The debate between Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert was settled on the field with the Chargers quarterback outdueling the Dolphins star.
All week, NFL talking heads and fans debated over which quarterback had the edge in Sunday Night Football’s battle between the Chargers and Dolphins.
Justin Herbert has already been established as one of the premiere young quarterback talents in the league, but winning hasn’t come easy.
Tua Tagovailoa overcame injury to emerge as an unexpected MVP candidate with the Dolphins on the rise, but doubters remained.
So who would make their statement and win the battle of 2020 NFL Draft quarterbacks?
It was Herbert. Big.
Best memes and tweets after Justin Herbert beat Tua Tagovailoa
QB story in Chargers-Dolphins:
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 12, 2022
Justin Herbert completed 39 passes, tied for the 34th most all time (six shy of the Drew Bledsoe/Jared Goff record).
Tua Tagovailoa completed 35.7 percent of his passes, the lowest mark by a QB with at least 20 attempts this season.
Well that should put the Herbert/ Tua debate to rest for a while. Right?
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 12, 2022
All week Dolphins fans kept saying that this was going to be the deciding game on whether Tua was better than Justin Herbert. You guys were right about something for once! 😜
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) December 12, 2022
Live look at @EmmanuelAcho tonight after talking all that nonsense about Tua Tagovailoa being better than Justin Herbert. pic.twitter.com/SPE61UsKuB
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) December 12, 2022
Tough night for the people who claimed Tua is on Justin Herbert’s level. Glad that conversation is over.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 12, 2022
Tua choked tonight for the second straight game and at the worst possible time for the Miami Dolphins.
— Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) December 12, 2022
Herbert outplayed him and is clearly the better quarterback.
No excuses. Tua looked lost.
Real footage of Justin Herbert to Emmanuel Acho after the game. pic.twitter.com/hXXVNS0SQy
— Daniel Wade (@dantalkssports) December 12, 2022
I hope we can put all this silly Herbert vs Tua nonsense to bed.
— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) December 12, 2022
Herbert and Tua aren’t even in the same universe. Like comparing Jerami Grant and Giannis.
Tua is good. Herbert is generational.
Imagine thinking Tua is even close to being as good as Herbert
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) December 12, 2022
Tagovailoa had a miserable game passing against the Chargers completing just 10 of his 28 passes. He finished with 145 yards, 60 of which came on his touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Herbert was a stud. He was 39-of-51 for 367 yards and a touchdown. He completed passes he had no business completing and led his team to victory.
The game certainly wasn’t as close as the 23-17 score would suggest. The Chargers scored 17 points in the second quarter to pull ahead. Hill’s freak fumble recovery and return for a 57-yard touchdown was the only thing that kept the Dolphins in the game.
Despite LA dominating proceedings, Miami made it close in the thanks to the aforementioned Hill touchdown catch. Two Cameron Dicker field goals kept the Chargers out in front in the end.
This was the Dolphins second-straight loss after having their five-game winning streak snapped. Earlier this season they had a three-game streak snapped and went on to lose three in a row. They’ll look to avoid that same fate on Saturday against the Bills in Buffalo, but it’ll be tough.
The Chargers also face a test next week against the Titans.