The
2013 season was the
San Diego Chargers' 44th in the
National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall, and their first under
head coachMike McCoy. The Chargers finished the regular season with a record of 9–7, improving on their 7–9 record from
2012. Also, they qualified for the
playoffs for the first time since
2009. The Chargers defeated the
Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round by a score of 27–10, but lost to the
Denver Broncos in the Divisional round by a score of 24–17. This was the Chargers' final playoff appearance in San Diego. They did not play in the postseason again until
2018, after relocating to
Los Angeles.
The new head coach, Mike McCoy, along with
offensive coordinatorKen Whisenhunt, completed the Chargers' first winning season since
2010. Only two offensive coaches returned from 2012 in an overhauled coaching staff, and a revamped offensive system had
quarterbackPhilip Rivers release the ball earlier and taking what opposing defenses conceded. Rivers was
sacked 30 times, compared to 49 the previous year, and threw for 4,479 yards and 32
touchdowns while tying a career-high with a 105.5
passer rating. San Diego's rushing attack improved from the prior season's 1,461 yards and 3.6 yards per carry—tied for the second worst in the league—to 1,965 yards and a 4-yard average.[2] Although they were speculated to have a poor, disappointing season, and getting off to a shaky start, the Chargers finished in the top eight of the overall standings. Rivers was named
NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and
Keenan Allen broke out into the national scene as a
rookie sensation, breaking multiple
wide receiver rookie records. Whisenhunt left at the conclusion of the season to become the head coach of the
Titans.
^No. 38: Arizona → San Diego (D). Arizona traded this selection to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's 2013 second- (
45th) and fourth- (
110th) round selections.[source 1]
This game was moved to an 8:35 pm. PDT kickoff, and from CBS to NFL Network as a "special edition" of Thursday Night Football, as extended time was required to convert the field back from its baseball configuration due to an
Oakland AthleticsAmerican League Division Series game the previous night.[3]
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Six: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Kansas City missed a field goal as with a few seconds left to send the game into overtime, where Nick Novak kicked the game winner. With the win, the Chargers finished the 2013 season with a record of 9–7 and clinched the second wild card spot, becoming the 6th seed entering the
playoffs.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The
2013 season was the
San Diego Chargers' 44th in the
National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall, and their first under
head coachMike McCoy. The Chargers finished the regular season with a record of 9–7, improving on their 7–9 record from
2012. Also, they qualified for the
playoffs for the first time since
2009. The Chargers defeated the
Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round by a score of 27–10, but lost to the
Denver Broncos in the Divisional round by a score of 24–17. This was the Chargers' final playoff appearance in San Diego. They did not play in the postseason again until
2018, after relocating to
Los Angeles.
The new head coach, Mike McCoy, along with
offensive coordinatorKen Whisenhunt, completed the Chargers' first winning season since
2010. Only two offensive coaches returned from 2012 in an overhauled coaching staff, and a revamped offensive system had
quarterbackPhilip Rivers release the ball earlier and taking what opposing defenses conceded. Rivers was
sacked 30 times, compared to 49 the previous year, and threw for 4,479 yards and 32
touchdowns while tying a career-high with a 105.5
passer rating. San Diego's rushing attack improved from the prior season's 1,461 yards and 3.6 yards per carry—tied for the second worst in the league—to 1,965 yards and a 4-yard average.[2] Although they were speculated to have a poor, disappointing season, and getting off to a shaky start, the Chargers finished in the top eight of the overall standings. Rivers was named
NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and
Keenan Allen broke out into the national scene as a
rookie sensation, breaking multiple
wide receiver rookie records. Whisenhunt left at the conclusion of the season to become the head coach of the
Titans.
^No. 38: Arizona → San Diego (D). Arizona traded this selection to San Diego in exchange for San Diego's 2013 second- (
45th) and fourth- (
110th) round selections.[source 1]
This game was moved to an 8:35 pm. PDT kickoff, and from CBS to NFL Network as a "special edition" of Thursday Night Football, as extended time was required to convert the field back from its baseball configuration due to an
Oakland AthleticsAmerican League Division Series game the previous night.[3]
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week Six: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Kansas City missed a field goal as with a few seconds left to send the game into overtime, where Nick Novak kicked the game winner. With the win, the Chargers finished the 2013 season with a record of 9–7 and clinched the second wild card spot, becoming the 6th seed entering the
playoffs.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.