Justin Herbert did not deflect blame after the Chargers‘ latest playoff exit, instead placing responsibility squarely on himself following Los Angeles’ 16-3 wild-card loss to the New England Patriots.
The defeat eliminated the Chargers from the postseason and extended a troubling trend, as Herbert fell to 0-3 in his playoff career, reinforcing questions about whether the franchise can break through in January.
Los Angeles has reached the playoffs multiple times since drafting their quarterback in 2020, yet each appearance has ended after one game – leaving the team winless in the postseason since 2019 as they seek the next step.
And after Sunday’s loss, the 27-year-old athlete was asked whether he remains confident he can eventually deliver a playoff victory, and his response reflected frustration rather than bravado.
“I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet and it hasn’t happened. So, we’ll have to reevaluate and see what happens,” Herbert said, via ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
On the field, he endured relentless pressure from New England’s defense, as the Patriots’ pass rush overwhelmed the Chargers‘ offensive line from the opening drive.
He was sacked six times, hit repeatedly, and finished 19 of 31 for just 159 yards, without a touchdown or interception, as Los Angeles struggled to sustain drives.
Despite the defense holding New England largely in check, Herbert said his inability to generate offense ultimately wasted that effort.
“I didn’t play well enough and didn’t make any plays.” Herbert said. “We let the defense down today.”
Across three playoff games, he has totaled two passing touchdowns, four interceptions, and 13 sacks, numbers that underscore how difficult the postseason has been for him.
Will Chargers axe offensive coordinator after NFL Playoffs failure?
The Chargers reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh, yet the offensive collapse against New England intensified scrutiny of coordinator Greg Roman as the offensive line continues to struggle.
Roman followed Harbaugh to Los Angeles after prior stints together at Stanford and the San Francisco 49ers, plus success in Baltimore with the Ravens, though his playoff résumé remains uneven.
In seven playoff games calling plays, Roman-led offenses have averaged just 13.9 points, a figure highlighted by Sunday’s three-point showing as the Chargers faltered at the first hurdle once again.
When asked about Roman‘s future, Harbaugh avoided specifics, suggesting an evaluation was coming rather than offering immediate support.
“We’re gonna look at that and everything,” Harbaugh said. Against the Patriots, Los Angeles produced only one scoring drive, a short Cameron Dicker field goal, while going 1-for-10 on third down.
The Chargers failed on a fourth-down attempt, totaled only 159 passing yards, and managed just 117 total yards by halftime.
After a Daiyan Henley interception set up first-and-goal at the Patriots‘ 10, the Chargers failed to score and did not hand the ball to a running back.
New England advanced behind steady defense and timely field goals, while Los Angeles exited again with unanswered questions surrounding Herbert‘s playoff ceiling.
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