his post-game press conference.
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He did expand upon his assessment, adding: "Justin Herbert back to throw, defender wrapped around him. He’s able to mighty man it, shake it off and hit Ladd McConkey.
"On a physical level, it just can’t really be done by many. Just a couple of guys who can do that.
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"On a mental level, it’s an emotionally hijacking thing to have that occur. To keep your wits about you and still be able to be spun around and visualise where there is at least somebody you can get the ball to.
"Then having the presence of mind to relocate, relock back in and make an accurate throw — that’s just reserved for the best of the best."
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