AROUND THE AFC

HERBERT’S FADING STAR >> Oh, how the world has turned on Justin Herbert. A year ago, the Chargers QB received MVP votes after leading his team to the playoffs. Seven months later, he signed the richest contract in NFL history in terms of average salary ($ 52.5 million). Now, he’s the chic pick as the league’s most overrated QB, with critics pointing to his admittedly so- so record ( 30- 32) as an NFL starter. Of course, the Chargers took the field without him Thursday night, and it was hard not to come away from that debacle — hello, 63- 21 loss in Las Vegas — feeling like Herbert is the least of that franchise’s problems.

ANYONE WANNA WIN THIS? >> Don’t look now, but the AFC is completely up for grabs. The defending champion Chiefs can no longer catch footballs ( or line up onside). Miami just choked away a doubledigit fourth- quarter lead to a rookie quarterback ( Will Levis). Jacksonville has lost two in a row — both to backup quarterbacks. And we’ve gotta see it in the playoffs from Lamar Jackson and Baltimore before we actually believe it. With the NFL’S top three teams ( San Francisco, Dallas and Philadelphia) all residing in the NFC, it’s starting to feel an awful lot like the 1980s around here.

FLACCO’S AFLAME >> Remember when

Joe Flacco was John Elway’s answer at quarterback? Perhaps if the Broncos would’ve got the version currently slinging the rock for Cleveland, Vic Fangio would still be walking the practice fields at Dove Valley. OK, we kid. Still, the 38- year- old Flacco has sure turned back the clock over the past two weeks — both starts. While his numbers ( 565 yards on 55.1% passing) aren’t blowing anyone’s socks off, he did enough to take down AFC South leader Jacksonville last week.