Chargers Fall to Texans 32-12 in Playoffs

The Los Angeles Chargers suffered a disappointing 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round, with quarterback Justin Herbert taking full responsibility for his performance, which included a career-high four interceptions. Herbert, who had only thrown three interceptions throughout the entire regular season, completed 14 of 32 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown, while his four picks significantly marred the game. Critics noted that Herbert's interceptions varied in nature, with some attributed to receiver mistakes and others reflecting the pressure from a strong Texans defense that recorded four sacks and intercepted passes multiple times. Despite a brief glimmer of hope when Herbert connected with rookie Ladd McConkey for an 86-yard touchdown, the Chargers could not recover after the Texans extended their lead. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud rebounded from an early fumble to lead his team effectively, finishing the game with 282 yards and one touchdown. The loss marks a painful end to the Chargers' season, raising questions about Herbert's performance under pressure and the future of the team under head coach Jim Harbaugh.