After one of the toughest games of his career, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert received support from his coach, Jim Harbaugh, who took responsibility for Herbert’s struggles. In a 32-12 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Herbert threw four interceptions, a stark contrast to his regular-season performance where he had only three interceptions.
Harbaugh, while acknowledging Herbert’s rough performance, blamed the coaching staff for not putting him in the right position to succeed. “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 difficult game started in the second quarter. With 11:39 remaining and the Chargers ahead 6-0, Herbert attempted a pass across his body from the right side of the field to wide receiver Quentin Johnston on the left. The ball was underthrown, and cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted it.
Later in the third quarter, Herbert threw a high pass intended for wide receiver Ladd McConkey. The pass was intercepted by safety Eric Murray, who returned it for a touchdown, marking Herbert’s first pick-six since 2022.
Herbert’s third interception came after a drop by tight end Will Dissly. His fourth interception, late in the fourth quarter, was another underthrown pass to wide receiver DJ Chark, who had a step on cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
Herbert ended the game completing just 14 of 32 passes (43.8%), the lowest completion percentage for a Chargers quarterback in a playoff game since Philip Rivers in 2006. It was also the third-worst in franchise history (with at least 20 attempts).
Herbert’s four interceptions made him the first player in NFL history to throw more picks in a playoff game than in the regular season (with at least 200 attempts).
Despite the tough loss, Herbert took responsibility for his performance, saying, “I let the team down” after the game.
However, Coach Harbaugh defended his quarterback, blaming the game plan for the team’s struggles. He pointed out that the Chargers’ offensive line didn’t protect Herbert well enough against the Texans’ pass rush. Herbert faced pressure on 18 of his 36 dropbacks and was sacked four times.
Despite the loss, Herbert’s playoff record remains 0-2, leading to criticism about his postseason performances. His first playoff defeat came in a heartbreaking loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars two seasons ago, where the Chargers blew a 27-0 first-half lead. In that game, Herbert threw for 273 yards and a touchdown, completing 25 of 43 passes.
In defense of Herbert, general manager Joe Hortiz compared him to other great quarterbacks who faced struggles early in their careers, such as former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“If we’re going to set a narrative on Justin off of two playoff games, that’s absurd,” Hortiz said. “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. I mean, he’s special, and special things are ahead for him.”
