The LA Chargers may no longer have franchise legend Philip Rivers as their quarterback, but they felt his presence in another way on Saturday.
On Saturday, Jim Harbaugh’s squad hosted the Houston Texans. While the Chargers had already clinched a playoff spot, the game still carried implications, as the Texans needed a win to officially eliminate Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts from playoff contention.
After three quarters, the reigning back-to-back AFC South champions appeared to be in control with a 17-10 lead. Following Cameron Dicker’s missed field goal attempt in the second quarter, The Athletic’s Jim Ayello had flashbacks to the special teams mishaps that repeatedly cost the Chargers games throughout Rivers’ tenure:
Chargers finding stupid ways to lose and hurting Philip Rivers. Man, that sounds familiar.
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“Chargers finding stupid ways to lose and hurting Philip Rivers. Man, that sounds familiar.”
The Chargers went on to lose 20-16. Justin Herbert finished with 236 passing yards and one touchdown to Oronde Gadsden, along with one interception, completing 21 of 32 attempts. He was also the team’s leading rusher with six carries for 37 yards, but he was sacked five times.
Quentin Johnston led the Chargers in receiving, finishing two yards shy of 100 with five catches.
Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud delivered a mixed performance, completing 16 of 28 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions. One of those scores went to Jayden Higgins, who needed just two catches to gain 88 yards.
Jim Harbaugh addresses Chargers’ loss vs. Texans
After the Chargers’ loss, Jim Harbaugh took the stand to share his thoughts. He began by saying that he was still undecided on using their starters after the Broncos clinched the AFC West with the result.
He then continued:
“What I think is, every day, every time we see our team take the field, we see a team committed to winning. And we didn’t win today, but at no point I mean never, never, never does this team say ‘no, mas.’”
Part of the team’s struggles came as a result of the offensive line. With Rashawn Slater still out, they were forced to lean on Bobby Hart, who did not last long before being replaced by Austin Deculus because he was “having trouble getting in the rhythm,” as Harbaugh put it.
And yet, despite all those sacks, Justin Herbert outplayed CJ Stroud, even if only marginally. Harbaugh praised him as “the best there ever was.”