2011 San Diego Chargers season The San Diego Chargers season was the franchise ' s 42nd season in the National Football League and the 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 Bisacchia 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 – 2006 . Regular season . Kicker Nate Kaeding suffered a season ending injury in the first game of the year . He was replaced by Nick Novak , who set a Charger record making 11 kicks from 40 yards or longer . 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 Phillip 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 5 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 . 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 Matthews . 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 . 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 3 - game losing streak against the Raiders .