How the Dirty Bubble from SpongeBob maybe ruined the Chargers' season

The Dirty Bubble from SpongeBob SquarePants might just have ruined the Los Angeles Chargers‘ season on Saturday.

Alright, this theory might be a stretch, and it totally ignores how well the Houston Texans played during their 32-12 wild-card win at home over Los Angeles.

However, the SpongeBob-themed Nickelodeon broadcast of Saturday’s NFL playoff game threw out an unlikely wrinkle with the Dirty Bubble.

Early in the game’s second quarter, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy’s feared bubble nemesis floated into frame during the alternate broadcast and “kidnapped” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.

Seemingly just a quick gag to involve a SpongeBob SquarePants deep-cut character in the broadcast, the Dirty Bubble’s appearance completely flipped the game on its head.

Houston outscored Los Angeles 32-6 after the Dirty Bubble swallowed Harbaugh up, making it a very possible reason for the Chargers’ outrageous collapse.

DIRTY BUBBLE HAS TAKEN JIM HARBAUGH pic.twitter.com/6Ivd6NuUtO

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 11, 2025

Sure, Los Angeles’ sheer inability to slow down Houston on both sides of the ball after this point in the game was the real reason this didn’t go the Chargers’ way.

However, the Dirty Bubble looms large over this contest. It’s not just because we’re dealing with a giant, nasty bubble of nautical doom… it’s because the game really wasn’t the same after the Dirty Bubble messed with Harbaugh.

Perhaps the Dirty Bubble’s villiany really is why Los Angeles faltered down the stretch.