LOS ANGELES CHARGERS HEAD COACH JIM HARBAUGH
Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Q. What happened to you guys offensively?
JH: Yeah, we weren't good enough. Didn't get enough points sustaining the drives. Left our defense out on the field too much in terms of time of possession. Yeah, just wasn't our night.
Q. Anything specifically offensively you can point to that wasn't good enough?
JH: No, I -- I really don't have the answers. I wish I did. If I did there would've been a different result. But that I am going to be spending -- we'll be spending a lot of hard work and maybe even sleepless nights getting it figured out. The way these players fight, the way they just give it their very best, their all, you know, we'll owe them that and get on. Like I told the team, those that stay will be champions. Not looking at this as an end but as another beginning.
Q. Jim, what do you think of the way Justin played?
JH: Warrior. Doing anything and everything he could to move our team and get us in the end zone.
Q. You feel like it was up to his usual standard of play?
JH: I do. He just gives it everything he has all the time.
Q. Do you feel like -- you guys in your two playoff games you guys (indiscernible) scored a touchdown, offense past two seasons. Do you think that Greg is the right person to be calling plays as coordinator?
JH: Yeah, right now I don't have the answers as I said. 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.
Q. When you say look at, you mean specifically look at...
JH: Everything on our team.
Q. If Greg is the right person to be calling plays?
JH: I don't have that answer right now. 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.
Q. Can you expand on what you said about...
JH: And a lot of it is the Patriots, too. Not going to sit here and say -- the Patriots played very well and they did a great job. I want to congratulate them. Not be one of those coaches that stands up here and says that they -- call it what it is. I mean, they played extremely well.
Q. When it ends abruptly like this, what was your message to your team after this?
JH: That. That was the message. We will get it done.
Q. Jim, how much was the turning point in the first quarter...
JH: Yeah. Yeah, just couldn't get it in the end zone. That was -- turned out to be really our best shot of the night to score that touchdown.
Q. Why did you decide to go for it there, something you hadn't really done before this season?
JH: We've gone for some fourth downs.
Q. One other time. Second time. I can...
JH: No, I mean, looking back on it, you don't get it, that would've been three more points where we got zero. But had we gotten it, it would've been -- we would've just needed one touchdown at the end of the game. Probably would've been kicking myself had I not done it and gone for it and taken that opportunity, taken that chance. Felt like that was the right thing to do. You know, didn't get it in.
Q. Was there something specific about this game and opponent this led you to be more aggressive in that situation?
JH: That's our analytics, was to go for it in that situation. Yeah, you know, playing it out, it's not the right decision because you didn't score the touchdown. Yeah, I would -- in the same situation, you know, got to take your shot.
Q. Over the last few weeks Patriots have gotten a little more healthy on defense. Couple of their better guys played. Today just seemed like they played their best game of the year, their defense. Not a lot seemed open. Got a little pressure. Stopped the run game for the most part. Can you talk about the Patriots' defense what you saw coming in and what you saw today?
JH: Yeah, they were a big factor. That was a heck of a performance by them. They were able to get the stops, third down, red zone. You know, played really good situational. Played really good coverage. There was some that -- you know, some could have gone either way there and they were able to make the play. But, yeah, congratulate them. It was heck of a game.
Q. How do you feel like your defense played overall?
JH: Yeah, I thought our defense played well. I mean, there was -- you know, it's been a strength for us all year. Opportunistic again, got the turnovers, weren't able to capitalize. But I thought they played well, like they always do. They just fight and play their hearts out like our entire team does, every man on the roster.
Q. You called Justin a warrior. Was the hand an issue today?
JH: Yeah, it's an issue. It's an issue. But, yeah -- he doesn't flinch. He's just like a warrior would.
Q. Coach, can you talk about your relationship with Mike Vrabel and what you saw from his game plan?
JH: Sorry?
Q. Can you talk about your relationship with Mike Vrabel?
JH: Yeah, professional relationship, and nothing but respect. Thought they did a heck of a job.
QUARTERBACK JUSTIN HERBERT
Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Q: Justin, what did you think of the way you played today?
JH: Yeah, not good enough. We got to score points and defense gave us every shot we needed to and wasn't enough.
Q: Realizing that obviously the emotions are still raw, what is your confidence in yourself that you will be able to get over this, get a playoff win, make a playoff run?
JH: Yeah I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet. Hasn't happened, so we'll have to reevaluate and see what happens.
Q: I guess how frustrating is it to be back in this situation with the highs this team had this season?
JH: Yeah, it's really tough to lose. We gave everything we had and it's not good enough. Defense, like I said, gave us every shot that we needed to and it's not enough.
Q: You guys got the early turnover, went for it on fourth down. Was that a carryover effect not converting points on the two turnovers tonight?
JH: Yeah, we just have to be able to score and we didn't do that today. You know, that's on us as an offense. When we get those opportunities we have to do everything we can to get ball in the end zone, and we let the defense down today.
Q: Collectively when your offense struggles like that, were they showing you something different than you expected from your film study?
JH: No. It's just on us to go out there and execute. You know, like we always say, we have to score points in the red zone, convert on third down, limit turnovers, and we didn't do any of those today.
Q: You haven't made excuses all year and I'm not asking you to now. Now that the season is over, can you describe the limitations that you're having, had, with your hand, especially tonight?
JH: No. You know, the training staff did a great job getting me ready to go. As long as they felt safe and comfortable and I did as well, there was no issues. Just have to do a better job holding on to the ball.
Q: Patriots' defense over the last couple weeks has got a few of their important guys back. Seemed like for them everything clicked. Seemed like you didn't have a ton of guys open down field. Can you talk about the Patriots' defense? Was it as good as it looked tonight?
JH: Yeah, they played well. We got nothing but respect for them. As an offense it wasn't good enough today and I didn't play well enough and didn't make any plays. When it mattered most we didn't score any points.
Q: If you had to break down, what was difficult tonight, especially throwing the ball down field?
JH: Just didn't execute. It's on us to be able to convert on third down and when we get our shots in the red zone we have to be able to score points.
Q: How do you feel like you were seeing the field tonight?
JH: Obviously not well enough. That's the tough part. You know, we have to do better than three points. As an offense, it's got good enough. Quarterback play wasn't good enough. We let the defense down today.
Q: Just moving into another offseason here, three trips to the playoffs, haven't been able to get one yet, mentally how are you going to approach that heading into the offseason? How are you going to maintain your mentality heading into next season knowing another opportunity has passed here?
JH: Yeah, I don't know. Haven't figured that out yet. That's the tough part about the NFL. There is a lot of good teams and wasn't good enough today.
ADDITIONAL DOLPHINS PLAYERS
Zion Johnson, G
(On the result of the game and what happened offensively)
"I mean, at the end of the day, we didn't execute enough, and it starts with us up front. We got to be better. We only scored three points in the game. You got to do more, you got to execute at a higher clip, and we didn't do that today."
(On the offensive line being banged up)
"We have faith in everybody who goes out there. We have tons of talent, the guys on our offensive line. At end of the day, we just got to get it done, execute, just get the job done."
(On how painful it is to end in this manner)
"We fought really hard to get here, and our efforts in this game just weren't quite enough. We have a lot to think about in the offseason in terms of where we can improve and how we can get better on an individual basis. So, this doesn't happen again."
Trey Pipkins III, G/T
(On what is going through his mind)
"We just lost a game, obviously. Trying to see the film and see what happened. I'm really not sure what was going wrong, but we'll see on film. We are out of it now, obviously."
(On the play of the offensive line)
"Without watching the film, I am not really sure. I can't really give a full breakdown without seeing the film. I didn't think it was too bad. It is tough to be behind a couple scores late. It's obviously tough."
Justin Eboigbe, DL
(On the game)
"I wouldn't say there was one point where we felt we were turned away. We tried to bend, not break. I would say the one thing is, we hate that we gave them a touchdown. That's on us. That's not helping the offense. We had a game plan to try and win the ballgame. They game planned a lot. We wanted to stop the run and contain the quarterback. A lot of times he got out and that's on us. At the end of the day, they were the better team."
(On the end of the season)
"At the end of the day, we are all professionals, but we are brothers. You say you fight for your family, but your family is also the guys you are out there with. When you're out there you're not thinking about your real family, you're thinking about the brothers you are out there with. You think about the long days, the OTAs, the grind, training camp, all the days together and being in the hotel together. You spend more time with the guys than your actual family. You try and bust your butt each and every day. Effort is not the issue."
Troy Dye, LB
(On his thoughts on the game)
"Me personally, what's going through my mind is, I felt like I gave my all, and it wasn't enough. You just want to make sure that you do enough for this team as an individual. You want to add to the whole. So, I know a lot of guys put a lot on the line for us, and it sucks to come up short. So, that's what I'm personally thinking and feeling right now."
(On how the defense played)
"I think we played well, but like I said, it just wasn't enough. We're in a win or go home situation. So, giving up 1 touchdown, that's cool if they gave up more. So when it comes down to it, in this type of situation, we can't give up any. We have to do more for our team. We've got to be a whole, and we just gave up one touchdown too many."
(On what he's going to remember about this group of players)
"This fight, at every given moment, it is the fight. When I was on that field in those last moments, no one gave up. No matter what the clock said, it didn't matter what was going on, no one gave up. When you look at both sides of the ball, when you look all three phases, everyone was united throughout the whole game. Even this season, we had so many bumps and bruises, so many losses along the way, but here we are, being able to fight to continue our postseason, even though we came up short. The unity is what matters the most."
Derwin James Jr., S
(On how much his teammates mean to him)
"Well, it means everything. I see how much these guys sacrifice since training camp, but we didn't get it done today. It's like drawing it up in the sand and the waves coming by and knocking it away. So, we didn't get it done. Credit to the Patriots for coming out today and getting a win, but we just didn't play good enough today."
(On Justin Herbert's performance)
"Toughness. He was just trying to give us a chance. Every time I saw him, guys hit him from the left, hit him from the right, he just kept battling. Nobody knows how hard it is back there when it's like that. So, I just credited him for going out there and just giving it his all this season, not just this game. I have a lot of respect for him, I know what type of player he is."
(On Drake Maye's performance)
"I've got to give credit to Drake Maye. Every time we got to him, he got back up. Every time his team needed a play today, he used his legs, so a lot of credit to him. He did everything he could to get the job done for his team."
