Since entering the NFL in 2020, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been one of the league's top signal-callers. Herbert has done what no other quarterback in NFL history has been able to, setting the record for the most passing yards in their first five seasons, most completions through six seasons and being near the top of the list in total touchdowns.
Though Herbert has been a premium player in his NFL career, there is one major knock: his performance in the postseason. The Chargers' quarterback has yet to win a playoff game, losing in all three of his appearances.
Entering 2026, Herbert's two playoff losses had already been historically rough: an infamous collapse from a 27-0 lead against Jacksonville in 2022, and a four-interception disaster in Houston in 2024. Things didn't get much better for Herbert against the New England Patriots to cap the 2025 season, as his Chargers team didn't find the end zone in a 16-3 loss.
Here is a deeper look at the Chargers quarterback's record-setting career and his challenging history in the playoffs.
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Justin Herbert playoff record
| Year | Playoff Record | Result |
| 2022 | 0-1 | L, Wild Card vs. Jaguars |
| 2024 | 0-1 | L, Wild Card vs. Texans |
| 2025 | 0-1 | L, Wild Card vs. Patriots |
| Career: | 0-3 | — |
Herbert has been in three playoff games in his young career and has failed to win any of them. But, all three were differing storylines.
His first playoff start came against the Jacksonville Jaguars in January 2023, fresh off a 10-7 season when Los Angeles was the No. 5 seed in the AFC. The Chargers dominated the early part of the game, jumping out to a 27-0 lead. But, chaos ensued: due to a variety of reasons, whether Brandon Staley's coaching, the Chargers offense not performing in the second half or a personal foul penalty that set up Jacksonville in scoring territory, Los Angeles squandered one of the biggest leads in postseason history and lost 31-30.
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Herbert performed fine in the loss, completing 25-of-43 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. But, he received plenty of criticism, especially after Los Angeles scored a lone field goal in the third quarter as Jacksonville rattled off 24 second-half points.
In his second playoff start, though, Herbert was the center of criticism and rightfully so. The quarterback threw a career-high four interceptions against the Houston Texans, whose defense dominated the day en route to a 32-12 win. The quarterback was 14-for-32 for 242 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions as Los Angeles was sent home in the wild card round again.
Most recently, Herbert's Chargers team had no answers for the Patriots over Wild Card Weekend of the 2026 NFL Playoffs. The quarterback finished with 159 passing yards, taking six sacks as Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown in a 16-3 loss. Herbert was outdueled by Drake Maye in the defensive showcase.
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Justin Herbert playoff stats
- Games: 3
- Record: 0-3
- Pass Attempts: 106
- Pass Completions: 58
- Completion Percentage: 54.7%
- Passing Yards: 674
- Passing TDs: 2
- Interceptions: 4
- Sacks: 13
- Carries: 13
- Rushing Yards: 69
- Rushing TDs: 0
- Fumbles: 3
With Herbert through three career playoff starts, the statistical ledger from his appearances presents a challenging picture. His overall postseason stat line is partially weighed down by a four-interception disaster in his second appearance and a low completion percentage across all three games.
Crucially, while Herbert put forth a solid statistical effort in the 2022 Wild Card loss to Jacksonville, that performance is forever overshadowed by the team's historic 27-0 collapse. In his 2026 loss to the Patriots, Herbert took six sacks while only able to find consistent offense with his legs.
For Herbert and the Chargers faithful, however, the only number that truly matters is the 0-3 record -- a mark he desperately needs to erase to validate his standing as an elite quarterback.
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