As the Los Angeles Chargers prepare to face the Houston Texans in a pivotal Week 17 showdown, quarterback Justin Herbert has vivid memories of the last time he faced DeMeco Ryans' defense.
The Chargers flopped in a 2024 Wild Card loss to the Texans, in which Herbert threw a career-high four interceptions in the 32-12 defeat. The Pro Bowl QB isn't running from the recollection.
"It was one of those things that you continue to think about," Herbert said via ESPN. "No one felt worse than I did after that game. And I think it's important to continue to move forward and realize that it's what happened. It would be crazy of me to deny the truth of what happened and to live in this reality where if I tried to block it out, I don't think that's doing any good."
Herbert earned a career-worst 43.8 completion percentage, going 14-of-32 passing for 242 yards with a TD and the four INTs for a career-low 40.9 passer rating in the wild-card defeat. It marked the only career NFL or college game in which Herbert threw 3-plus INTs or a completion percent below 45, per NFL Research.
Herbert's four interceptions in the 2024 Wild Card were the most by a Chargers QB in a playoff game since Stan Humphries threw four in their 1995 Wild Card Round loss to the Colts.
Herbert was bamboozled by the Houston pass rush last January, taking four sacks and getting pressured on 39% of his dropbacks. The Chargers continue to deal with offensive line issues this season, with multiple starters going down with injuries. Those same concerns will be in play Saturday.
"I think that's going to be really important, is just ball security in this game," he said. "Just understanding that we got to do those three things: ball security, scoring points in the red zone and converting on third down."
The Chargers clinched a playoff berth in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006-2009 (the first four seasons with Philip Rivers as the starting QB). Jim Harbaugh's 11-4 club can control its path to an AFC West title. A victory over Houston would set up a winner-take-all Week 18 matchup with the Broncos in Denver -- the Chargers beat the Broncos 23-20 in Week 3 and would have a head-to-head tiebreaker if both teams finish with the same record.
