Justin Herbert remains winless in postseason

In the NFL 2025 playoffs, the Houston Texans faced off against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round. On January 11, 2025, the Texans emerged victorious with a score of 32-12, marking a significant upset as Justin Herbert, the Chargers quarterback, delivered one of the worst performances of his career. Despite having only thrown three interceptions in the entire regular season, Herbert implemented an error-filled game, leading to four interceptions during the contest. Meanwhile, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud showed resilience, overcoming a shaky start that included a fumble on their opening play and driving his team to crucial touchdowns. The first half ended with the Chargers leading due to two field goals by Cameron Dicker, but the Texans quickly shifted the momentum in the second half. Stroud managed to salvage a fumbled snap, effectively igniting a drive that culminated in a touchdown to Nico Collins, which flipped the score to give the Texans a 10-6 lead by halftime. Further mistakes by Herbert allowed the Texans to capitalize, with Eric Murray scoring the first touchdown of his career through a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown. Houston’s grounding of their offense alongside Stroud's performance significantly contributed to the Chargers' downfall. Late in the game, Herbert attempted to rally his team with an 86-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey, but the Chargers' momentum was halted when a blocked extra-point attempt was converted for two points by Texans cornerback D'Angelo Ross. The game ended in stark contrast to what had been expected from Herbert, who had previously been a highly efficient quarterback. Ultimately, this loss eliminated the Chargers from the playoffs, showcasing Herbert's need to improve despite his regular season excellence. The result astonished many, as the Chargers were expected to perform strongly in the postseason. Houston's victory not only showcased Stroud’s talent but also sent a message that the Texans were a team to reckon with in the NFL playoffs. The team's performance exemplified teamwork as they overcame early challenges, silencing critics who doubted their potential. Justin Herbert took responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the importance of improvement moving forward.