The 2010 season was the San Diego Chargers' 41st in the National Football League (NFL) and their 51st overall. The team failed to improve on their 13–3 record the previous season, finishing with a 9–7 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
The 2010 Chargers are noted for having both the No. 1-ranked offense and defense, the first team to do so since the 1996 Green Bay Packers. However, a struggling special teams unit caused the Chargers to lose five of their first seven games, each of which was by a one-possession margin. The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, "no team even came close to having all those special teams foibles in one season." Football Outsiders calculated that the Chargers had the worst special teams in the league in 2010 and the fifth-worst from 1993 to 2010. Although the Chargers won seven of their nine remaining matchups, they were unable to overcome the slow start and missed the postseason by one game. An additional victory would have allowed the Chargers to win the AFC West on a tiebreaker, but they instead finished a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition to their statistical performance, the Chargers used an NFL-record tying 74 players during the season due to injuries. The 2010 season also saw the Chargers have their first home blackouts since 2004 and was their first since 2000 not to have future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson on the roster.
Offseason On February 22, 2010, LaDainian Tomlinson requested his release after nine seasons with the team, and went to the New York Jets.
NFL draft
After finishing the season with the best record among teams exiting the playoffs in the divisional round, the Chargers picked 28th in the draft. They traded their sixth-round pick in a trade that sent defensive tackle Travis Johnson to the Chargers.
Draft notes
Coaching staff
San Diego Chargers 2010 staff Front office Owner – Alex Spanos President/CEO – Dean Spanos Executive vice president – Michael Spanos Executive vice president/executive officer – A. G. Spanos Executive vice president/general manager – A. J. Smith Executive vice president of football operations/assistant general manager – Ed McGuire Senior executive – Randy Mueller Director of player personnel – Jimmy Raye Director of pro scouting – Dennis Abraham Director of college scouting – John Spanos Assistant director of college scouting – Mike Biehl
Head coaches Head coach – Norv Turner Assistant head coach/tight ends – Rob Chudzinski Assistant to the head coach – Margie Smith Coaches’ Assistant – Steve Gera
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Clarence Shelmon Quarterbacks – John Ramsdell Running backs – Ollie Wilson Wide receivers – Charlie Joiner Offensive line – Hal Hunter Offensive line – Mike Sullivan Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Ron Rivera Defensive line – Don Johnson Linebackers – John Pagano Assistant linebackers – Greg Williams Secondary – Steven Wilks Assistant secondary – Cris Dishman
Special teams coaches Special teams – Steve Crosby Assistant special teams – Carlos Polk
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jeff Hurd Assistant strength and conditioning – Vernon Stephens
Final roster
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 14 Chicago Bears W 25–10 1–0 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 21 Dallas Cowboys L 14–16 1–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 3 August 27 at New Orleans Saints L 21–36 1–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap 4 September 2 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–17 1–3 Candlestick Park Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 13 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–21 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 2 September 19 Jacksonville Jaguars W 38–13 1–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 3 September 26 at Seattle Seahawks L 20–27 1–2 Qwest Field Recap 4 October 3 Arizona Cardinals W 41–10 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 October 10 at Oakland Raiders L 27–35 2–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 6 October 17 at St. Louis Rams L 17–20 2–4 Edward Jones Dome Recap 7 October 24 New England Patriots L 20–23 2–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 8 October 31 Tennessee Titans W 33–25 3–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Houston Texans W 29–23 4–5 Reliant Stadium Recap 10 Bye 11 November 22 Denver Broncos W 35–14 5–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 12 November 28 at Indianapolis Colts W 36–14 6–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 5 Oakland Raiders L 13–28 6–6 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 14 December 12 Kansas City Chiefs W 31–0 7–6 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 15 December 16 San Francisco 49ers W 34–7 8–6 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 16 December 26 at Cincinnati Bengals L 20–34 8–7 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at Denver Broncos W 33–28 9–7 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs
The Chargers began their season at Arrowhead Stadium for a division rivalry match against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the first quarter the Chargers took the early lead as QB Philip Rivers completed a 3-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates. The Chiefs replied when RB Jamaal Charles made a 56-yard TD run. In the 2nd quarter the Chargers fell behind when QB Matt Cassel completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE Tony Moeaki. This was followed by WR Dexter McCluster returning a punt 94 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. In the third quarter the Chargers cut the lead when QB Philip Rivers threw a 59-yard TD pass to WR Legedu Naanee. In the 4th quarter the Chiefs defense prevented any more scoring from the Chargers.
With the loss, San Diego began at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers returned home for an AFC duel with the Jaguars. In the 1st quarter, San Diego took the early lead as FB Mike Tolbert made a 2-yard TD run. The Jaguars replied with kicker Josh Scobee hitting a 44-yard field goal. The Chargers increased their lead as QB Philip Rivers completed a 9-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates. The Jaguars tried to cut the lead with Scobee nailing a 48-yard field goal. The Chargers continued to score with Rivers making a 4-yard TD pass to Gates; followed in the 3rd quarter by kicker Nate Kaeding getting a 41-yard field goal. In the 4th quarter the Chargers continued to dominate with FB Mike Tolbert getting a 1-yard TD run, followed by Rivers completing a 54-yard TD pass to WR Malcolm Floyd. The lead was slightly narrowed when QB David Garrard made a 3-yard TD pass to WR Mike Sims-Walker.
With the win, the Chargers improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
Coming off their win over the Jaguars the Chargers flew to Qwest Field where they played their former division rival, the Seattle Seahawks. In the second quarter San Diego trailed early when kicker Olindo Mare made a 23-yard field goal. Then QB Matt Hasselbeck completed a 9-yard TD pass to TE John Carlson. This was followed in the third quarter by RB Leon Washington returning the 2nd-half kickoff 101 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Chargers cut the lead with QB Philip Rivers getting a 3-yard TD pass to WR Malcolm Floyd, followed by Hasselbeck getting sacked by ILB Brandon Siler in the endzone for a safety. Then kicker Nate Kaeding made a 29-yard field goal. The Seahawks increased their lead when Mare made a 23-yard field goal, but the Chargers replied and tied the game when Rivers found TE Antonio Gates on a 12-yard TD pass. (With a successful 2-point conversion as Rivers found WR Legedu Naanee). Before the clock struck zero Seattle took the winning score as RB Leon Washington returned his second kickoff of the game into the endzone running 99 yards for a touchdown, giving the Chargers the loss.
With the loss, San Diego fell to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Seahawks the Chargers played on home ground for an inter-conference duel with the Cardinals. In the 1st quarter the Chargers took the early lead as QB Philip Rivers completed a 33-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates, but had a problem maintaining this lead in the 2nd quarter when FS Kerry Rhodes recovered a fumble and ran 2 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. After that, the Chargers went on a scoring rally with FB Mike Tolbert making a 5-yard TD run, followed by Rivers making a 26-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates. Then OLB Shaun Phillips successfully caught an interception and ran 31 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. This was followed in the 3rd quarter by kicker Nate Kaeding making a 48-yard field goal. Then RB Ryan Mathews got a 15-yard TD run. This was followed in the 4th quarter by Kaeding nailing a 47-yard field goal. The Cardinals tried to cut the lead, but only came away with kicker Jay Feely's 53-yard field goal.
With the win, San Diego improved to 2–2.
Week 5: at Oakland Raiders
Coming off their win over the Cardinals the Chargers flew to Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for an AFC West division rivalry match against the Raiders. In the first quarter the Chargers' offense had problems when after a three-and-out Mike Scifres' punt was blocked by RB Rock Cartwright out of bounds in the end zone for a safety. Then kicker Sebastian Janikowski made a 50-yard field goal. Then Scifres' punt was blocked again and returned by FS Hiram Eugene 5 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. The Chargers then fought back and took the lead with QB Philip Rivers completing a 19-yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates. Then RB Mike Tolbert got a 4-yard TD run. Then the Chargers trailed with Janikowski making a 30-yard field goal. But they responded and got the lead back with kicker Nate Kaeding making a 43-yard field goal, followed in the third quarter by Rivers making a 41-yard TD pass to WR Malcolm Floyd. The Raiders replied with QB Jason Campbell completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE Zach Miller. Followed in the 4th quarter by Kaeding making a 34-yard field goal. The Chargers fell behind when RB Michael Bush got a 3-yard touchdown run (with a failed 2-point conversion), followed by SS Tyvon Branch recovering a fumble and running 64 yards to the endzone for a touchdown to give the Chargers a loss, for the first time against the Raiders since 2003.
With the loss, San Diego fell to 2–3 for the 4th straight season.
Week 6: at St. Louis Rams
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Raiders the Chargers flew to Edward Jones Dome for an Interconference duel with the Rams. In the first quarter San Diego trailed early as kicker Josh Brown made a 39-yard field goal, followed by QB Sam Bradford completing a 38-yard TD pass to WR Danario Alexander. The Chargers struggled further in the 2nd quarter when RB Steven Jackson got a 7-yard TD run. The Chargers replied with kicker Nate Kaeding nailing a 41-yard field goal, followed in the third quarter by FB Mike Tolbert getting a 1-yard TD run. In the 4th quarter the Rams' lead increased when Josh Brown hit a 48-yard field goal, but was cut when QB Philip Rivers made a 5-yard TD pass to WR Buster Davis.
With the loss, San Diego fell to 2–4 and surpassed their 2009 loss total.
Week 7: vs. New England Patriots