Justin Herbert's 4-INT Game Slammed by NFL Fans as Chargers Lose Wild Card vs. Texans

Jack MurrayJanuary 12, 2025

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 11: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers had an opportunity to push back on some negative postseason narratives on Saturday during their Wild Card Matchup against the Houston Texans.

Instead, a lackluster offensive performance limited the Chargers and reinforced those narratives.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
TEXANS ARE HEADED TO THE DIVISIONAL 🤟 HOUSTON TAKES DOWN LA, 32-12 <a href="https://t.co/NAErgVWifp">pic.twitter.com/NAErgVWifp</a>

Los Angeles Chargers @chargers
final <a href="https://t.co/t7nCcBXu2g">pic.twitter.com/t7nCcBXu2g</a>

Houston cruised to a 32-12 victory to advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight year.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud went 22-of-33 for 282 yards with one touchdown and one interception, wide receiver Nico Collins had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, running back Joe Mixon had 22 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn went 3-of-3 on field goals.

The Chargers entered the game on a three-game winning streak and looked like a true candidate to win on the road against a Texans team that had struggled against several contenders throughout the season.

Herbert went 14-of-29 for 242 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. The interceptions, which included a pick-six for safety Eric Murray, exceeded Herbert's total during the regular season.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
JUSTIN HERBERT THROWS A PICK-6 😳 TEXANS UP 20-6. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a>) <a href="https://t.co/VWgwit7BSj">pic.twitter.com/VWgwit7BSj</a>

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This was Los Angeles' first postseason appearance since 2022, when the team blew a 27-0 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round.

Fans took to social media to blast Herbert and the Chargers for the performance.

Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak
Bad Herbert game. Opening drive looked nice and then the pass rush started to heat up. I thought they'd do so much more moving him + helping the offensive line, but it's mostly been 4, 5 out in static pockets and Herbert trying to win everything with one throw. <a href="https://t.co/QbffJdWVit">https://t.co/QbffJdWVit</a>

Sleeper @SleeperHQ
Justin Herbert when the Chargers need him most: <a href="https://t.co/el9UW5XBo5">pic.twitter.com/el9UW5XBo5</a>

Charles Robinson @CharlesRobinson
These Chargers were supposed to be a different playoff team. 🫤

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk
At least they didn't blow a 27-0 lead.

Ari Meirov @MySportsUpdate
Justin Herbert threw more interceptions today (4) than he had the entire regular season (3). Bonkers.

Jimmy Kempski @JimmyKempski
If Justin Herbert is a good quarterback, why doesn't he quarterback good? <a href="https://t.co/rN0z04jRvE">pic.twitter.com/rN0z04jRvE</a>

Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell
"I just gotta try throwing the ball at Derek Stingley one more time."

Mal🎈 @STYLOUTSYDE
Herbert got more interceptions in this game than he had all season <a href="https://t.co/5neAAFIzZf">pic.twitter.com/5neAAFIzZf</a>

FanDuel Sportsbook @FDSportsbook
"Not a great throw by Stroud." Justin Herbert literally a minute later: <a href="https://t.co/pY2iXMOTMT">pic.twitter.com/pY2iXMOTMT</a>

Jim Murray @bigjimmurray
Annnndddddddd that'll do it for me with any kind of positivity towards Justin Herbert.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Herbert after his third INT <a href="https://t.co/e0KfSGQ088">pic.twitter.com/e0KfSGQ088</a>

GhettoGronk @TheGhettoGronk
Justin Herbert in the playoffs <a href="https://t.co/nDbVh441WC">pic.twitter.com/nDbVh441WC</a>

Mike @mhc_76
People going to conveniently ignore this while slandering Herbert <a href="https://t.co/sjWcMvm9tg">https://t.co/sjWcMvm9tg</a>

NFL Memes @NFL_Memes
Justin Herbert during the regular season vs Justin Herbert during the playoffs <a href="https://t.co/crmVX0CgRs">pic.twitter.com/crmVX0CgRs</a>

Jake @SuperiorNBA
Justin Herbert in hypothetical situations <a href="https://t.co/36ULDpltkv">pic.twitter.com/36ULDpltkv</a> <a href="https://t.co/BkpzFeAc3e">https://t.co/BkpzFeAc3e</a>

#SKOL @vikings4L
i don't want another soul to ever tell me that Justin Herbert is elite ever again. he can't show up in the playoffs even if his life depended on it.

The Chargers move to 0-2 in the postseason in the Herbert era and it's the first Wild Card Round loss for head coach Jim Harbaugh in his coaching career.

The Texans will move on and will hope to build on the victory and advance to the AFC Championship for the first time in franchise history.

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