Jim Harbaugh on whether Greg Roman is right play-caller for Chargers: 'I don't have that answer right now' - NFL.com
Senior News Writer The Los Angeles Chargers quickly bowed out of the playoffs with another dismal performance on the road to the New England Patriots in Sunday's 16-3 loss, a game in which the offense never found traction. It marks the fourth consecutive playoff loss for the Chargers, tying the franchise record for the longest streak. L.A. was held to a measly 207 total yards and went 1 of 10 on third downs. If it weren't for a few defensive plays, the score would have been more lopsided than 13 points. Sunday's Wild Card Weekend loss, coupled with last year's 20-point defeat in Houston under Jim Harbaugh, has Justin Herbert under siege for his poor postseason performances. However, there is plenty of blame to go around. Offense coordinator Greg Roman deserves his share for the ineptitude of his group in the playoffs. Following the contest, Harbaugh was asked if Roman was the right play-caller moving forward. "Right now, I don't have the answers," he responded, via the official transcript. "We're going to look at that, at everything. It really falls on me that we wasn't at our best tonight. I don't have the answers. I wish I did. We'll work hard. It'll be a new beginning." While the head coach said he didn't have the answers to a lot of questions after the loss, for a rah-rah leader like Harbaugh to not instinctively back his play-caller, even superficially, is notable. Harbaugh was given another chance to back Roman and replied similarly. "I don't have that answer right now," he said. "I know you're being very specific. We weren't good enough as a team. That's what we do. We win as a team and we lose as a team. That's my responsibility to have the team in a better position." The three-point output on Sunday night is the fewest points in a playoff game since the Baltimore Ravens also put up three points in the 2020 Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills. The common thread between the 2025 Los Angeles Chargers and 2020 Baltimore Ravens: Greg Roman. Roman had success with the San Francisco 49ers during Harbaugh's first run in the NFL. Since then, it's been a postseason nightmare. In stints with the Bills, Ravens and Chargers, Roman has led offenses that went to the playoffs five times -- three with the Ravens, two with the Chargers. Those teams went 1-5. In that span, Roman never had an offense put up more than 20 points in a postseason contest. With Herbert and Lamar Jackson starting under center in five of those six contests (Tyler Huntley made one start for Baltimore in 2022), Roman's teams put up three points twice, 12 points twice and 20 points once. There are certainly circumstances that can explain away the postseason ineptitude of Roman's offense, including O-line injuries in 2025, but eventually the finger of blame spins to the offensive coordinator whose offenses crumble in the big spot. Herbert, for his part, shouldered the blame for the offensive struggles on Sunday in New England. "I didn't play well enough and didn't make any plays," said the QB who was sacked five times. "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 another direction with their play-caller. The playoffs are here and you won't want to miss a moment. Now you don't have to! With NFL+ Premium, watch every playoff game live on mobile, get NFL RedZone during the regular season, stream game replays, and more! And for a limited time, get 40% off an NFL+ annual plan. Offer ends 2/16/26. Sign up today!