The season for the Los Angeles Chargers came to an end on Sunday with a disappointing 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots. After the game, quarterback Justin Herbert expressed his disappointment, taking full responsibility for the team”s lackluster performance. “I didn”t play well enough and didn”t make any plays,” he told reporters. “And when it mattered most, we didn”t score any points.”
Herbert, who finished the game with 159 passing yards on 19-of-31 attempts and no touchdowns, also led the team in rushing with 55 yards. Despite a season where he showcased his talents as one of the league”s top quarterbacks, Herbert struggled against the Patriots. In the opening drive, he missed a potential big play by opting to scramble for a short gain instead of connecting with a wide-open Ladd McConkey.
On a critical third down in the third quarter, Herbert underthrew McConkey, allowing Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones Davis to break up the pass. When asked about his performance, Herbert was candid, stating, “Obviously, not well enough.” Throughout the season, he had demonstrated an ability to navigate through pressure, finishing with a career-high in rushing yards, but this game was a stark contrast.
Herbert”s performance was further marred by poor decision-making under pressure. On one of the six sacks the Chargers surrendered, he slipped while trying to maneuver in the pocket, allowing outside linebacker K”Lavon Chaisson to bring him down. “Quarterback play wasn”t good enough,” Herbert admitted.
This postseason marked another disappointment for the young quarterback, who remains winless in playoff appearances, with each loss underscored by performances that did not reflect his regular season success. Despite earning his second Pro Bowl selection this season, the playoffs have not been kind to him. When asked about his confidence in eventually securing his first playoff win, Herbert replied, “Yeah, 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.”
While Herbert faced challenges, the Chargers” defense did its part to keep the game within reach. They pressured Patriots quarterback Drake Maye effectively, recording five sacks and forcing two turnovers. Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, acquired via trade earlier in the season, set a franchise record for postseason sacks with three and contributed a forced fumble.
The Patriots scored their first touchdown with just under ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, as Maye connected with tight end Hunter Henry for a 28-yard score. Herbert acknowledged the defense”s efforts, stating, “We let the defense down today.” With this defeat, the Chargers have now lost both of their playoff games under head coach Jim Harbaugh, with the offense scoring only two touchdowns across these outings.
Harbaugh faced questions regarding the effectiveness of offensive coordinator Greg Roman, as the struggles persisted. He stated, “We”re going to look at that and everything,” without providing a definitive answer. Teammates in the locker room defended Herbert, praising his resilience throughout a challenging season, during which he played despite suffering a fractured left hand. Right guard Mekhi Becton remarked, “I don”t think he did anything wrong. When we”ve got No. 10 back there, we can do anything.”
