The 2011 season was the San Diego Chargers' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 52nd overall. The team failed to improve on its 9–7 record from 2010, and finished in a three-way tie with the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders for the AFC West division title, with an 8–8 record, but lost the tiebreaker to the Broncos and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. For Norv Turner, this was his fifth season as the head coach of the Chargers. The Chargers had the 18th pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 11, defensive coordinator Ron Rivera became the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers. That same day, Rich Bisaccia was named the team's new special teams' coach, replacing Steve Crosby, whose contract was not renewed. Three days later (January 14), the team hired former San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator Greg Manusky to replace Rivera. Manusky previously served as the Chargers' linebackers coach from 2002 to 2006.
Arrivals Position Player 2010 Team Contract LB Takeo Spikes San Francisco 49ers 3 years, $9 million LB Travis LaBoy San Francisco 49ers 2 years SS Bob Sanders Indianapolis Colts 1 year
Departures Position Player 2011 Team RB Darren Sproles New Orleans Saints OLB Kevin Burnett Miami Dolphins LB Brandon Siler Kansas City Chiefs
NFL draft
Draft notes
Staff San Diego Chargers 2011 staff Front office Owner – Alex Spanos Chairman/president – Dean Spanos Executive vice president – Michael Spanos Executive vice president/CEO – 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 pro scouting – Bryan Cox Assistant director of college scouting – Mike Biehl
Head coaches Head coach – Norv Turner Assistant head coach/secondary – Steven Wilks
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Clarence Shelmon Quarterbacks – John Ramsdell Running backs – Ollie Wilson Wide receivers – Charlie Joiner Tight ends – Jason Michael Offensive line – Hal Hunter Offensive line – Mike Sullivan Offensive assistant – Steve Gera Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Greg Manusky Defensive line – Don Johnson Linebackers – John Pagano Assistant linebackers – Greg Williams Assistant secondary – Cris Dishman Defensive assistant – Shane Steichen
Special teams coaches Special teams – Rich Bisaccia Assistant special teams – Carlos Polk
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jeff Hurd Assistant strength and conditioning – Vernon Stephens
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 11 Seattle Seahawks L 17–24 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 21 at Dallas Cowboys W 20–7 1–1 Cowboys Stadium Recap 3 August 27 at Arizona Cardinals W 34–31 2–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 September 1 San Francisco 49ers L 17–20 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 11 Minnesota Vikings W 24–17 1–0 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 September 18 at New England Patriots L 21–35 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 September 25 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–17 2–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 4 October 2 Miami Dolphins W 26–16 3–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 October 9 at Denver Broncos W 29–24 4–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 6 Bye 7 October 23 at New York Jets L 21–27 4–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–23 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 November 6 Green Bay Packers L 38–45 4–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 10 November 10 Oakland Raiders L 17–24 4–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 11 November 20 at Chicago Bears L 20–31 4–6 Soldier Field Recap 12 November 27 Denver Broncos L 13–16 4–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 13 December 5 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 38–14 5–7 EverBank Field Recap 14 December 11 Buffalo Bills W 37–10 6–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 15 December 18 Baltimore Ravens W 34–14 7–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 16 December 24 at Detroit Lions L 10–38 7–8 Ford Field Recap 17 January 1 at Oakland Raiders W 38–26 8–8 O.co Coliseum Recap
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their special teams woes in 2010, the Chargers allowed a 103-yard opening kickoff return to Percy Harvin to start the season. Kicker Nate Kaeding suffered a season-ending injury on the play, and punter Mike Scifres assumed place kicking responsibilities for the game. The Chargers outscored the Vikings 10–0 in the fourth quarter to come back and win the game, 24–17. Fullback Mike Tolbert scored three touchdowns, and Philip Rivers completed 33 of 48 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted twice. Scifres kicked a 40-yard field goal, the first of his NFL career, and kicked three PATs. With the win, the Chargers started their season out 1–0.
Week 2: at New England Patriots
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
With the win, the Chargers improved to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the win, the Chargers improved to 3–1.
Week 5: at Denver Broncos
With the win, the Chargers went into their bye week at 4–1. The team also managed to get their best start after five games under head coach Norv Turner.
Week 7: at New York Jets
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–2.
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
Late in the 4th quarter, with the game tied at 20, Philip Rivers fumbled the ball while kneeling to set up the potential game-winning field goal. This play effectively ended the Chargers chances at the division, as had they won, they would've finished 9-7 and won the division. With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–3.
Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–4.
Week 10: vs. Oakland Raiders
Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the Chargers stayed at home for a Week 10 AFC West duel with the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night. San Diego struck first in the opening quarter with a 20-yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak, but the Raiders answered with running back Michael Bush getting a 2-yard touchdown run. Oakland added onto their lead in the second quarter with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 23-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Carson Palmer completing a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Denarius Moore.
The Chargers began the third quarter with quarterback Philip Rivers finding rookie wide receiver Vincent Brown on a 30-yard touchdown pass, but the Raiders struck back with Palmer completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Moore. Afterwards, San Diego closed out the quarter with Rivers hooking up with fullback Jacob Hester on a 7-yard touchdown pass. The Chargers tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but Oakland's defense held on to preserve the win.
Win the loss, not only did San Diego fall to 4–5, but it marked the first time since 2003 that the Chargers had lost four-straight.
Week 11: at Chicago Bears
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–6 and lost 5 in a row for the first time since 2003.
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
The loss was the sixth consecutive for the Chargers, their longest such streak in 10 years which took their record down to 4–7.
Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to snap a six-game losing streak, the Chargers flew to EverBank Field for a Week 13 Monday night duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. San Diego delivered the game's opening punch with a 13-yard touchdown run from running back Mike Tolbert, followed by a 29-yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak. The Jaguars would answer in the second quarter with quarterback Blaine Gabbert completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to running back Maurice Jones-Drew and a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cecil Shorts, yet the Chargers replied with quarterback Philip Rivers connecting with rookie wide receiver Vincent Brown on a 22-yard touchdown pass and a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
San Diego added onto its lead in the third quarter with Rivers hooking up with wide receiver Malcom Floyd on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Bolts would pull away in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run from running back Ryan Mathews.
With the win, the Chargers improved to 5–7.
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, the Chargers improved to 6–7.
Week 15: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With the win, the Chargers improved to 7–7. Qualcomm Stadium was renamed Snapdragon Stadium as a promotion for Qualcomm's Snapdragon brand.
Week 16: at Detroit Lions
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 7–8.
Week 17: at Oakland Raiders
With the win, the Chargers wrapped up their season at 8–8 and snapped their three-game losing streak against the Raiders.
Standings
Notes and references