Los Angeles Chargers

After the Los Angeles Chargers' devastating 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, linebacker Khalil Mack is considering retirement after an 11-year NFL career.

"Man, it's a lot of different thoughts in my head right now," Mack told reporters after the loss. "I can't really speak on a definitive decision in terms of what I'm going to do because I don't know if I'm going to play football moving forward, so there's some things I gotta talk through with my wife, spend some time with my kids and try not to make a rash decision after a loss."

Mack has played for two other teams in addition to the Chargers: the Chicago Bears and the then-Oakland Raiders.

mack attack

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/EOzQ3wBySG

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 11, 2025

Mack recorded 20 solo tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles during the 2024-25 season, helping the Chargers to an 11-6 record.

The Chargers' postseason appearance began with high expectations but ended in disappointment as they suffered a staggering loss to the Texans, being outscored 22-6 in the second half—a blow that hit Mack especially hard.

"I can't make this situation about myself, man, even though selfishly you feel like, 'Damn,' you know what I'm saying? 'This was the one,'" Mack said.

The 2016 Defensive Player of the Year has lost all five of his playoff appearances, making the decision to return even more challenging. Mack has expressed a desire to achieve team success in Year 12, but he plans to consult with his family, including his two young sons, aged two and three, whose needs may take precedence, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.

Mack has not set a timeline for his decision, per Rhim, but believes his best chance at achieving team success is with the Chargers.

"As long as Justin Herbert is your quarterback. You got Derwin James and all these guys that love the game of football and Jim Harbaugh coaching?" Mack told reporters. "You know you always have a chance to win. Yeah, that's a no-brainer."

James is fully supportive of Mack's return, hoping he can make one more playoff run with the team at 33 years old.

"I told him we want him back, we need him back, " James said.

Following the Los Angeles Chargers' devastating 32-12 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday, quarterback Justin Herbert expressed his "complete trust" in head coach Jim Harbaugh.

"I think they've done good job, they're definitely on the right track going forward and it didn't show today and that's the horrible thing about football and everyone feels terrible. No one feels worse than I do," Herbert told reporters postgame (10:54 mark). "We have complete trust in coach Harbaugh and he's going to get the team right."

The Chargers' season ended in disappointment as they were dominated in the second half of Saturday's game, being outscored 22-6. Herbert and the offense struggled, with the quarterback throwing four interceptions and one touchdown while being sacked four times. Herbert threw only three interceptions throughout the entire regular season.

Harbaugh took responsibility for the loss, acknowledging that he didn't provide his offense and Herbert with the necessary support to succeed.

"Not being the better team today, I'm accountable for that. So that's on me," Harbaugh told reporters. "He's got to be able to finish a throwing motion. Quarterback's gotta be able to do that. And we didn't put him in the position to do that enough."

In his first season with the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh turned the 5-12 team he inherited into an 11-6 squad that secured a postseason appearance, solidifying the trust of his team heading into the offseason.

Kurt Benkert found himself at the center of Justin Herbert's Wild Card struggles on Saturday night.

Herbert tossed four interceptions in the Los Angeles Chargers' 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans. This exceeded his total from the entire regular season, and one user on X referenced Benkert as a comparison to Herbert's performance.

After seeing the post, Benkert took to X to respond, sending a witty "wtf" message.

wtf https://t.co/DF5WSESmrI

— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) January 12, 2025

Benkert spent five seasons in the NFL, playing for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. Despite the length of his career, he only made one appearance, which came in 2021. He currently works as an NFL insider for Sleeper.

Herbert has had significantly more success than Benkert but his lackluster performance against the Texans came as a surprise. He had thrown for 3,870 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions in the regular season and his 14-of-32, four interception performance was certainly an outlier.

While Benkert catching a negative comparison could seem unfair for the former pro, it was more meant to show just how off Herbert was given his immense ability.

Justin Herbert took responsibility for his rough performance during the Los Angeles Chargers' 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in their Wild Card playoff matchup on Saturday.

"Obviously, it was not good enough by any standards today," Herbert told reporters after the defeat (11:00 mark). "I put the team in jeopardy, a tough position, with all of those turnovers and it's on me to get better and keep pushing forward."

The 26-year-old threw four interceptions against Houston after he was picked off just three times in 17 regular-season starts.

JUSTIN HERBERT THROWS A PICK-6 😳

TEXANS UP 20-6.

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/VWgwit7BSj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025

Herbert finished 14-of-32 for 242 yards and a touchdown to go along with his quartet of interceptions. He was also sacked four times.

The @HoustonTexans take it right back! Kamari Lassiter with the pick.

📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Up3GcnjfrY

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2025

Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey made a strong impression in his first postseason game by catching nine passes for 197 yards and a score, but the rest of the Chargers' offense was sluggish throughout the contest.

Los Angeles converted just three of 11 opportunities on third down and struggled to move the ball on the ground, rushing for 50 yards on 18 attempts as a team.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn't feel that Herbert was solely responsible for the turnover issues, bringing up pass protection miscues.

"He's got to be able to finish a throwing motion," Harbaugh told the media after the game. "Quarterback's gotta be able to do that. And we didn't put him in the position to do that enough."

Herbert didn't have as large of a role in Los Angeles' offense compared to past years, but he remained efficient throughout the 2024 regular season. The Pro Bowl passer completed 65.9 percent of his throws for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only one of his interceptions occurring on the road.

Herbert to Ladd! The rookie WR is back in action and back in the end zone for the @Chargers.

📺: #TBvsLAC on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/tRCcTxcNXr

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

After Saturday's defeat, the Chargers are still looking for their first playoff win since Herbert was drafted in 2020.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh took the blame Saturday for his team's 32-12 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans.

Justin Herbert, who threw three total interceptions during the regular season, was picked off four times as the Chargers were eliminated.

"Not being the better team today, I'm accountable for that. So that's on me," Harbaugh said in his postgame press conference.

When asked about Herbert's interceptions, Harbaugh answered: "Again, on me."

"He's got to be able to finish a throwing motion," Harbaugh said. "Quarterback's gotta be able to do that. And we didn't put him in the position to do that enough."

The Texans put Saturday's game out of reach when Herbert threw a pick-six late in the third quarter. Houston safety Eric Murray returned the errant pass 38 yards for a touchdown.

JUSTIN HERBERT THROWS A PICK-6 😳

TEXANS UP 20-6.

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/VWgwit7BSj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025

The Chargers took an early six-point lead, then looked to pull ahead further when Deane Leonard picked off a C.J. Stroud pass and got the ball back in the Chargers' hands on the Houston 40-yard line.

On the following play, Herbert came short of Quentin Johnston on a deep pass that ended up giving the ball right back to the Texans.

"We weren't really on the right hash to call it," Harbaugh said about the play. "Again, I take accountability for that one."

The @HoustonTexans take it right back! Kamari Lassiter with the pick.

📺: #LACvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Up3GcnjfrY

— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2025

Herbert finished the game having gone 14-of-32 for 242 yards and one touchdown in the first four-interception outing of his career.

He was sacked four times while getting pressured on half of his dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats. The quarterback finished out the game with a passer rating of 40.9 and a QBR of 13.0,

Per Sheil Kapadia of the Ringer, Herbert's EPA per pass play ranked 213 out of 214 quarterbacks over the last 10 NFL playoffs.

"The edge pressure, those are really the best we've seen," Harbaugh said about the Texans' defense. "The pressure on the edge, the pass rush, was outstanding."

The Chargers were also held to 50 rushing yards in the loss, the team's second-lowest total of the 2024 season.

"They were doing a tremendous job knocking back at the line of scrimmage and tackling," Harbaugh said. "They were very effective stopping the run. It was a very effective run wall by them."

Harbaugh concluded: "One thing I can promise you is, the sun will come up tomorrow, and we'll be attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."

The Chargers last won a divisional round game when the franchise was in San Diego in 2007. Harbaugh and Herbert will hope to get another shot at snapping that drought next year.

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers had an opportunity to push back on some negative postseason narratives on Saturday during their Wild Card Matchup against the Houston Texans.

Instead, a lackluster offensive performance limited the Chargers and reinforced those narratives.

TEXANS ARE HEADED TO THE DIVISIONAL 🤟

HOUSTON TAKES DOWN LA, 32-12 pic.twitter.com/NAErgVWifp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025

final pic.twitter.com/t7nCcBXu2g

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 12, 2025

Houston cruised to a 32-12 victory to advance to the Divisional Round for the second straight year.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud went 22-of-33 for 282 yards with one touchdown and one interception, wide receiver Nico Collins had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, running back Joe Mixon had 22 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn went 3-of-3 on field goals.

The Chargers entered the game on a three-game winning streak and looked like a true candidate to win on the road against a Texans team that had struggled against several contenders throughout the season.

Herbert went 14-of-29 for 242 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. The interceptions, which included a pick-six for safety Eric Murray, exceeded Herbert's total during the regular season.

JUSTIN HERBERT THROWS A PICK-6 😳

TEXANS UP 20-6.

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/VWgwit7BSj

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025

This was Los Angeles' first postseason appearance since 2022, when the team blew a 27-0 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round.

Fans took to social media to blast Herbert and the Chargers for the performance.

Bad Herbert game. Opening drive looked nice and then the pass rush started to heat up. I thought they'd do so much more moving him + helping the offensive line, but it's mostly been 4, 5 out in static pockets and Herbert trying to win everything with one throw. https://t.co/QbffJdWVit

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 12, 2025

Justin Herbert when the Chargers need him most: pic.twitter.com/el9UW5XBo5

— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) January 12, 2025

These Chargers were supposed to be a different playoff team. 🫤

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 12, 2025

At least they didn’t blow a 27-0 lead.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 12, 2025

Justin Herbert threw more interceptions today (4) than he had the entire regular season (3).

Bonkers.

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 12, 2025

If Justin Herbert is a good quarterback, why doesn’t he quarterback good? pic.twitter.com/rN0z04jRvE

— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) January 12, 2025

If Justin Herbert is a good quarterback, why doesn’t he quarterback good? pic.twitter.com/rN0z04jRvE

— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) January 12, 2025

"I just gotta try throwing the ball at Derek Stingley one more time."

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 12, 2025

Herbert got more interceptions in this game than he had all season pic.twitter.com/5neAAFIzZf

— Mal🎈 (@STYLOUTSYDE) January 12, 2025

"Not a great throw by Stroud."

Justin Herbert literally a minute later: pic.twitter.com/pY2iXMOTMT

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) January 11, 2025

Annnndddddddd that’ll do it for me with any kind of positivity towards Justin Herbert.

— Jim Murray (@bigjimmurray) January 12, 2025

Herbert after his third INT pic.twitter.com/e0KfSGQ088

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025

Justin Herbert in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/nDbVh441WC

— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) January 12, 2025

People going to conveniently ignore this while slandering Herbert https://t.co/sjWcMvm9tg

— Mike (@mhc_76) January 11, 2025

Justin Herbert during the regular season vs Justin Herbert during the playoffs pic.twitter.com/crmVX0CgRs

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 12, 2025

Justin Herbert in hypothetical situations pic.twitter.com/36ULDpltkv https://t.co/BkpzFeAc3e

— Jake (@SuperiorNBA) January 12, 2025

i don’t want another soul to ever tell me that Justin Herbert is elite ever again. he can’t show up in the playoffs even if his life depended on it.

— #SKOL (@vikings4L) January 12, 2025

The Chargers move to 0-2 in the postseason in the Herbert era and it's the first Wild Card Round loss for head coach Jim Harbaugh in his coaching career.

The Texans will move on and will hope to build on the victory and advance to the AFC Championship for the first time in franchise history.

Los Angeles Chargers star linebacker Khalil Mack was skeptical about the team hiring head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the 2024 season, but he can admit that he was wrong as the team prepares for Saturday's AFC wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans.

Mack recounted a story to ESPN's Kris Rhim in which he and Harbaugh spoke on the phone after he was hired by the Chargers. The veteran wasn't completely sold on returning to Los Angeles after the team's five-win season in 2023.

"I ain't trying to play another six more years, then start piggybacking on motherf--kers, jumping on a playoff team and trying to chase one," Mack said. "I want to play meaningful football and I communicated that to him."

Instead of immediately trying to convince Mack to return, Harbaugh spoke candidly about the deficiencies within the Chargers roster and explained the improvements that are needed for the team to return to playoff contention.

"He's not the type of dude to lie to you. And I've been lied to before," Mack said. "I respected it, man."

Harbaugh helped lead the Chargers to an 11-6 record and the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Mack played in 16 games and recorded 39 total tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and nine passes defended. He was named to his ninth career Pro Bowl as a reserve.

The Chargers haven't advanced past the wild-card round since 2018, so they will be looking to get their playoff run started on the right foot when they face the Texans on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced that they are donating $200,000 to relief efforts amid the ongoing wildfires in the greater Los Angeles region "to assist evacuees, first responders, clean-up efforts and animal caretakers" including the American Red Cross, LA Fire Department Foundation and Team Rubicon, in addition to multiple pet rescue organizations.

Per CNN, the wildfires have killed five people and others have "significant injuries." Over 150,000 people have been forced to leave their homes under evacuation orders.

At least two people are dead and more than 1,100 structures destroyed as wildfires rage throughout the Los Angeles area. Follow live updates: https://t.co/y0ltXeMGes pic.twitter.com/NPpPgbn86y

— CNN (@CNN) January 8, 2025

Currently, firefighters are battling four different wildfires in Los Angeles County (Palisades, Hurst, Eaton and Woodley).

The Palisades Fire is the most destructive fire in Los Angeles County history, per Cal Fire, with over 1,000 buildings destroyed and expansion to over 15,800 acres. The Eaton Fire is over 10,000 acres and threatening over 13,000 buildings.

The Chargers are also using their "Charge Up to Playoffs" fan events this week in Orange on Wednesday, Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday and Hermosa Beach on Saturday to collect supplies for evacuation centers, such as bottled water, new or gently used clothes, first aid kits, hygiene products and baby supplies, among more items. A previously scheduled event in Sherman Oaks has been cancelled due to the wildfires.

L.A. will visit Houston to play the AFC South champion Texans on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET for their AFC Wild Card Game matchup.

The Los Angeles Rams are currently scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Wild Card Game on Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Inglewood, California's SoFi Stadium. If the wildfires force the game to be moved, then it will occur on the same time and day at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh knows what it's like to compete against Ezekiel Elliott, but the running back will be on his side heading into the NFL playoffs after the AFC West team signed the veteran.

"Yeah, like most people who watch football, very familiar," Harbaugh told reporters Tuesday when asked if he was familiar with Elliott. "And personally, I've got some bruises from days competing against Zeke. It's great to see him, he's here and we'll start having at it today."

Harbaugh's "bruises" came from the college game, as Elliott led Ohio State to a dominant 42-13 victory over the coach's Michigan Wolverines during the 2015 edition of the heated rivalry.

The star running back tallied 214 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries and left little doubt about the outcome in Harbaugh's first game in the rivalry as the head coach of Michigan. The Buckeyes defeated the head coach in each of their first five meetings, although the Wolverines now have bragging rights following four straight wins of their own.

Elliott parlayed a dominant college career into becoming the No. 4 overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft. He led the league in rushing yards in two of his first three NFL seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and was on the short list of the best running backs in the league.

However, the 29-year-old hasn't resembled that version of himself of late and averaged just 3.1 yards per carry for the Cowboys in 2024 before he and the team went their separate ways.

Harbaugh may have memories of the dominant version of Elliott, but the Ohio State product will likely be nothing more than a backup behind J.K Dobbins and Hassan Haskins throughout the team's playoff run.