Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh backs QB Justin Herbert after playoff flop

Despite a poor playoff performance, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is sticking up for quarterback Justin Herbert.

In a 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round, Herbert threw four interceptions and posted an awful 13 QBR. Harbaugh insists blame should fall on him instead of the star QB. 

"Completely unfair," Harbaugh said of criticisms of Herbert Wednesday. "We did him a disservice and didn't put him in positions to be successful enough, but he played like a beast." 

Herbert, however, would disagree with Harbaugh's assessment. 

After the loss to Houston, the QB told the media, "I let the team down." 

Herbert's playoff meltdown was unexpected after he threw a career-low three interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. According to ESPN's Kris Rhim, his four interceptions against Houston made him the first player in NFL history to toss more interceptions in a playoff game than the regular season. 

The Chargers O-line did struggle to protect him throughout the game. Per Pro Football Focus, he was pressured on 19 of 37 dropbacks and sacked four times. 

That won't erase concerns about how he seems to wilt in the playoffs. In the postseason, Herbert is 0-2, and his completion percentage plummets from 66.5% to 52%.  

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz indicated it's still silly to claim Herbert will never win a Super Bowl. 

"I hear the narrative and all that, but there's a lot of great quarterbacks in this league that may not have had the ideal playoff start to their careers," Hortiz said. "Peyton Manning was 0-3 in his first five years. Lamar Jackson was 0-2. So, if we're going to set a narrative on Justin off of two playoff games, that's absurd." 

Of course, Manning won two Super Bowls in 17 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. Jackson carried the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game last season. 

Still, the Chargers probably expected more from Herbert when they signed him to a five-year, $262.5M contract in 2023. 

Perhaps he should restructure his deal this offseason, freeing cap space for the Chargers and allowing them to sign players who can help him overcome his playoff woes.