Justin Herbert hopes the third time will be a charm.
Now in his sixth NFL season, the Chargers quarterback will be playing his third career playoff game tonight, at New England. He’s winless in two prior trips to the postseason.
The first came three years ago, when a 27-0 lead melted into a 31-30 loss at Jacksonville. Last year, Herbert had four interceptions in a 32-12 loss to the Texans in Houston.
This year, Herbert has been playing through a broken bone in his left hand. He finished in the top 10 in passing yards (3,727) and touchdown passes (26). He had 498 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
It all boils down to tonight. The Chargers last won a playoff game in 2018. Their current 0-3 streak started with a loss to the Patriots in the divisional round that year.
If the Chargers win, they’ll go to Denver next weekend — and the Bills will visit the winner of the Texans-Steelers game.
Chargers Clips
Football teams look for any and all motivation they can find. The Associated Press has given them a little something in advance of their first home playoff game since 2019.
The Patriots, despite going 14-3, have no first-team All-Pros. As noticed be researcher Dan Kelley, and confirmed by NBC Sports research, it’s only the second time since the AP started picking All-Pro teams in 1940 that a team that won 14 or more games had no first-team All-Pros.
The other? The 2016 Patriots, who went 14-2.
That year, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was the first-team All-Pro over Tom Brady. Of course, the Patriots ultimately had the last laugh, winning Super Bowl LI after falling behind in the third quarter, 28-3.
This year, the failure of the Pats to put any player among the first-team All-Pros could provide an extra little kick in the butt as the Patriots prepare to face the Chargers tonight.
The Chargers activated tight end Tucker Fisk from injured reserve on Saturday, the team announced.
Fisk went on injured reserve Dec. 8 with an ankle injury.
He has two receptions for 19 yards in 10 games this season, playing 233 offensive snaps and 27 on special teams.
The Chargers placed wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith on injured reserve in a corresponding move. He injured his hamstring in Week 18.
The team also elevated wide receiver Dalevon Campbell and cornerback Isas Waxter from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Campbell, who spent the offseason and training camp with the Chargers, saw action in a pair of games early in the season with the Panthers before being inactive twice for the Chargers as a standard elevation.
Waxter has spent the season on the Chargers’ practice squad after initially signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in May.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record during the 2025 season and he also became one of three unanimous choices for the Associated Press All-Pro team.
All 50 voters selected Garrett as one of their choices at edge rusher in this year’s voting. Those voters also unanimously selected Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba for this year’s first team.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford got the nod over Drake Maye at quarterback, which opens up the possibility of a split with MVP for the second straight season. Stafford got 31 votes while the Patriots quarterback got 18 with Bills quarterback Josh Allen getting the other one.
Stafford joins kicker Gary Anderson as the only players to be named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in their 17th season or later.
The full All-Pro teams appear below:
First team
Offense
Quarterback — Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Running Back — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta
Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco
Wide Receivers — Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati
All Purpose — Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco
Tight End — Trey McBride, Arizona
Left Tackle — Garrett Bolles, Denver
Left Guard — Joe Thuney, Chicago
Center — Creed Humphrey, Kansas City
Right Guard — Quinn Meinerz, Denver
Right Tackle — Penei Sewell, Detroit
Defense
Edge Rushers — Myles Garrett, Cleveland; Will Anderson Jr., Houston; Micah Parsons, Green Bay
Interior Linemen — Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee; Zach Allen, Denver
Linebackers — Jack Campbell, Detroit; Jordyn Brooks, Miami
Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley Jr., Houston; Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia
Slot cornerback — Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia
Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Kevin Byard, Chicago
Special Teams
Placekicker — Will Reichard, Minnesota
Punter — Jordan Stout, Baltimore
Kick Returner — Ray Davis, Buffalo
Punt Returner — Chimera Dike, Tennessee
Special Teamer — Devon Key, Denver
Long Snapper — Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville
Second team
Offense
Quarterback — Drake Maye, New England
Running Back — James Cook, Buffalo
Fullback — Patrick Ricard, Baltimore
Wide Receivers — George Pickens, Dallas; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit; Chris Olave, New Orleans
All Purpose — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta
Tight End — Kyle Pitts, Atlanta
Left Tackle — Trent Williams, San Francisco
Left Guard — Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis
Center — Aaron Brewer, Miami
Right Guard — Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta
Right Tackle — Darnell Wright, Chicago
Defense
Edge Rushers — Brian Burns, New York Giants; Danielle Hunter, Houston; Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit
Interior Linemen — Leonard Williams, Seattle; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh
Linebackers — Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville; Ernest Jones IV, Seattle
Cornerbacks — Patrick Surtain II, Denver; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle
Slot cornerback — Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Safeties — Jessie Bates III, Atlanta; Talanoa Hufanga, Denver; Xavier McKinney, Green Bay (Hufanga and McKinney were tied for the second-team spot)
Special teams
Placekicker — Brandon Aubrey, Dallas
Punter — Michael Dickson, Seattle
Kick Returner — Kavontae Turpin, Dallas
Punt Returner — Marcus Jones, New England
Special Teamer — Del’Shawn Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers
Long Snapper — Andrew DePaola, Minnesota
The status of Chargers running back Omarion Hampton for the team’s playoff opener in New England won’t be determined until closer to kickoff on Sunday night.
Hampton is listed as questionable to face the Patriots because of the ankle injury that kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Hampton was on the field on Friday and told reporters that he plans on playing this weekend.
Hampton had 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns in the regular season.
The Chargers are also listing tackle Austin Deculus (oblique), edge rusher Bud Dupree (hamstring), tight end Tucker Fisk (ankle), safety Elijah Molden (hamstring), and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips as questionable. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) and safety Kendall Williamson (ankle) have been ruled out.
The Patriots have a few injury concerns for their wild card matchup with the Chargers on Sunday.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters in his Friday press conference that defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot) is out for the contest.
Receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) is questionable after he was added to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday.
Linebacker Harold Landry (knee) and offensive tackle Thayer Munford (knee) are also questionable for the contest.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson was out of practice on Friday for personal reasons, but that should not affect his status.
Jared Wilson (concussion) is set to return and play left guard.
Cleveland has put in another interview request, this time for one of the coaches who will be on the sidelines this weekend.
According to multiple reports, the Browns have requested permission to interview Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for their head coaching vacancy.
Minter, 42, has been with the Chargers for the last two seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh. He previously was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator at Michigan from 2022-2023, winning the CFP national championship.
Minter has plenty of familiarity with the AFC North, too, as he worked under John Harbaugh from 2017-2020 with the Ravens. Minter began his tenure with the club as a defensive assistant, before being promoted to assistant defensive backs coach, and finally defensive backs coach.
The Titans are another team with known interest in speaking with Minter, who cannot interview until after this weekend.
The Titans are adding a pair of defensive coordinators to their list of head coaching candidates and they play their home games in the same stadium.
According to multiple reports, the Titans have requested interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Both coaches will be working this weekend and will be available for virtual interviews next week.
Minter was installed as the early betting favorite to be the next Ravens head coach, but this is the first official word of an interview request this cycle. Minter was an assistant in Baltimore from 2017-2020 and began working under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan in 2022.
Shula, who is the grandson of Don Shula, has been on the Rams’ staff since 2017 and is in his second year as their coordinator. He was also college teammates with Rams head coach Sean McVay.
The Patriots added wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the injury report Thursday. Boutte was limited with a hamstring injury after not being on the report on Wednesday.
It is unclear whether Boutte’s injury is an aggravation of the hamstring injury that kept him out of two games in November or a new injury.
Boutte missed Week 17 with a concussion but returned last week.
He has 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games this season.
The Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve last week. Kyle Williams will be in line for a bigger role if Boutte can’t play.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) was downgraded to a non-participant after being limited on Wednesday.
Offensive tackle Morgan Moses (illness) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (illness) were back at practice and full participants on Thursday. Tight end Hunter Henry (rest), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) and linebacker Jack Gibbens (elbow) also were full participants after limited work on Wednesday.
Center Garrett Bradbury (illness), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (illness), offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) remained out for a second consecutive day.
Cornerback Alex Austin (wrist), linebacker Harold Landry III (knee) and offensive lineman Jared Wilson (concussion) again were limited.
The Dolphins pared their list of General Manager candidates down to four on Wednesday and they’re moving forward with the next round of interviews.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander and Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan are meeting with the team on Thursday. Both interviews will take place in person.
Sullivan had a virtual interview with the team earlier this week while this will be Alexander’s first meeting with the team.
49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams and the Dolphins’ interim GM Champ Kelly are the other candidates still in the running in Miami.
