When the spotlight cranked up and the stakes at their highest, Justin Herbert was as loose as could be.
In the moments before kickoff Thursday night, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh found Herbert and safety Derwin James, Jr. to deliver a message.
"My thing to them was, 'Even though the weight of the world seems like it's on our shoulders, it's not. Go enjoy it,'" Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said postgame. "And Justin said, 'It's like pickup basketball, Coach.'
"That's our guy," Harbaugh added.
The Chargers franchise quarterback then came through in a big way on Thursday Night Football as he didn't let the moment overwhelm him.
"It was an opportunity to go out there and play," Herbert said. "It's what we always dreamed of, to have these bright lights.
"It's a playoff-type game and we had a very good opponent here, but as long as we're playing loose, free and fearless and just going out and playing ball," Herbert added. "I think we're at our best then."
Herbert put on one of the best performances of his career Thursday as he rallied the Bolts back from an 11-point deficit for a 34-27 win that put them on the cusp of a playoff berth.
The game had almost everything — two teams fighting to get into the playoffs, a division rivalry and, of course, under the bright lights of primetime.
Herbert relished the moment, completing 23 of 31 passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
But it was his play in the second half that proved to be the difference against Denver.
"It's one of those things where you want to make every play and you treat that like it's the last play," Herbert said.
In the third and fourth quarter alone, Herbert was completed 11 of his 16 passes for 144 yards and threw for two touchdowns — both in the fourth quarter — while compiling a 136.5 passer rating.
He led the Bolts to three touchdowns drives out of the five times they got the ball after halftime.
"Dude is special," Khalil Mack said about Herbert. "I'm glad everybody is finally getting a chance to see it."
Herbert was in a different zone when he had the ball in the second half — and his teammates followed his lead in the comeback victory.
"I feel like he does that every game," tackle Rashawn Slater. "Justin is the ultimate competitor. There's not a game where I don't feel that way to be honest with you. He's an absolute dog."
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston added: "We [had] to lock in and get in the zone right with him so everything can flow and work like it's supposed to. And we did just that."
Joey Bosa added: "You always have a chance when he's back there. [Derwin James, Jr.] came up to me and he said, '10 is going to win us the game.' And certainly he did."
Not to mention, he did it all a while continuing to battle through a sprained left ankle.
Herbert, who has been on the Injury Report prior to the last two games, gutted it out when he was needed and extended drives both scrambling and buying time by moving around in the pocket.
It was evident the entire second half in some of the biggest plays of the game.
"A lot of people thought he couldn't run because of the ankle," wide receiver Joshua Palmer said. "A lot of people don't know Justin. He can run on a bad ankle.
"He saved us a few times," Palmer added.
Look no further than his two fourth-quarter touchdowns that sealed the win for the Bolts.
With the ball at the Broncos 19-yard line, Herbert dropped back to pass and moved to his left in order to buy some more time.
And even with a defender in his face, the quarterback unleashed a throw across his body to hit Derius Davis for the go-ahead score.
He later came through again with his legs with the Bolts looking to drain some clock under four minutes left, scrambling for 16 yards on third-and 10 to move the chains and set up a game-sealing touchdown pass to Hassan Haskins.
"It's him steering the ship," Palmer said.
Herbert continues to put it all out there, something he says is an easy thing to do because of his teammates.
"It really starts with that locker room," Herbert said. "Every single guy in that locker room gives their all so it's my responsibility to give my all.
"We play for each other, play for the Chargers organization and we care about each other," Herbert added. "When you're in that environment, it's easy to go out there and give it your all."
And his teammates take major notice of it, too.
The group had nothing but high praise for the Chargers quarterback and what he's been willing to do for the team.
It drives the Bolts even more.
"It speaks to the leadership and the person that he is," Mack said. "Laying his body on the line for us, that does a hell of a thing to a team when you got a quarterback that's fighting through what he's fighting through and laying his body out there for us and doing what he does.
"Makes you want to fight even harder," Mack added.
Bud Dupree added: "He's one of those guys you can't count out… He's a dog. Every day he comes to work, ready to work, don't give a damn about no injury. He go out there and play ball."
When asked if Herbert willed the Bolts to a win, Harbaugh had a straightforward answer.
"I would not disagree with that at all," Harbaugh said.
The mantra of being at their best when their best is needed has defined a lot of the Chargers 2024 season.
And inching closer to a playoff berth, No. 10 certainly answered the call.
"He's a closer. Best when your best is needed," James said about Herbert. "That was like the biggest game of our season.
Harbaugh added: "The greatness of Justin Herbert."
