2013 San Diego Chargers season
The 2013 season was the San Diego Chargers' 44th in the National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall, and their first under head coach Mike McCoy. The Chargers finished the regular season with a record of 9–7, improving on their 7–9 record from 2012. Also, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Chargers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round by a score of 27–10, but lost to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional round by a score of 24–17. This was the Chargers' final playoff appearance in San Diego. They did not play in the postseason again until 2018, after relocating to Los Angeles.
2013 San Diego Chargers season | |
---|---|
Owner | Alex Spanos |
Head coach | Mike McCoy |
General manager | Tom Telesco[1] |
Home field | Qualcomm Stadium |
Local radio | KIOZ, KLSD |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 3rd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 27–10 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–24 |
Pro Bowlers | QB Philip Rivers FS Eric Weddle |
The new head coach, Mike McCoy, along with offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, completed the Chargers' first winning season since 2010. Only two offensive coaches returned from 2012 in an overhauled coaching staff, and a revamped offensive system had quarterback Philip Rivers release the ball earlier and taking what opposing defenses conceded. Rivers was sacked 30 times, compared to 49 the previous year, and threw for 4,479 yards and 32 touchdowns while tying a career-high with a 105.5 passer rating. San Diego's rushing attack improved from the prior season's 1,461 yards and 3.6 yards per carry—tied for the second worst in the league—to 1,965 yards and a 4-yard average.[2] Although they were speculated to have a poor, disappointing season, and getting off to a shaky start, the Chargers finished in the top eight of the overall standings. Rivers was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and Keenan Allen broke out into the national scene as a rookie sensation, breaking multiple wide receiver rookie records. Whisenhunt left at the conclusion of the season to become the head coach of the Titans.
Signings
Pos. | Player | 2012 Team | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
CB | Derek Cox | Jacksonville Jaguars | 4 years, $20 million |
DE | Dwight Freeney | Indianapolis Colts | 2 years, $8.7 million |
TE | John Phillips | Dallas Cowboys | 3 years, $5.2 million |
OT | King Dunlap | Philadelphia Eagles | 2 years, $3.7 million |
RB | Danny Woodhead | New England Patriots | 2 years, $3.5 million |
CB | Richard Marshall | Miami Dolphins | 1 year, $855,000 |
RB | Chris Gronkowski | Denver Broncos | 1 year, $630,000 |
LB | Thomas Keiser | Carolina Panthers | 1 year, $555,000 |
Re-Signings
Pos. | Player | Contract |
---|---|---|
RB | Ronnie Brown | 1 year, $1 million |
Departures
NFL Draft
2013 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 | D. J. Fluker | OT | Alabama | |
2 | 38 | Manti Te'o | LB | Notre Dame | from Arizona [R2 - 1] |
3 | 76 | Keenan Allen * | WR | California | |
5 | 145 | Steve Williams | CB | California | |
6 | 179 | Tourek Williams | DE | FIU | |
7 | 221 | Brad Sorensen | QB | Southern Utah | |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Draft notes
- Rosenthal, Gregg (April 26, 2013). "Manti Te'o gets fresh start with San Diego Chargers". NFL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- No. 38: Arizona → San Diego (D). Arizona traded this selection to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's 2013 second- (45th) and fourth- (110th) round selections.[source 1]
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 8 | Seattle Seahawks | L 10–31 | 0–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 15 | at Chicago Bears | L 28–33 | 0–2 | Soldier Field | Recap |
3 | August 24 | at Arizona Cardinals | W 24–7 | 1–2 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Recap |
4 | August 29 | San Francisco 49ers | L 6–41 | 1–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 9 | Houston Texans | L 28–31 | 0–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
2 | September 15 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 33–30 | 1–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
3 | September 22 | at Tennessee Titans | L 17–20 | 1–2 | LP Field | Recap |
4 | September 29 | Dallas Cowboys | W 30–21 | 2–2 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 6 | at Oakland Raiders | L 17–27 | 2–3 | O.co Coliseum | Recap |
6 | October 14 | Indianapolis Colts | W 19–9 | 3–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 20 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 24–6 | 4–3 | EverBank Field | Recap |
8 | Bye | |||||
9 | November 3 | at Washington Redskins | L 24–30 (OT) | 4–4 | Fedex Field | Recap |
10 | November 10 | Denver Broncos | L 20–28 | 4–5 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
11 | November 17 | at Miami Dolphins | L 16–20 | 4–6 | Sun Life Stadium | Recap |
12 | November 24 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 41–38 | 5–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 1 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–17 | 5–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 8 | New York Giants | W 37–14 | 6–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
15 | December 12 | at Denver Broncos | W 27–20 | 7–7 | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Recap |
16 | December 22 | Oakland Raiders | W 26–13 | 8–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 27–24 (OT) | 9–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
- Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Playoff round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | January 5, 2014 | at Cincinnati Bengals (3) | W 27–10 | 1–0 | Paul Brown Stadium | Recap |
Divisional | January 12, 2014 | at Denver Broncos (1) | L 17–24 | 1–1 | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Recap |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Houston Texans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texans | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 31 |
Chargers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 59,522
- Referee: Scott Green
- TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Berman, Trent Dilfer, and Sal Paolantonio
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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With the loss, the Chargers started their season 0–1.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 33 |
Eagles | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 69,144
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Titans | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Chargers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 68,601
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
Raiders | 14 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
at O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: October 6
- Game time: 8:35 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 48,834
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (NFLN*): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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This game was moved to an 8:35 p.m. PDT kickoff, and from CBS to NFL Network as a "special edition" of Thursday Night Football, as extended time was required to convert the field back from its baseball configuration due to an Oakland Athletics American League Division Series game the previous night.[3]
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 5:40 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 57,954
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), no chance of rain
- Game attendance: 59,550
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Washington Redskins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 30 |
at FedExField, Landover, Maryland
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 80,115
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Chargers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 68,847
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 11: at Miami Dolphins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Dolphins | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 41 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 38 |
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 1
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 61,536
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts (blacked out locally)
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. New York Giants
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Chargers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 37 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 65,132
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
Broncos | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- Date: December 12
- Game time: 6:25 p.m. MST/5:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), mostly clear
- Game attendance: 76,497
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (NFLN): Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock and Alex Flanagan
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 22
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 65,675
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 29
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 66,374
- Referee: Bill Leavy
- TV announcers (CBS): Marv Albert and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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Kansas City missed a field goal as with a few seconds left to send the game into overtime, where Nick Novak kicked the game winner. With the win, the Chargers finished the 2013 season with a record of 9–7 and clinched the second wild card spot, becoming the 6th seed entering the playoffs.
Postseason
AFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #3 Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 27 |
Bengals | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: January 5, 2014
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. EST/10:05 a.m. PST
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 62,277
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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With the Chargers defeating the Bengals, 27–10, they recorded their first playoff victory since 2008 and advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
AFC Divisional Playoff Game: at #1 Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
Broncos | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- Date: January 12, 2014
- Game time: 2:40 p.m. MST/1:40 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 76,969
- Referee: Clete Blakeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Game book
Game information | ||
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With the Chargers falling to the Broncos, the Chargers finished the season 10–8, their first double-digit winning season since 2009.
Standings
Division
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) Denver Broncos | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 9–3 | 606 | 399 | W2 |
(5) Kansas City Chiefs | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2–4 | 7–5 | 430 | 305 | L2 |
(6) San Diego Chargers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | 396 | 348 | W4 |
Oakland Raiders | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 322 | 453 | L6 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division winners | ||||||||||||
1 | Denver Broncos | West | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .469 | .423 | W2 | |
2 | New England Patriots | East | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .473 | .427 | W2 | |
3[lower-alpha 1] | Cincinnati Bengals | North | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 3–3 | 8–4 | .480 | .494 | W2 | |
4 | Indianapolis Colts | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 6–0 | 9–3 | .484 | .449 | W3 | |
Wild cards | ||||||||||||
5 | Kansas City Chiefs | West | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2–4 | 7–5 | .445 | .335 | L2 | |
6 | San Diego Chargers | West | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | .496 | .549 | W4 | |
Did not qualify for the postseason | ||||||||||||
7[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] | Pittsburgh Steelers | North | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 6–6 | .469 | .441 | W3 | |
8[lower-alpha 4] | Baltimore Ravens | North | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 6–6 | .484 | .418 | L2 | |
9[lower-alpha 5] | New York Jets | East | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .488 | .414 | W2 | |
10 | Miami Dolphins | East | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 7–5 | .523 | .523 | L2 | |
11 | Tennessee Titans | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .504 | .375 | W2 | |
12 | Buffalo Bills | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .520 | .500 | L1 | |
13[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] | Oakland Raiders | West | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .523 | .359 | L6 | |
14[lower-alpha 8] | Jacksonville Jaguars | South | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 3–3 | 4–8 | .504 | .234 | L3 | |
15 | Cleveland Browns | North | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .516 | .477 | L7 | |
16 | Houston Texans | South | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 1–5 | 2–10 | .559 | .500 | L14 | |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 9] | ||||||||||||
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Footnotes
References
- Wilson, Bernie (January 9, 2013). "Colts VP Telesco hired as Chargers' GM". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- Gehlken, Michael (February 1, 2014). "Philip Rivers Comeback Player of Year". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014.
- "Late-night TV looming for Chargers fans". U-T San Diego. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- "2013 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- "2013 NFL playoff picture". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 8, 2013.