HOUSTON — Justin Herbert sat in a chair at his locker, immobile, arms on his knees, a clean stare on his face. It didn’t appear like it, however he was listening.
Defensive lineman Morgan Fox was sitting on the ground to Herbert’s proper. Fox was speaking in a hushed tone to the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback.
“I simply advised him I’m happy with him,” Fox mentioned. “Nobody else I’d quite go to battle with. That he’s in all probability one of the best quarterback I’ve ever performed with. He’s nice. He’s extremely proficient. Simply advised him to maintain his head up.”
After a couple of minute, Fox popped up, gave Herbert a hug and walked to his locker on the opposite aspect of the room.
Then Herbert was alone. Left along with his personal ideas. Left with the irrepressible stinging of one other early playoff exit.
The Chargers misplaced to the Houston Texans 32-12 on Saturday at NRG Stadium. A dramatic turnaround engineered by coach Jim Harbaugh ended with a whimper within the wild-card spherical. Herbert threw 4 interceptions. He had by no means turned the ball over greater than twice in any sport in his skilled profession.
“I let the crew down,” Herbert mentioned.
GO DEEPER
Texans choose off Herbert 4 instances in 32-12 wild-card blowout: Takeaways
Herbert at all times takes the blame after losses. Most instances, he’s simply being teammate. This time, his evaluation is correct.
He performed the worst sport of his profession within the largest sport of his profession.
“Nobody feels worse than I do,” Herbert mentioned.
What awaits is an unavoidable avalanche of questions and criticism. It’s the nature of the place he performs. It’s the nature of the immense contract he signed.
He’ll hear the noise for not less than one other 12 months, till his subsequent potential probability at a playoff win.
Herbert is outrageously proficient. No quarterback in NFL historical past has thrown for extra yards by means of 5 seasons. He does issues on a soccer area that few people, if any, have ever been capable of do. However athletes are in the end judged on how they carry out when the lights are brightest, when a championship hangs within the steadiness. Herbert wilted on the grand stage, and he’s now 0-2 within the playoffs.
Herbert’s final postseason look got here in 2022. He helped construct a 27-0 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars within the wild-card spherical. The Chargers collapsed. Herbert missed a wide-open Keenan Allen ultimately zone late within the first half of that sport. However Herbert performed properly sufficient for the Chargers to win. They might not run the ball within the second half. They dedicated backbreaking penalty after backbreaking penalty as a part of a defensive unraveling.
Saturday was completely different. No quantity of nuance or context can clarify this one away. Herbert appeared tight. He made uncharacteristically unhealthy selections. He made uncharacteristically inaccurate throws.
Herbert had thrown three interceptions on 504 makes an attempt within the common season. His 4 interceptions in opposition to the Texans got here on 32 makes an attempt. He accomplished simply 14 passes. His 43.8 completion proportion was the worst of his profession. He averaged minus-0.59 anticipated factors added per dropback, in line with TruMedia, the bottom mark of his profession in any sport he began and completed.
Harbaugh mentioned Herbert performed “like he at all times does.”
“Full beast,” Harbaugh added.
However that’s simply not true.
Early within the second quarter, the Chargers led 6-0. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud floated a throw down the left sideline to nobody specifically. Cornerback Deane Leonard was ready and got here down with the interception, tapping each toes inbounds alongside the sideline.
The Chargers took over on the Texans’ 40-yard line. On the primary play of the possession, the Chargers rolled Herbert out to the fitting on a designed bootleg. There was strain in Herbert’s face, as there was all sport lengthy. He threw off steadiness to receiver Quentin Johnston on a nook route, all the way in which throughout the sector. It was an unnecessarily dangerous throw. It was underthrown. Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter picked it off. The Chargers wanted fewer than 5 yards to get into Cameron Dicker’s area purpose vary. This throw took factors off the board.
“Obtained to be higher about that, throw the ball away, throw it additional,” Herbert mentioned. “Obtained to do a greater job of not placing it in hurt’s method.”
The @HoustonTexans take it proper again! Kamari Lassiter with the choose.
📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Up3GcnjfrY— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2025
The Chargers have been on the fitting hash for this snap. Harbaugh mentioned after the sport that this play ought to have been referred to as provided that the Chargers have been on the left hash, shortening the throw.
“I take accountability for that one,” Harbaugh mentioned, regardless that it’s offensive coordinator Greg Roman calling the performs.
Late within the third quarter, the Chargers took over at their 28-yard line, trailing 13-6. Herbert took the shotgun snap. He appeared left at receiver Ladd McConkey, who ran a comeback route out of the slot. Herbert double-pumped. He didn’t totally reset his toes. And Herbert’s throw sailed excessive and thru McConkey’s arms. Texans security Eric Murray picked it off and returned it for a landing.
“That’s on me to make a greater throw,” Herbert mentioned.
Took it to the crib! @HoustonTexans lengthen their lead.
📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/FZbCiIeG7u— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025
Herbert was intercepted once more on the following drive, although this was not his fault. Will Dissly dropped a ball that was in his arms. It squirted by means of, and Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted it.
Herbert threw a fourth interception late in rubbish time. Receiver DJ Chark was open on a go route. Herbert didn’t put sufficient on the move. Stingley, an All-Professional, got here down along with his second choose of the sport.
“It’s on me as a quarterback to have the ability to ship the ball,” Herbert mentioned.
The Chargers offense was given alternative after alternative by means of the primary three quarters. The unit squandered each one.
Most of those have been on Herbert, however not all of them. The Chargers have been overmatched on the road of scrimmage. The Texans line of defense, together with edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, dominated the sport. Proper sort out Joe Alt performed one in every of his worst video games of the season. Proper guard Jamaree Salyer was bullied on a number of pass-blocking snaps. Herbert was operating for his life or taking photographs on a lot of his dropbacks.
“We will’t let Justin get hit that many instances,” left guard Zion Johnson mentioned.
However Herbert has weathered this sort of strain earlier than. He did it as just lately as Week 16 in opposition to the Denver Broncos, when he was pressured on 54.1 p.c of his dropbacks.
The Chargers have been determined for playmaking from their greatest playmaker. And Herbert fell disastrously brief. He didn’t have a speeding try. The sport was begging for a scramble to maintain the Houston move rush off steadiness.
“He’s acquired to have the ability to end a throwing movement,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We didn’t put him within the place to do this sufficient.”
Herbert wants extra weapons. McConkey caught 9 passes for 197 yards and a landing. No different Chargers participant caught greater than two passes. That should be a magnet for the group this offseason. It has so as to add receivers and a good finish.
Dissly had a commendable season, however he had two essential drops. The interception was his second drop. The primary got here on a second-and-19 within the first quarter. Security Alohi Gilman had simply pressured a fumble on the Texans’ opening offensive play, setting the Chargers up in opposing territory.
Herbert escaped strain and located Dissly close to the left sideline. Dissly would have been near first-down yardage. A catch would have not less than made the following third down extra manageable. The Chargers settled for a area purpose.
“We acquired to attain,” mentioned J.Okay. Dobbins, who had 9 carries for 26 yards, together with just one carry within the second half.
There have been different missed alternatives, in all three phases. The Texans trailed 6-0 late within the first half and confronted a third-and-16, backed up inside their very own 20. Stroud dropped the shotgun snap. The ball was unfastened. However Stroud was capable of choose the ball up, escape to his proper and discover receiver Xavier Hutchinson for a 34-yard acquire. That sparked a 99-yard landing drive, capped off by a Nico Collins landing reception. Collins had seven catches for 122 yards. Cornerback Kristian Fulton struggled to match up with the big-bodied receiver.
Security Derwin James Jr. mentioned the protection was “just a little off” on Stroud’s scoop-and-sling due to the fumbled snap.
“It type of turned the sport,” James mentioned.
“It went his method,” Gilman mentioned.
“JUST LIKE THEY DREW IT UP!”
C.J. Stroud makes issues occur after the unhealthy snap 😱
📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/II2oMnkbM1— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2025
Early within the second half, the Chargers confronted a fourth-and-2 from the Texans’ 34-yard line. That they had gotten the ball again on one other turnover, this one a pressured fumble and restoration from security Tony Jefferson. Harbaugh went for it. Herbert took an under-center snap and faked a handoff to operating again Hassan Haskins. Johnston was operating a whip path to the fitting aspect, feinting to the within earlier than slicing to the flat. Herbert threw to Johnston, who was jammed on the line by Stingley. The move fell incomplete. Johnston didn’t run his path to the first-down marker.
Harbaugh mentioned the design of the play referred to as for Johnston “to be deeper.”
“Generally the discharge, the protection impacts that,” Harbaugh added. “I might have appreciated to have referred to as a distinct play or kicked the sector purpose there.”
It was a sport plagued by missed alternatives. The Chargers had a punt blocked and an additional level blocked on particular groups. The additional level was returned for a Texans two-point conversion, turning a McConkey 86-yard landing into only a four-point swing.
The tip outcome was Herbert lacking the largest alternative of his profession to this point.
“He’s one of the best quarterback I’ve ever performed with,” Alt mentioned.
“Our coronary heart beats by means of 10,” middle Bradley Bozeman mentioned. “He’s the chief of this crew. He’s a rattling good soccer participant.”
Herbert is now following the early profession trajectory of Peyton Manning, the participant he handed for many passing yards by means of his first 5 seasons.
Manning made the playoffs 3 times in his first 5 seasons. He went 0-3. In his fifth season, his Indianapolis Colts misplaced 41-0 to the New York Jets within the wild-card spherical. Manning accomplished 14 of 31 passes for 137 yards and two interceptions.
The following season, Manning gained the MVP. The Colts gained two playoff video games and made it to the AFC Championship Sport.
There may be precedent for an ubertalented quarterback struggling early in his profession earlier than getting over the hump.
However identical to Manning, Herbert will face questions and criticism.
Till he reveals up.
“I put the crew in jeopardy,” Herbert mentioned. “That’s on me to get higher and hold pushing ahead.”
(Picture: Brandon Sloter / Getty Pictures)
