Finished: 2nd Place in the AFC West
2012 Draft Position: 18th
Preseason Ranking: 1
Week 1: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-17
Ranked - 7
So much for addressing the Special Teams shortcomings during the offseason. 15 seconds into the game and the Chargers were already losing by a touchdown. San Diego crawled back into the game and won it in the second half, but they have to stop putting themselves into a hole every time their offense or defense comes off the field.
Week 2: Lost at the New England Patriots, 35-21
Ranked - 15
The New England Patriots gave the ball to the Chargers at midfield in the fourth quarter and challenged them to score and take the lead. San Diego responded with a weak series that ended in a turnover and then the Patriots were off and runnning. San Diego will never be the championship team everyone keeps hoping they will be if they cannot move the ball 50 yards for a touchdown against a good team when their backs are against the wall.
Week 3: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-17
Ranked - 15
Note to self: Keep playing down to your opponent's level. That keeps the games so much more interesting for fans. Signed, Philip Rivers.
Week 4: Defeated the Miami Dolphins, 26-16
Ranked - 9
For the first time in years, San Diego escaped September with a winning record. Now, if they could start blowing out teams, a la the Packers, Patriots and Saints, instead of playing down to their opponent's level, they could be on to something here.
Week 5: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 29-24
Ranked - 8
The Chargers are 4-1, but they certainly haven't achieved that record easily, considering all their victories have been by seven or less points against teams with losing records.
Week 6: BYE WEEK
Ranked - 8 Indiana Jones Style Recap
[Norv Turner meets Rex Ryan in a crowded bar before the Chargers-Jets game]
Coach Turner: Ryan.
Coach Ryan: Good afternoon, Norv Turner.
Coach Turner: I oughta kill you right now.
Coach Ryan: Not a very private place for a murder. Please. Sit down, before you fall down. At least we can behave like civilized people.
Week 7: Lost at the New York Jets, 27-21
Ranked - 13
What is going on with Rivers? There are few teams more baffling than the San Diego Chargers.
Week 8: Lost at the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20
Ranked - 17
The last thing Philip Rivers needed was to choke away the snap in the final seconds of that game on Monday night. Until the Chargers win a playoff game and advance deep into the postseason they will always be the team best identified with underachievement.
Week 9: Lost to the Green Bay Packers, 45-38
Ranked - 18
Rivers has become a turnover machine. Lucky for the Chargers, no other team in the AFC West seems capable of winning, either.
Week 10: Lost to the Oakland Raiders, 24-17
Ranked - 19
Just when you think the Chargers couldn’t underachieve any more…
Week 11: Lost at the Chicago Bears, 31-20
Ranked - 20
San Diego just keeps taking underachivement to a whole new level.
Week 12: Lost to the Denver Broncos, 16-13
Ranked - 21
The Chargers continue to plummet through the standings. With the firing of Del Rio in Jacksonville, can Norv Turner's departure be close at hand?
Week 13: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 38-14
Ranked - 19
San Diego made the most of catching Jacksonville at the right time. They'll have to be near perfect in order to catch Oakland and Denver.
Week 14: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37-10
Ranked - 13
The Chargers traditionally have shined in December, but their early season troubles will make it difficult for them to snag a playoff spot in the tough AFC.
Week 15: Defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 34-14
Ranked - 13
The Chargers can win in December. Nobody doubts that. The question is - will it actually matter this year or will they once again fall short of the playoffs?
Week 16: Lost at the Detroit Lions, 38-10
Ranked - 19
The Chargers early season failures finally caught up to them.
Week 17: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 38-26
Final Ranking: 15
Tomorrow, the 2011 Chicago Bears...
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