4. Herbert takes responsibility in loss

Let’s be clear, the Chargers wouldn’t have been playing Sunday night if it weren’t for Herbert.

The Bolts quarterback played through multiple injuries in 2025, including a fractured left hand, and willed the Chargers to multiple comeback wins and a playoff berth.

“If anything, he’s the reason we were in this position. Throughout the season, had those injuries,” Keenan Allen said.

He later added: “Doing what he does. Taking hits, getting back up, coming back trying to go back to the next play and keep us in the game.”

James said: “Toughness. He was just trying to give us a chance. Anytime I seen him, guys hitting him from the left, hitting him from the right and he kept battling. Nobody knows how hard it is back there when it’s like that. Credit to him for going out there and giving it his all, all season not just this game. All season. Got a lot of respect for 10, I know what type of player he is.”

Harbaugh also lauded the quarterback for his consistent toughness.

“Warrior. Doing everything and anything he could to move our team and get us in the end zone,” Harbaugh said. “He just gives it everything he can all the time.”

But Herbert was not at his best Sunday night, something the quarterback took responsibility for after the game.

“As an offense, it wasn’t good enough. I didn’t play well enough and didn’t make any plays,” Herbert said.

The quarterback completed 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He lost a fumble and had a passer rating of 74.5, his fourth-lowest mark of the entire season.

The quarterback was asked postgame how well he was able to see the field.

“Not well enough, and that’s the tough part,” Herbert said. “We have to do better than three points as an offense. It’s not good enough. Quarterback play wasn’t good enough and we let the defense down today.”

Ladd McConkey, Allen, Quentin Johnston and Oronde Gadsden — the Chargers top pass catchers — each only had three receptions on a tough night.

As for his playoff record, which dropped to 0-3, Herbert said he would keep striving to get a postseason win.

“I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet. That’s the tough part about the NFL, there’s a lot of good teams and wasn’t good enough today,” Herbert said.