Justin Herbert — Week 9: Eight Sacks Against Houston

Justin Herbert was sacked eight times by the Texans, the most the Chargers have allowed in a game this season: 13 of 23 for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception, plus a 7-yard scramble, in a 44-22 loss. Over 32 dropbacks he was worth -2.8 expected points added (EPA), what a play was worth given down, distance and field position, -0.09 per dropback. The sacks alone cost -10.9.

The play that closed the door came on the first drive of the second half, down 24-9. After a sack, an incompletion and a false start, third and 16 at his own 33, he threw deep over the middle for Quentin Johnston and Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted at the Houston 20. On the Chargers' next possession, down 31-9 on fourth and 2 at his own 41, Jadeveon Clowney sacked him for a 3-yard loss and a turnover on downs, -3.5 EPA. In the first half, third and 8 at the Houston 8, his short pass to Tre Harris lost 7 yards and the Chargers kicked a field goal, -5.2 points of win probability, the estimate of each side's chance to win.

The two big throws came with the game gone. Down 31-9 on fourth and 1 at his own 20, he went deep left to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for 50 yards, +5.3 EPA, and the drive ended in a fumble. Down 38-9, third and 8 at his own 42, his short pass to Johnston went for a 58-yard touchdown, +6.0 EPA.

Per dropback it was better than his season. Through seven games he was at -0.27 per dropback, -68.8 EPA on 255 dropbacks, with 10 interceptions and 23 sacks. His completion percentage over expected (CPOE), how often he completed passes against what their difficulty predicted, was -11.0.

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_Data via nflverse._