Honestly, if you watched the LA Chargers game score tick away in Foxborough this past Sunday, you probably felt that familiar, sinking sensation. It’s a specific kind of dread. The kind only Chargers fans truly understand. The scoreboard at Gillette Stadium ended up reading 16-3 in favor of the New England Patriots, and just like that, Jim Harbaugh’s first year in Los Angeles hit a brick wall.
One day you're beating the Chiefs in Brazil, and the next, you're watching Justin Herbert get sacked six times in a playoff game where the offense didn't even sniff the end zone.
It was ugly.
The game was a defensive slog that felt more like a 1990s Big Ten matchup than a modern NFL playoff battle. The Patriots didn't exactly light it up either, but they didn't have to. They just waited for the Chargers' depleted offensive line to cave. And cave it did.
The Brutal Reality of the LA Chargers Game Score
When you look at a LA Chargers game score like 16-3, you expect to see a dominant defensive performance. We got half of that. Jesse Minter’s defense actually played out of their minds for the first three quarters. They forced a Drake Maye interception early. They recovered a fumble in the red zone. They gave the offense every single opportunity to take control of the game.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
But the offense was a ghost.
Justin Herbert finished the night 19 of 31 for just 159 yards. He was also the team's leading rusher with 57 yards, which tells you everything you need to know about how the "Harbaugh-ball" run game collapsed. Without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt—both lost to injuries earlier in the year—the protection was basically a revolving door.
Why the Offense Flatlined
- The Trench Warfare Loss: Bradley Bozeman and Trey Pipkins struggled against a New England front that knew exactly where the weak spots were. Herbert was pressured on nearly 45% of his dropbacks.
- Red Zone Failures: The Chargers had the ball on the Patriots' 10-yard line in the second quarter. They walked away with zero points after a failed fourth-down attempt to Keenan Allen.
- The Strip-Sack: Early in the fourth quarter, with the score still within reach at 9-3, K’Lavon Chaisson got to Herbert. The resulting fumble set up the only touchdown of the game—a 28-yard strike from Maye to Hunter Henry.
A Season of Streaks and Heartbreak
It's easy to obsess over the final score of the Wild Card game, but the 2025 season was actually a massive step forward. Remember where this team was a year ago? They went from a 5-12 disaster to an 11-6 playoff team.
The season started with a bang. That Week 1 win over the Chiefs in São Paulo (27-21) made it feel like the Chargers were the new kings of the AFC West. They surged to 3-0. Then, the injuries started piling up. Losing Joe Alt in Week 4 against the Giants was the turning point no one wants to talk about. The run game, which looked unstoppable in September, became predictable by December.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
Notable 2025 Regular Season Scores
- Week 1 vs. Chiefs: W 27-21 (The Brazil High)
- Week 8 vs. Vikings: W 37-10 (The most complete game of the year)
- Week 11 @ Jaguars: L 6-35 (The warning sign)
- Week 14 vs. Eagles: W 22-19 in OT (Pure grit)
- Week 18 @ Broncos: L 3-19 (The momentum killer)
What Most People Get Wrong About This Loss
A lot of people are going to blame Justin Herbert. They'll point to his 0-3 playoff record and say he "can't win the big one."
That's a lazy take.
It's hard to win when your center is graded last in the league in pass protection. It's hard to win when your leading receiver is a rookie like Tre Harris who is still finding his rhythm in the postseason. Harbaugh brought a new culture, but he couldn't magically fix a roster that lacked depth at the most critical positions.
The real issue was the "glass house" nature of the roster. When the starters were healthy, the Chargers looked like Super Bowl contenders. When the injuries hit the offensive line, the LA Chargers game score started reflecting a team that was just trying to survive rather than dominate.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
The Path Forward for the Bolts
So, what now? The loss to the Patriots 16-3 is a bitter pill, but it provides a very clear roadmap for Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh this offseason. You cannot enter another season with a "hope for the best" strategy at swing tackle.
The defense is legit. Derwin James and Tuli Tuipulotu are cornerstones. But the offense needs a massive infusion of speed and interior strength. They need to find a way to keep Herbert upright, or these playoff scores are going to keep looking the same.
Actionable Next Steps for the Offseason
- Prioritize the O-Line Depth: The draft and free agency must focus on the interior. Relying on waiver-wire pickups to protect a $262 million quarterback is a recipe for a 16-3 playoff exit.
- Find a Vertical Threat: Ladd McConkey is great underneath, but the Chargers lacked a true "take the top off" receiver after Mike Williams left.
- Evaluate the Run-Heavy Scheme: Harbaugh wants to run the ball, but when the box is stacked and the line can't push, there has to be a Plan B that doesn't involve Herbert running for his life.
The 2025 season showed that the Chargers have the floor of a playoff team. Now they have to figure out how to raise the ceiling. Watching the Patriots celebrate on their home turf should be all the motivation this front office needs to get aggressive in March.