Nick Canepa grades the Chargers following Saturday’s 32-12 playoff loss to the Texans in Houston: 

Quarterbacks: F

Chargering at it’s worst. Two good touchdown opportunities were squandered early, although Justin Herbert was on his game for a moment. But things slowed quickly. Got picked on one of his worst throws of the year, and after holding a lead for 29 minutes, went to halftime down by four points. He felt pressure, lacked accuracy, and his wideouts weren’t separating vs. the 29th-ranked pass D. Some bad luck, but it might have been his poorest game. Four picks?

Running backs: Incomplete

J.K. Dobbins came out running with a purpose. Backup Gus Edwards returned and did decent work. But the run calls were few — un-Harbaugh-like.

Receivers: D

Tight end Will Dissly dropped a perfect first-down pass at a bad time and of course had the big drop near the end. After a near-perfect game last week, Quentin Johnston dropped the first pass thrown to him, and the last. Ladd McConkey, the un-rookie, is good finding openings, but he let a high pass go through his hands that became a pick-six. He Made up for it with a 86-yard run and catch TD (9 catches, 197 yards).

Offensive line: F

Tackle play was to be the key, what with Houston having a strong edge rush on both sides. Which meant Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt had to be at their best, which they were not.

Defensive line: C-

The defense played great vs. the run in the beginning, but there were some lost kids by the end of the first half. Poona Ford was good.

Linebackers: C

Joey Bosa had a first-quarter sack. Bookend Khalil Mack had one a quarter later. Some pressures the QB turned into successful scrambles.

Secondary: F

One of the great safeties, Derwin James didn’t get that huge pick in the end zone, but he earlier recovered a fumble. Alohi Gilman forced that fumble. Dean Leonard had a big pick off an awful C.J. Stroud second-quarter throw. Corner Cam Hart is a great rookie find (he hurt his shoulder in the third quarter). Kristian Fulton got beat for the TD that first put Houston ahead. Tony Jefferson caused and recovered a big fumble as the second half began, later a tackle-for-loss.

Special teams: F

Cameron Dicker The Kicker, back-to-back AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, opened scoring with a 35-yard field goal — and, following a turnover, a 39-yarder. He had a PAT blocked and returned for two. JK Scott had a punt partially blocked that didn’t do much damage, then he kicked it to the one, then a bad 37-yarder.

Coaching: F

Luck wasn’t on Jim Harbaugh’s sideline when Stroud fumbled, recovered, lobbed a third-and-16 pass that was caught for 34 yards near the end of the half. Looked like he came out running, but he soon jumped on Herbert’s arm. An embarrassing loss.

Next opportunity — offseason: A

Harbaugh did a wonderful job taking over a five-win team. They need help, especially at receiver and interior offensive line.

Originally Published: January 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM PST