Justin Herbert on improving 2023: It's all about consistency

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is ready for he and his team to take the next step. After losing to the Raiders in the final game of the regular season, L.A. missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record. They’re primed for a much improved season in 2023 after retooling the roster this offseason.

Herbert appeared on Sirius XM NFL Radio to talk about their upcoming season. The young franchise QB says it’s all about their stability from week to week to get to the next level.

“It’s all about consistency,” said Herbert. “We have to put together a full season for us to play the football that we want to.”

Inconsistency has been their Achilles heel since Herbert was drafted in 2020. They’ve finished 16-16 in his two years under center. Their longest winning streak in those years was a four game stretch to end the 2020 season. With an improving AFC and AFC West Division, they no longer have the luxury of alternating in the win-loss column.

The front office made an effort to fix that problem heading into 2023. The root of the inconsistency could be within their defense. While they finished fifth in scoring with 474 points, their defense finished 27th by allowing 459 last year. In response, the Chargers went out and added Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, Kyle Van Noy to bolster that side of the football. Those additions will only do so much in Herbert’s eyes, though, if the team isn’t ready to play each week.

“We’ve definitely added some guys on defense, picked up a few guys on offense, and had a great offseason so far,” Herbert said. “And as soon as the season comes, we understand it’s all about execution and being sharp week in and week out, never looking ahead and making sure we’re doing everything we can to give ourselves a shot on Sundays.”

The talent on the Chargers roster has them perceived as a dark horse to both win in a competitive division and to compete in the playoffs this season. That’s a major leap for a team that hasn’t won their division since 2009 and only made the playoffs twice since 2013. Still, Herbert believes they’re a dependable stretch away from doing big things in 2023. L.A. will hope to start that effort from the jump when they open the season Week 1 against Las Vegas.