Chargers, Dolphins fans keep sparring over Justin Herbert vs. Tua Tagovailoa

Chris Roling | Nov 30, 2024

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Chargers

When the Los Angeles Chargers took Justin Herbert sixth overall just after the Miami Dolphins took Tua Tagovailoa one spot ahead of them in the 2020 draft, it started an endless debate.

That debate has continued into this season as the quarterbacks take very different paths. Herbert, for the 7-4 Chargers, has thrown for 2,404 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception, orchestrating a run-first offense under Jim Harbaugh and struggling at times with a so-so cast of weapons.

Due to another injury, Tagovailoa has appeared in just eight games, yet thrown for 2,125 yards with 15 touchdowns against four interceptions, going 4-4 in the process for the 5-7 Dolphins. During his outing on Thanksgiving, he threw for two scores, yet his team went down in primetime to Green Bay, 30-17.

Naturally, recent events have caused the dialogue to spark over the last few weeks, so let’s check in on how that’s going.

The irony here is the entire Dolphins fanbase referred to Justin Herbert as a “check-down merchant” last year.

Despite the fact that nobody epitomizes “check-down merchant”, LOS merchant”, “screen merchant” quite like Tua.

This graphic is genuinely funny. pic.twitter.com/tGQBFGfxpb
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 27, 2024

Trending: #Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa has the same touchdown passes as Justin Herbert this season despite missing five games this season.

That’s wild.

🤯 pic.twitter.com/0Vfta0LqJL
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 27, 2024

People did Tua over Herbert. Totally earnestly. For a *long time*
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 18, 2024

Hopefully soon people will understand what many of us Dolphins fans have known for a while:

Tua Tagovailoa was a better pick than Justin Herbert. pic.twitter.com/rq7F2Rh0gT
— David Fischer (@DavidFischer_71) November 26, 2024

It’s so clear that Tua is nowhere near Burrow or Herbert. It’s wild that anyone actually thinks they are close.
— Zac (@ZacV256) November 29, 2024

Some people really believe Tua is better than Herbert🤣
— 🌴Dερrεssεđ 𝘾Ɉ🗿 (@MiniMeSmitty18) November 29, 2024

Tua vs Herbert discourse should have been DEAD….not a single NFL GM nor head coach would take Tua over Herbert
— Beau🫵🏿🥊 (@BiiigBeau) November 23, 2024

Last 30 starts:

Tua Herbert
7,866 Pass Yds 7,328
50-24 TD-INT 40-11
67.2 Comp% 65.5
98.2 Pass Rating 95.5

It's time we start having a discussion pic.twitter.com/lsVqh62luy
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) November 26, 2024

No one thinks Tua is better than Herbert.

I think Herbert deserves to be in the Burrow/Lamar conversation. https://t.co/qnB6n1AMnj
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) November 26, 2024

Another opportunity for Tua Tagovailoa to prove his worth and he failed.

The final numbers look good but he only started playing well once down 27-3. This is who he is. Good QB. Not a Franchise QB.
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) November 29, 2024

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Published Nov 30, 2024

CHRIS ROLING