The 2004 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League (NFL), its 44th overall and the third under head coach Marty Schottenheimer . The team improved on their 4–12 record in 2003 and finished the regular season 12–4 and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, as it was the team's first division title since the 1994 season. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets . At the end of the season Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach of the Year .
Offseason
NFL draft
Entering the draft, the consensus top pick was Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. However, Manning had said prior to the draft that he did not want to play for the Chargers and would not sign with them if he was drafted. The Chargers would strike a deal with the Giants before the draft that would shape the future of both franchises. The Chargers would select Manning first overall, as they had intended to. The Giants would then draft quarterback Philip Rivers of North Carolina State, and then swap him and two 2005 draft picks for Manning.
Personnel
Staff
2004 San Diego Chargers staff
Front office
Owner – Alex Spanos
President/Chief Executive Officer – Dean Spanos
Executive Vice President – Michael Spanos
Executive Vice President/General Manager – A. J. Smith
Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel – Buddy Nix
Vice President of Football Operations – Ed McGuire
Director of College Scouting – Jimmy Raye
Director of Pro Scouting – Fran Foley
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and Conditioning – Dave Redding
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Matt Schiotz
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Roster
Regular season
Schedule
In addition to their regular games with AFC West rivals, the Chargers played games against the AFC South and NFC South as per the schedule rotation, and also played against the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns who finished fourth in the other AFC divisions in 2003.
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
TV
Attendance
1
September 12, 2004
at Houston Texans
W 27–20
1–0
CBS
70,255
2
September 19, 2004
New York Jets
L 34–28
1–1
CBS
57,310
3
September 26, 2004
at Denver Broncos
L 23–13
1–2
CBS
74,553
4
October 3, 2004
Tennessee Titans
W 38–17
2–2
CBS
54,006
5
October 10, 2004
Jacksonville Jaguars
W 34–21
3–2
CBS
52,101
6
October 17, 2004
at Atlanta Falcons
L 21–20
3–3
CBS
70,187
7
October 24, 2004
at Carolina Panthers
W 17–6
4–3
CBS
73,096
8
October 31, 2004
Oakland Raiders
W 42–14
5–3
CBS
66,210
9
November 7, 2004
New Orleans Saints
W 43–17
6–3
FOX
59,662
10
Bye
11
November 21, 2004
at Oakland Raiders
W 23–17
7–3
CBS
46,905
12
November 28, 2004
at Kansas City Chiefs
W 34–31
8–3
CBS
77,447
13
December 5, 2004
Denver Broncos
W 20–17
9–3
CBS
65,395
14
December 12, 2004
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 31–24
10–3
FOX
65,858
15
December 19, 2004
at Cleveland Browns
W 21–0
11–3
CBS
72,489
16
December 26, 2004
at Indianapolis Colts
L 34–31 (OT)
11–4
CBS
57,330
17
January 2, 2005
Kansas City Chiefs
W 24–17
12–4
CBS
64,920
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Houston Texans
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chargers
3
7 10 7
27
Texans
3
10 7 0
20
Scoring summary 1 11:49 HOU Kris Brown 37-yard field goalHOU 3–0
1 7:35 SD Nate Kaeding 48-yard field goalTied 3–3
2 14:07 HOU Kris Brown 20-yard field goal HOU 6–3
2 9:51 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 10–6
2 4:36 HOU Dominick Davis 2-yard run (Kris Brown kick)HOU 13–10
3 9:12 SD Reche Caldwell 36-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 17–13
3 4:40 HOU Dominick Davis 1-yard run (Kris Brown kick) HOU 20–17
3 0:00 SD Nate Kaeding 29-yard field goal Tied 20–20
4 8:34 SD Eric Parker 19-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 27–20
Week 2: vs. New York Jets
1
2 3 4 Total
• Jets
14
3 10 7
34
Chargers
0
7 7 14
28
Date: September 19Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 73 °F (22.8 °C), humidity 67 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
1
2 3 4 Total
Chargers
3
0 7 3
13
• Broncos
7
6 7 3
23
Scoring summary 1 8:15 DEN Rod Smith 16-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick)DEN 7–0
1 2:18 SD Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goalDEN 7–3
2 12:24 DEN Jason Elam 22-yard field goal DEN 10–3
2 7:43 DEN Jason Elam 23-yard field goal DEN 13–3
3 7:37 SD Drew Brees 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)DEN 13–10
3 3:29 DEN Ashley Lelie 33-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick)DEN 20–10
4 14:06 SD Nate Kaeding 51-yard field goal DEN 20–13
4 11:12 DEN Jason Elam 43-yard field goal DEN 23–13
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
1
2 3 4 Total
Titans
0
7 0 10
17
• Chargers
7
14 3 14
38
Date: October 3Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 74 °F (23.3 °C), humidity 69 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1
2 3 4 Total
Jaguars
0
7 0 14
21
• Chargers
14
7 6 7
34
Date: October 10Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), humidity 76 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons
1
2 3 4 Total
Chargers
0
14 3 3
20
• Falcons
0
7 0 14
21
This was the first time in their history, the Chargers beat the Falcons.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chargers
0
0 10 7
17
Panthers
6
0 0 0
6
Date: October 24Location: Ericsson Stadium , Charlotte, NC Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), humidity 90 percent, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
Scoring summary 1 8:21 CAR John Kasay 28-yard field goalCAR 3–0
1 3:28 CAR John Kasay 21-yard field goal CAR 6–0
3 8:13 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 8-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 7–6
3 2:36 SD Nate Kaeding 44-yard field goal SD 10–6
4 1:42 SD Jesse Chatman 5-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 17–6
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders
1
2 3 4 Total
Raiders
0
7 7 0
14
• Chargers
14
14 14 0
42
Date: October 31Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), humidity 57 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
1
2 3 4 Total
Saints
0
7 0 10
17
• Chargers
14
6 16 7
43
Date: November 7Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), humidity 78 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
Scoring summary 1 9:50 SD Antonio Gates 12-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 7–0
1 5:29 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 14–0
2 13:02 SD Nate Kaeding 40-yard field goal SD 17–0
2 8:12 NO Deuce McAllister 2-yard run (John Carney kick)SD 17–7
2 3:15 SD Nate Kaeding 27-yard field goal SD 20–7
3 8:36 SD Safety, holding penalty on Wayne Gandy in end zone SD 22–7
3 3:15 SD Antonio Gates 7-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 29–7
3 2:04 SD Antonio Gates 2-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 36–7
4 13:53 NO John Carney 37-yard field goal SD 36–10
4 7:06 SD Kassim Osgood 12-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 43–10
4 4:04 NO Boo Williams 6-yard pass from Aaron Brooks (John Carney kick)SD 43–17
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chargers
6
7 3 7
23
Raiders
0
7 7 3
17
Date: November 21Location: McAfee Coliseum , Oakland, CA Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), humidity 28 percent, wind 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn)
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chargers
7
7 3 17
34
Chiefs
7
10 0 14
31
Scoring summary 1 7:01 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 7–0
1 4:26 KC Derrick Blaylock 5-yard run (Lawrence Tynes kick)Tied 7–7
2 9:05 KC Larry Johnson 6-yard run (Lawrence Tynes kick)KC 14–7
2 3:11 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 3-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) Tied 14–14
2 0:45 KC Lawrence Tynes 28-yard field goal KC 17–14
3 7:24 SD Nate Kaeding 25-yard field goal Tied 17–17
4 14:17 KC Derrick Blaylock 22-yard run (kick failed) KC 23–17
4 10:13 SD Antonio Gates 18-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 24–23
4 10:00 KC Dante Hall 96-yard kickoff return (Trent Green to Eddie Kennison pass)KC 31–24
4 7:22 SD Antonio Gates 11-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) Tied 31–31
4 2:24 SD Nate Kaeding 43-yard field goal SD 34–31
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
1
2 3 4 Total
Broncos
0
7 0 10
17
• Chargers
7
10 3 0
20
Date: December 5Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), humidity 77 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Scoring summary 1 12:01 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 5-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 7–0
2 13:27 DEN Tatum Bell 16-yard run (Jason Elam kick)Tied 7–7
2 7:05 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 14–7
2 0:00 SD Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goal SD 17–7
3 5:12 SD Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goal SD 20–7
4 14:18 DEN Reuben Droughns 4-yard run (Jason Elam kick)SD 20–14
4 9:26 DEN Jason Elam 31-yard field goal SD 20–17
Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1
2 3 4 Total
Buccaneers
0
7 7 10
24
• Chargers
0
14 7 10
31
Date: December 12Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), humidity 63 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
Week 15: at Cleveland Browns
1
2 3 4 Total
• Chargers
7
7 7 0
21
Browns
0
0 0 0
0
Date: December 19Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium , Cleveland, OH Game weather: 18 °F (−7.8 °C), humidity 68 percent, wind 30 miles per hour (48 km/h; 26 kn), wind chill −10 °F or −23.3 °C
San Diego clinches its first division title since 1994 .
Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts
1
2 3 4 OT Total
Chargers
7
10 7 7 0
31
• Colts
0
9 7 15 3
34
Scoring summary 1 4:48 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 74-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 7–0
2 14:18 IND Mike Vanderjagt 36-yard field goalSD 7–3
2 11:46 SD Nate Kaeding 50-yard field goal SD 10–3
2 7:09 SD Eric Parker 19-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 17–3
2 4:30 IND Mike Vanderjagt 26-yard field goal SD 17–6
2 0:18 IND Mike Vanderjagt 23-yard field goal SD 17–9
3 9:24 SD Antonio Gates 4-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)SD 24–9
3 6:11 IND James Mungro 3-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Mike Vanderjagt kick)SD 24–16
4 14:55 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 16-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 31–16
4 14:42 IND Dominic Rhodes 88-yard kickoff return (Mike Vanderjagt kick)SD 31–23
4 0:56 IND Brandon Stokley 14-yard pass from Peyton Manning (Edgerrin James run)Tied 31–31
OT 12:13 IND Mike Vanderjagt 30-yard field goal IND 34–31
Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1
2 3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
3 0 14
17
• Chargers
3
14 0 7
24
Date: January 2Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), humidity 87 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
Playoffs
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
TV
Attendance
Wildcard
January 8, 2005
New York Jets
L 20–17
ABC
67,536
Game summaries
Wild Card: vs. New York Jets
1
2 3 4 OT Total
• Jets
0
7 10 0 3
20
Chargers
0
7 0 10 0
17
Date: January 8Location: Qualcomm Stadium , San Diego, CA Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), humidity 86 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
See also
References
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (4) Division championships (15) Conference championships (1) League championships (1) Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation