In the aftermath of a shocking 32-12 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is shouldering the blame for star quarterback Justin Herbert’s uncharacteristically poor performance. Herbert, who threw a league-low three interceptions in the regular season, tossed four picks against the Texans, becoming the first player in NFL history with more interceptions in a playoff game than the entire regular season.
Harbaugh Takes Responsibility for Offensive Shortcomings
Speaking to reporters after the game, a visibly frustrated Harbaugh didn’t mince words about his young quarterback’s struggles. “We did him a disservice and didn’t put him in the positions to be successful,” Harbaugh said. “But he played like a beast.”
Herbert’s first interception came in the second quarter with the Chargers leading 6-0 and in the red zone. On a play-action rollout, he threw across his body toward receiver Quentin Johnston, but the pass was underthrown and picked off by cornerback Kamari Lassiter. It was a rare misfire for the normally precise passer.
Uncharacteristic Errors Plague Herbert
Things went from bad to worse in the third quarter when Herbert threw a pass too high for receiver Ladd McConkey that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by safety Eric Murray. It was Herbert’s first pick-six since his rookie season in 2022. His fourth interception came on another underthrown ball intended for DJ Chark.
“I let the team down,” Herbert said after the game, taking full responsibility for his performance.
Justin Herbert, Chargers Quarterback
Chargers Fail to Protect Their Franchise QB
But Harbaugh refused to let his star shoulder all the blame. He pointed to a subpar game plan that failed to properly protect Herbert from Houston’s relentless pass rush. The Chargers QB was pressured on 18 of his 36 dropbacks and sacked four times.
“If we’re going to set a narrative on Justin off of two playoff games, that’s absurd,” said Chargers GM Joe Hortiz. “What I watch this guy do, he’s phenomenal. We roll with him. They’re going to roll me out of here before they roll him out of here. I can promise you that. He’s special, and special things are ahead for him.”
Bouncing Back from Postseason Disappointment
Herbert is now 0-2 in the playoffs, with both losses coming in embarrassing fashion. Two years ago, the Chargers infamously blew a 27-0 lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coupled with this recent debacle against the Texans, questions are beginning to swirl about whether Herbert can deliver when it matters most.
- Regular Season: 34-14 record, 68.2% completion rate, 108 TDs, 24 INTs
- Playoffs: 0-2 record, 58.7% completion rate, 1 TD, 4 INTs
But Hortiz and the Chargers remain steadfast in their belief in the 24-year-old phenom. They point to other all-time greats like Peyton Manning and Lamar Jackson who also struggled early in their playoff careers before finding success. The key now is putting the right pieces in place around Herbert to help him take that next step.
Offseason of Change Ahead for Bolts
That process begins this offseason, with Harbaugh vowing to make whatever changes necessary to build a more complete team. “We’re going to look at everything,” Harbaugh said. “The scheme, the personnel, how we train and practice. No stone will be left unturned. Justin is our guy, and we’re going to do everything in our power to put him in position to be successful.”
The Chargers have the eighth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and are projected to have around $60 million in cap space. Expect them to aggressively target offensive line help and playmakers on both sides of the ball. For Herbert and the Chargers, the pressure is on to prove they can be more than just regular season wonders. Until they shake their postseason demons, the doubts will only grow louder.
