49ers vs. Chargers: 5 bold predictions for Sunday Night Football

49ers vs. Chargers bold prediction No. 2: Jimmy Garoppolo outduels Justin Herbert

There are some statistical references that back up nearly every bold prediction we’ve had up to this point, but the idea of Justin Herbert being outplayed by 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is a little tougher to quantify.

Herbert, completing 66.4 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns against five interceptions while only having been sacked 10 times, is largely the No. 1 reason why Los Angeles is 5-3 right now.

Garoppolo, despite arguably playing the best football of his career, statistically matches (or comes close) to Herbert in those same categories: 66.7-percent completion rate, 11 pass touchdowns versus four interceptions with 15 sacks taken.

Except Herbert can be a volume passer with yards in his favor, while Garoppolo is far more the game manager.

In this bold and rather unorthodox prediction, though, let’s go ahead and flip what should be the script here and say that Herbert makes some uncharacteristic mistakes during his limited time on the field, tossing a couple of interceptions and taking multiple sacks, both of which have been rare for him this season.

All the while, Garoppolo plays a clean game.