While the head coach said he doesn’t have answers to many questions after the loss, it’s worth noting that a rah-rah leader like Harbaugh doesn’t instinctively support his player, even superficially.
Harbaugh got another chance to back Roman and responded in kind.
“I don’t have that answer right now,” he said. “I know you’re very determined. We weren’t good enough as a team. That’s what we do. We win as a team and lose as a team. It’s my responsibility to have the team in a better position.”
Sunday night’s 3-pointer is the fewest in a playoff game since the Baltimore Ravens also put up a 3-pointer in the 2020 Division II loss to the Buffalo Bills. The common thread between the 2025 Los Angeles Chargers and the 2020 Baltimore Ravens: Greg Roman.
Roman was successful with the San Francisco 49ers during Harbaugh’s first run in the NFL. Since then, it’s been a postseason nightmare. In seasons with the Bills, Ravens and Chargers, Roman has led offenses to the playoffs five times – three with the Ravens, two with the Chargers. These teams finished 1-5. In that span, Roman had never broken more than 20 points in a postseason contest.
With Herbert and Lamar Jackson starting under center in five of those six contests (Tyler Huntley started one for Baltimore in 2022), Roman’s teams produced 3 points twice, 12 points twice and 20 points once.
There are certainly circumstances that can explain the ineptitude of Roman’s offense in the postseason, including injuries to the 2025 line, but ultimately the blame goes to the offensive coordinator who breaks down at the big point.
Herbert, for his part, took the blame for Sunday’s offensive struggles in New England.
“I didn’t play well enough and I didn’t make any plays,” said the five-time sacked QB. “When it mattered most, we didn’t score any points.”
In the coming days, we’ll see if Harbaugh backs Roman or if the Chargers decide it’s time to go in a different direction with their player.