Analysis

Herbert picked an inopportune time to have the worst passing game of his promising career, as Saturday's four-pick performance was the primary cause of the Chargers' season coming to an abrupt end. The 26-year-old is now 0-2 in two career playoff appearances, which comes on the heels of a solid regular season (3,870-23-3) in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first season with Los Angeles. Herbert and the Chargers' more-balanced offense will have to regroup for the 2025 campaign despite finishing the season well ahead of franchise expectations.

Analysis

It took until late in the second quarter for Herbert and the Chargers to find the end zone, but he was impressive throughout the game and ultimately posted his second-highest yardage total of the season. Herbert combined plenty of volume with efficiency to post the impressive stat line, which included four completions of more than 35 yards and touchdown strikes of six and two yards. He closes the season with a modest 3,870 passing yards, but Herbert's 7.7 yards per attempt was the best mark of his career, and he also turned the ball over only five times across 17 games. Herbert is now set to lead the Chargers into a wild-card round matchup against the Texans.

Analysis

The Patriots were overwhelmed by Herbert and WR1 Ladd McConkey, who dropped a wide-open look on his first target of the game but lit up the Patriots for eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns on the next nine targets while propelling the Chargers to a 40-7 road victory. As long as McConkey gets going, the Chargers usually have enough targets on hand for Herbert to get hot, but the lack of complementary pass catchers leaves a lot of pressure on McConkey from week to week, and few means of recourse whenever McConkey's production slows. The Chargers face a mostly accommodating Raiders defense in Week 18.

Analysis

Herbert put together a mostly crisp performance that saw him generate his highest passing yardage total since Week 11. The 2020 first-round pick brought the Chargers back from an 11-point third-quarter deficit, connecting with Derius Davis (19 yards) and Hassan Haskins (34 yards) for his pair of touchdown tosses and hitting Joshua Palmer with a two-point conversion pass after the first score. Herbert's clutch second-half performance pushed the Chargers into a tie in the standings with the Broncos at 9-6, and the talented signal-caller will look to carry over the momentum into a Week 17 road battle versus the Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Analysis

The Chargers held a walk-through practice Wednesday but estimated that Herbert would have been a full participant in a more strenuous session. He was listed with ankle and thigh injuries last week before suiting up and completing 21 of 33 passes for 195 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 40-17 loss to Tampa Bay. Another loss Thursday night would make the Chargers highly unlikely to enter the AFC playoffs as anything better than the No. 7 seed, while a win would keep them in the running for the fifth or sixth seed.

Analysis

Herbert's limited participation Tuesday followed his designation as limited in Monday's walkthrough. The star quarterback is still dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 14 against Kansas City, though the issue didn't prevent him from suiting up this past Sunday in a loss to Tampa Bay. Barring a setback, Herbert seems to be in line to play against Denver on Thursday Night Football this week.

Analysis

Herbert has been dealing with ankle and thigh issues for the last couple weeks, and he appeared to aggravate the ankle in Sunday's loss to the Bucs, though he missed just one offensive snap. The limited start to the week would suggest Herbert has a good chance to suit up Thursday night against the Broncos. If Herbert isn't cleared to play, Taylor Heinicke would likely draw in as the starter.

Analysis

Herbert was limited in practice by a pair of lower-body injuries, but he did not carry an injury designation into Sunday's blowout loss. The star quarterback threw his first interception in nearly three calendar months (Week 2 at Carolina) after the team adopted head coach Jim Harbaugh's mistake-free style of play. It was an overall odd game from Herbert, who also did not record an official rushing attempt for the first time this season. The Chargers will need to have a short memory following the ugly loss before hosting the 9-5 Broncos on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

Analysis

Herbert missed one play during this past Sunday's loss at Kansas City with what eventually was termed a thigh contusion. Coach Jim Harbaugh then revealed Wednesday that Herbert also was dealing with a left ankle injury from that game, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Herbert proceeded to open Week 15 prep with an absence before being limited Thursday and a full participant Friday. He'll be taking on a Tampa Bay defense Sunday that has given up the 10th-most touchdown passes (21) to opposing quarterbacks in 13 contests this season.