The 2020 season was the Los Angeles Chargers' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 61st overall, their fifth in the Greater Los Angeles Area, and their fourth and final season under head coach Anthony Lynn. It also marks the Chargers' first season playing their home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (which the team shares with the Los Angeles Rams), after using Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson as their temporary home stadium for the previous three seasons. This is also the Chargers' first season since 2007 with new uniforms, which were unveiled on April 21, 2020. The uniforms are somewhat similar in design to the ones they donned during their inaugural season in 1960.
After mutually agreeing to part ways, this was the first season since 2003 without quarterback Philip Rivers on the roster and the first since 2005 without Rivers as the starting quarterback. Rivers led the Chargers to six playoff appearances, starting every game since September 11, 2006. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor was named starter, but following a medical mishap prior to week 2, he was replaced by rookie Justin Herbert. After a 45–0 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 13, the Chargers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive year. However, despite this, the Chargers rallied and won their last four games, bringing their record to 7–9, improving on their 5–11 season from the previous year.
At the conclusion of the 2020 season, the organization announced that Lynn was fired as head coach. This season was highlighted by a string of blown 4th quarter leads. 8 of their 9 losses were by a deficit of 10 points or less. Despite the disappointing season, quarterback Justin Herbert was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Offseason
Signings Position Player Age 2019 team Contract G Trai Turner 26 Carolina Panthers CB Chris Harris Jr. 30 Denver Broncos T Bryan Bulaga 31 Green Bay Packers TE Donald Parham 22 Dallas Renegades LB Nick Vigil 26 Cincinnati Bengals T Storm Norton 25 Los Angeles Wildcats DT Linval Joseph 31 Minnesota Vikings WR/RS Darius Jennings 27 Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Gore 25 Los Angeles Chargers
Departures Position Player Age 2020 team QB Philip Rivers 38 Indianapolis Colts RB Melvin Gordon 27 Denver Broncos LB Nick Dzubnar 28 Tennessee Titans OT Russell Okung 31 Carolina Panthers FB Derek Watt 27 Pittsburgh Steelers S Adrian Phillips 28 New England Patriots WR Travis Benjamin 30 San Francisco 49ers LB Jatavis Brown 26 Philadelphia Eagles G Michael Schofield 29 Carolina Panthers
NFL draft
2020 Los Angeles Chargers draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 6 Justin Herbert QB Oregon 23 Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma 4 112 Joshua Kelley RB UCLA 5 151 Joe Reed WR Virginia 6 186 Alohi Gilman S Notre Dame 7 220 K. J. Hill WR Ohio State
Undrafted free agents
Despite signing a plethora of UDFAs (undrafted free agents), all were released during the initial roster cuts.
2020 Los Angeles Chargers Undrafted Free Agents Player Position College Notes Asmar Bilal LB Notre Dame Darius Bradwell RB Tulane John Brannon CB Western Carolina Cole Christiansen LB Army Jeff Cotton WR Idaho Joshua Dunlop G UTSA Breiden Fehoko NT LSU Romeo Finley LB Miami Joe Gaziano DE Northwestern Nate Gilliam G Wake Forest Bobby Holly FB Louisiana Tech Jesse Lemonier DE Liberty Kevin McGill CB Eastern Michigan Gabe Nabers FB Florida State Jared Rice TE Fresno State Ryan Roberts T Florida State Dalton Schoen WR Kansas State T.J. Smith DT Arkansas Donte Vaughn CB Notre Dame
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Chargers' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Week Date Opponent Venue Result 1 Dallas Cowboys SoFi Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 Los Angeles Rams SoFi Stadium 3 at Seattle Seahawks CenturyLink Field 4 at San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium
Regular season Schedule The Chargers' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 16–13 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 2 September 20 Kansas City Chiefs L 20–23 1–1 SoFi Stadium Recap 3 September 27 Carolina Panthers L 16–21 1–2 SoFi Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 31–38 1–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 5 at New Orleans Saints L 27–30 1–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 6Bye 7 October 25 Jacksonville Jaguars W 39–29 2–4 SoFi Stadium Recap 8 November 1 at Denver Broncos L 30–31 2–5 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 9 November 8 Las Vegas Raiders L 26–31 2–6 SoFi Stadium Recap 10 November 15 at Miami Dolphins L 21–29 2–7 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 11 November 22 New York Jets W 34–28 3–7 SoFi Stadium Recap 12 November 29 at Buffalo Bills L 17–27 3–8 Bills Stadium Recap 13 December 6 New England Patriots L 0–45 3–9 SoFi Stadium Recap 14 December 13 Atlanta Falcons W 20–17 4–9 SoFi Stadium Recap 15 at Las Vegas Raiders W 30–27 5–9 Allegiant Stadium Recap 16 December 27 Denver Broncos W 19–16 6–9 SoFi Stadium Recap 17 January 3 at Kansas City Chiefs W 38–21 7–9 Arrowhead Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Herbert made an unexpected start after Taylor suffered an injury before the game.
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints The Chargers face Drew Brees and the Saints for the fourth time. The Saints trailed earlier and made comeback attempts. At the conclusion of the fourth quarter, Michael Badgley attempted a game-winning field goal, but the ball hits the upright, resulting in both teams tying and going into overtime. Wil Lutz kicked a 36-yard field goal and the game continued. When Rookie quarterback, Justin Herbert, elected a 4th down conversion, his pass was completed, but Marshon Lattimore and Demario Davis stopped the Chargers from getting a 1st down, resulting in a Chargers' loss.
Week 7: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8: at Denver Broncos
Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 10: at Miami Dolphins
Week 11: vs. New York Jets
Week 12: at Buffalo Bills
Week 13: vs. New England Patriots
With the shutout loss against New England, which marked their 5th straight loss to the Patriots since 2008, Los Angeles fell to 3–9 and was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Chargers record their first home win against the Falcons, snapping a six-game home losing streak to them.
Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 17: at Kansas City Chiefs
Standings Division
Conference
Notes
References
External links