The Chargers returned to their old form as they were embarrassed 32-12 in the Wild Card Round by the Houston Texans.
Both defenses dominated the first quarter. The Chargers started moving the ball well, but could not finish the job and settled for a field goal. They recovered a Texans fumble on their first drive, putting themselves in field goal position again. The offense couldn’t move the ball much after that, however, and they took another field goal to take a 6-0 lead.
Much of the first two quarters was loaded with punts and turnovers. At the end of the half, however, the Texans could put together a touchdown drive, Stroud connecting with Nico Collins for six. The Texans took a 7-6 lead that sparked a change in momentum.
To begin the third, the Texans gave the ball back to the Bolts via a fumble, but Los Angeles couldn’t capitalize on it as they were stopped on fourth down in Texans territory. Houston hit a field goal on their next drive to extend their lead. The game got quiet until Eric Murray took a Justin Herbert interception into the End Zone. This is when things began to get out of hand.
The Chargers’ offense began to move the ball, but Will Dissly dropped an easy reception that fell right into the hands of Derek Stingley Jr. for Herbert’s third interception of the game (matching his regular-season total). Houston hit a field goal on this drive to take a 23-6 lead. The Chargers finally got into the end zone as Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown. However, Cameron Dicker’s extra point was blocked and returned for two more Texans points. Houston capitalized on this with a seven-minute drive, winding down the clock until Joe Mixon punched in the dagger for 17 yards. To get some points and lose with dignity, Justin Herbert threw his fourth interception of the game, this one also to Derek Stingley.
This game was a clear reminder to the entire NFL world that the Chargers exceeded expectations all year. The Bolts entered a transition year when hiring Jim Harbaugh to be Head Coach. Los Angeles did nothing but lose talent in the offseason, and Harbaugh was inheriting a roster from the previous regime of Brandon Staley & Tom Telesco that underperformed year after year. Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz made the moves necessary to set themselves up for a good future, and they outperformed while doing so.
This team went from 5-12 to 11-6 in one season, which is by no means something to scoff at. The problem is it has to be called what it is. This roster could not compete for a Lombardi at its current state. That could change if Hortiz adds a piece here and there in the offseason. Until those moves are made, this roster is the same one that was recently one of the worst defenses in football for years that was not helped by a one-dimensional offense.
The other glaring issue is Justin Herbert’s ability to perform in big games, specifically the playoffs. His biggest criticism for most of his career has been his struggles in big, primetime matchups. These complaints came to a head when Herbert and the Chargers’ offense collapsed in the 2023 first-round loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, losing after holding a 27-0 lead in the first half. This year, he has been much more consistent. Herbert only threw three interceptions all season and seemed to be playing at a different level throughout the regular season.
Saturday was an all-time bad game from the 2021 Rookie of the Year. Herbert threw 14-32 for 242 yards and just one touchdown while turning the ball over four times. Yes, this Houston defense has forced awful games from otherwise good Quarterbacks such as Jared Goff or Josh Allen. With that in mind, however, Herbert has to show he can perform when the lights get bright. Until then, a team with a quarterback that can’t perform in the playoffs isn’t a team that should be keeping their calendars open in early February.
The big focus for this offense in the offseason became even more clear after Saturday afternoon. The Bolts are lacking at all offensive skill positions, but one is more evident than all others: Tight End. Will Dissly exceeded expectations all year, but he is getting old and two of his drops provided Houston with some of their most crucial momentum shifts in this game.
Retaining Dissly would be fine, but he should not be the top option at TE for Justin Herbert. There’s no way the Chargers don’t look at TE prospects Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland heading into the Draft. They are two elite prospects at their position that are both widely expected to be picked in the early twenties. There are other needs, of course, but Tight End will surely get an upgrade in the Draft or Free Agency.
The Chargers will not shift their focus to the 2025 offseason. This will be their most pivotal offseason in years. As Jim Harbaugh said, the room for improvement between two weeks is no bigger than between weeks one and two. There’s reason to believe that will be the case in offseasons, too. Harbaugh has built something unique in Los Angeles in just one year, something that Free Agents may find appealing. With some of the most cap room in football, it is more than possible that the world will see the Chargers begin to buy in again this offseason. With a front office that has shown more promise than Telesco and his team, Chargers fans should not lose all hope after another heartbreaking loss.