2010 San Diego Chargers season The 2010 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise ' s 41st season in the National Football League , and their 51st overall . After a 13 – 3 record dissolved into a disappointing loss to the New York Jets in the divisional round of the 2009 - 10 NFL Playoffs , the Chargers had high hopes of winning their fifth consecutive AFC West division title and contending for a Super Bowl championship . However , they started the season with a 2 – 3 record for the fourth consecutive year . After a Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals , they were eliminated from postseason contention , and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005 . The Chargers used an NFL - record tying 74 players due to injuries . Still , they finished with the # 1 ranked offense and defense in the NFL . However , their special teams allowed four blocked punts ( and had another deflected ) , three kickoff return touchdowns , and one punt return touchdown . The " San Diego Union - Tribune " wrote , " [ N ] o 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 – 2010 . The Chargers also suffered their first home blackouts since 2004 . Offseason . On February 22 , 2010 , LaDainian Tomlinson requested and was released after nine seasons with the team , and went to the New York Jets . 2010 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 . Schedule . Regular season . COLOR KEY AND NOTES : Regular season results . 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 played on home ground for and 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 a 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 . Hoping to break their current losing streak the Chargers played on home ground for an AFC duel with the Patriots . In the 1st quarter the Chargers took the lead as kicker Kris Brown made a 32 - yard field goal , but they fell behind with QB Tom Brady making a 1 - yard TD pass to TE Rob Gronkowski ; followed in the second quarter by kicker Stephen Gostkowski getting a 40 and a 35 - yard field goal . In the third quarter the Chargers continued to struggle with RB BenJarvus Green - Ellis getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter the Chargers replied with Brown making a 28 - yard field goal , but the Patriots continued to score with a 35 - yard field goal from Gostkowski . The Chargers tried to cut the lead with QB Philip Rivers making a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates , and with FB Mike Tolbert making a 1 - yard TD run , but the Patriots defense prevented any more chances . With the loss , San Diego fell to 2 – 5 . Week 8 : vs . Tennessee Titans . Hoping to break their current losing streak the Chargers played on home ground for an AFC duel with the Titans . In the first quarter the Chargers trailed early when the Chargers ' punt was blocked by Nick Schommer out of bounds for a safety . The Chargers replied with FB Mike Tolbert getting a 1 - yard TD run . The Chargers fell behind with kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 21 - yard field goal , followed in the second quarter by QB Vince Young completing a 1 - yard TD pass to TE Craig Stevens . The Chargers struggled further with RB Chris Johnson getting a 29 - yard TD run . The Chargers then went on a scoring rally with RB Ryan Mathews making a 7 - yard TD run , followed in the third quarter by kicker Kris Brown making a 34 - yard field goal . Then QB Philip Rivers completed a 48 - yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates , and then Brown made a 36 - yard field goal . The lead was narrowed with Young finding WR Nate Washington on a 71 - yard TD pass ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) , but couldn ' t do anything after Rivers got a 13 - yard TD pass to RB Darren Sproles ( PAT aborted ) . With the win , the Chargers improve to 3 – 5 . Week 9 : at Houston Texans . Hoping to increase their winning streak the Chargers moved to Reliant Stadium for an AFC duel with the Texans . In the first quarter the Chargers trailed early as RB Arian Foster got an 8 - yard TD run . They soon replied with QB Philip Rivers making a 55 - yard TD pass to WR Seyi Ajirotutu . They trailed again with kicker Neil Rackers nailed a 27 - yard field goal , but took the lead after Rivers got an 11 - yard TD pass to TE Randy McMichael . They fell behind again in the second quarter as Foster made a 2 - yard TD run , followed by Rackers hitting a 21 and a 25 - yard field goal . The Chargers eventually pulled themselves in front again , with Rivers finding McMichael again on a 12 - yard TD pass . This was followed in the 4th quarter by Rivers ' 28 - yard TD pass to Ajirotutu ( With a successful 2 - point conversion as FB Mike Tolbert ran to the endzone ) . With the win , the Chargers went into their bye week at 4 – 5 . Week 11 : Denver Broncos . Coming off their bye week , the Chargers went home for a Week 11 AFC West duel with the Denver Broncos on Monday night . San Diego trailed early in the first quarter as Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno got a 4 - yard touchdown run . The Chargers answered with quarterback Philip Rivers finding wide receiver Malcolm Floyd on a 6 - yard touchdown pass . San Diego took the lead in the second quarter with a 1 - yard touchdown run from fullback Mike Tolbert , followed by Rivers finding wide receiver Patrick Crayton on a 40 - yard touchdown pass . The Chargers added onto their lead in the third quarter as Rivers connected with running back Darren Sproles on a 57 - yard touchdown pass . San Diego continued its dominating night with Rivers ' 3 - yard touchdown pass to fullback Jacob Hester . Denver would close out the game with quarterback Kyle Orton completing a 13 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Lloyd . With the win , the Chargers improved to 5 – 5 . Week 12 : at Indianapolis Colts . The Chargers ' eleventh game was an AFC duel against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium . They trailed early in the first quarter after QB Peyton Manning made a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Jacob Tamme . They eventually pulled ahead after kicker Nate Kaeding made a 28 - yard field goal , followed by ILB Kevin Burnett returning an interception 29 yards for a touchdown , and then with Kaeding hitting a 33 and a 50 - yard field goal . They lead was narrowed when Manning made a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Blair White , but the Chargers controlled the second half with Kaeding getting a 30 - yard field goal , which was shortly followed by FS Eric Weddle returning an interception 41 yards for a touchdown , then with FB Mike Tolbert getting a 3 - yard TD run , and Kaeding making a 20 - yard field goal , settling both teams records to 6 – 5 . Week 13 : vs . Oakland Raiders . Coming off their win over the Colts the Chargers played on home ground for a rematch against the Raiders . The Chargers trailed early as QB Jason Campbell scrambled 9 yards for a touchdown , followed by his 4 - yard TD pass to WR Jacoby Ford . They replied in the second quarter as kicker Nate Kaeding nailed a 39 - yard field goal , but trailed further with RB Michael Bush getting a 7 - yard TD run . The Chargers cut the lead with Kaeding hitting a 33 - yard field goal , followed by QB Philip Rivers completing a 4 - yard TD pass to TE Antonio Gates . The Raiders would finish off with Darren McFadden making a 7 - yard TD run . With the loss , San Diego fell to 6 – 6 . Week 14 : vs . Kansas City Chiefs . Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Raiders the Chargers played on home ground for an AFC West rivalry rematch against the Chiefs . The Chargers took control of the game with QB Philip Rivers throwing a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Malcolm Floyd , followed by FB Mike Tolbert getting an 8 - yard TD run . The lead was increased with Rivers finding Floyd again on a 9 - yard TD pass . This was followed in the fourth quarter by kicker Nate Kaeding nailing a 48 - yard field goal , and then by RB Ryan Mathews getting a 15 - yard TD run . With the easy win , San Diego improved to 7 – 6 . Week 15 : vs . San Francisco 49ers . The Chargers ' fourteenth game was an interconference duel with the 49ers which was played on Thursday Night . The Chargers took a quick lead with QB Philip Rivers throwing a 58 - yard TD pass to WR Vincent Jackson . The lead was extended in the second quarter by kicker Nate Kaeding nailing a 25 - yard field goal , followed by Rivers finding Jackson on an 11 - yard touchdown pass . The Chargers continued to dominate with FB Mike Tolbert getting a 1 - yard TD run , followed by Rivers connecting to Jackson on a 48 - yard TD pass , then with Kaeding hitting a 39 - yard field goal . The 49ers made their only score of the game with RB Brian Westbrook getting a 1 - yard TD run . With the win , San Diego improved to 8 – 6 . Week 16 : at Cincinnati Bengals . Hoping to make it three straight the Chargers flew to Paul Brown Stadium for an AFC duel with the Bengals . In the first quarter the Chargers trailed early with QB Carson Palmer throwing a 3 - yard TD pass to TE Jermaine Gresham . Then Palmer found WR Jerome Simpson on a 10 - yard TD pass ( PAT failed , wide left ) . The Chargers got on the board with kicker Nate Kaeding hitting a 20 - yard field goal , followed by RB Ryan Mathews getting a 23 - yard TD run , but went into more trouble as Palmer completed a 3 - yard TD pass to WR Jordan Shipley . The Chargers cut the lead with Kaeding making a 28 - yard field goal , but struggled to hold on after Palmer connected to Simpson on a 59 - yard TD pass , followed by RB Bernard Scott getting a 10 - yard TD run . The Chargers tried to come back after QB Philip Rivers made a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Kelley Washington , but the Bengals defense prevented any more scoring chances . With the loss , the Chargers fell to 8 – 7 . With Kansas City winning earlier in the day , the loss prevented the Chargers from making their sixth playoff appearance in seven years . Week 17 : at Denver Broncos . The Chargers ' final game was a division rivalry rematch against the Broncos . In the first quarter the Chargers trailed early as QB Tim Tebow threw a 14 - yard TD pass to WR Brandon Lloyd . They eventually overcame this deficit with RB Ryan Mathews getting a 27 - yard TD run , followed by kicker Nate Kaeding nailing a 42 , 45 and 47 - yard field goal to put the Chargers up 16 – 7 . They extended their lead in the third quarter with Mathews getting a 12 - yard TD run , followed by Kaeding hitting a 37 - yard field goal . The lead was narrowed with QB Tim Tebow completing a 6 - yard TD pass to WR Eric Decker , but the Chargers increased their lead with Mathews getting a 31 - yard TD run . The lead was narrowed further with Cassius Vaughn returning the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown , followed by Tebow scrambling 6 yards for a touchdown , but the Chargers still managed to hold on for the win . The Chargers finished the 2010 – 11 NFL season as the only team ever to rank first in overall offense ( 396 yds / g ) , " and " overall defense ( 272 yds / g ) in terms of total yards gained and allowed . . . and NOT make the playoffs the same year . Since 1970 , the previous four NFL teams to accomplish that statistical feat all qualified for the post - season in those respective years . With the win against the Broncos , San Diego finished with a 9 – 7 record .