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2004 San Diego Chargers season
Owner Alex Spanos
General manager A.J. Smith
Head coach Marty Schottenheimer
Home field Qualcomm Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC West
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Jets) 17–20 (OT)
Pro Bowlers
3 [1]
AP All-Pros
4 [2]

The 2004 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 35th season in the National Football League (NFL), its 45th overall and the third under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. It would be the first season the franchise would have involving quarterback Philip Rivers. The team improved on their 4–12 record in 2003 and finished the regular season 12–4, made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and captured their 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.

2004 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 1 Eli Manning *  QB Ole Miss traded to NY Giants
2 35 Igor Olshansky  DT Oregon
3 65 Nate Kaeding *  K Iowa From NY Giants
3 66 Nick Hardwick *  C Purdue
4 98 Shaun Phillips *  DE Purdue
5 133 Dave Ball  DE UCLA
5 154 Michael Turner *  RB NIU from Miami
6 169 Ryan Krause  TE Nebraska-Omaha
7 204 Ryon Bingham  DT Nebraska
7 209 Shane Olivea  OT Ohio State from Atlanta
7 254 Carlos Joseph  OT Miami (FL)
      Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

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

[3]

Roster

2004 San Diego Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 8 inactive, 7 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 at Houston Texans W 27–20 1–0 Reliant Stadium Recap
2 September 19 New York Jets L 28–34 1–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
3 September 26 at Denver Broncos L 13–23 1–2 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap
4 October 3 Tennessee Titans W 38–17 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
5 October 10 Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–21 3–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
6 October 17 at Atlanta Falcons L 20–21 3–3 Georgia Dome Recap
7 October 24 at Carolina Panthers W 17–6 4–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap
8 October 31 Oakland Raiders W 42–14 5–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
9 November 7 New Orleans Saints W 43–17 6–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
10 Bye
11 November 21 at Oakland Raiders W 23–17 7–3 McAfee Coliseum Recap
12 November 28 at Kansas City Chiefs W 34–31 8–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
13 December 5 Denver Broncos W 20–17 9–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
14 December 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–24 10–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
15 December 19 at Cleveland Browns W 21–0 11–3 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
16 December 26 at Indianapolis Colts L 31–34 (OT) 11–4 RCA Dome Recap
17 January 2, 2005 Kansas City Chiefs W 24–17 12–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Houston Texans

Week 1: San Diego Chargers at Houston Texans
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 7 10727
Texans 3 10 7020

at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 2: vs. New York Jets

Week 2: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 14 3 10734
Chargers 0 7 71428

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F (22.8 °C), humidity 67 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 57,310
  • Referee: Peter Morelli
  • TV announcers (CBS (Blacked out locally)): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots and Scott Kaplan
  • Box score
Game information

Week 3: at Denver Broncos

Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 7313
Broncos 7 6 7323

at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans

Week 4: Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Titans 0 7 01017
Chargers 7 14 31438

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23.3 °C), humidity 69 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 54,006
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS (Blacked out locally)): Bill Macatee, Steve Beuerlein and Scott Kaplan
  • Box score
Game information

Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 5: Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 7 01421
Chargers 14 7 6734

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), humidity 76 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 52,101
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS (Blacked out locally)): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots and Scott Kaplan
  • Box score
Game information

Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons

Week 6: San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 14 3320
{{{home}}} 0 7 01421

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 1:02 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 70,187
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Week 7: at Carolina Panthers

Week 7: San Diego Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 0 10717
Panthers 6 0 006
  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 1:02 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), humidity 90 percent, wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Game attendance: 73,096
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 8: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 7 7014
Chargers 14 14 14042

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), humidity 57 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Game attendance: 66,210
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones and Scott Kaplan
  • Box score
Game information

Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 9: New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 0 7 01017
Chargers 14 6 16743

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17.2 °C), humidity 78 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Game attendance: 59,662
  • Referee: Peter Morelli
  • TV announcers ( FOX (Blacked out locally)): Thom Brennaman and JC Pearson
  • Box score
Game information

Week 11: at Oakland Raiders

Week 11: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 6 7 3723
Raiders 0 7 7317

at McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: November 21
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), humidity 28 percent, wind 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn)
  • Game attendance: 46,905
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui and Steve Tasker
  • Box score
Game information

Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 12: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 7 31734
Chiefs 7 10 01431

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 35 °F (1.7 °C), humidity 75 percent, wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn)
  • Game attendance: 77,447
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Randy Cross
  • Box score
Game information

Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 13: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 01017
Chargers 7 10 3020

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14.4 °C), humidity 77 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 65,395
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Bonnie Bernstein
  • Box score
Game information

Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 7 71024
Chargers 0 14 71031

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), humidity 63 percent, wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Game attendance: 65,858
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (FOX): Thom Brennaman, JC Pearson and C. S. Keys
  • Box score
Game information

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

Week 15: San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 7 7021
Browns 0 0 000

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 1:03 p.m. EST
  • 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
  • Game attendance: 72,489
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

San Diego clinches its first division title since 1994.

Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 16: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 7 10 77031
Colts 0 9 715334

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: N/A (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 57,330
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Randy Cross
  • Box score
Game information

Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 01417
Chargers 3 14 0724

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: January 2
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), humidity 87 percent, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 64,920
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots and Scott Kaplan
  • Box score
Game information

Standings

Division

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) San Diego Chargers 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 446 313 W1
(6) Denver Broncos 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 381 304 W2
Kansas City Chiefs 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 483 435 L1
Oakland Raiders 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 320 422 L2

Conference

AFC [4]
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Pittsburgh Steelers North 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .484 .479 W14
2 New England Patriots East 14 2 0 .875 5–1 10–2 .492 .478 W2
3 [a] Indianapolis Colts South 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 .500 .458 L1
4 [a] San Diego Chargers West 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .477 .411 W1
Wild cards
5 [b] New York Jets East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .523 .406 L2
6 [b] Denver Broncos West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .484 .450 W2
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 [c] [d] Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 .527 .479 W1
8 [c] [d] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .551 .472 W1
9 [c] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 5–7 .512 .382 L1
10 Cincinnati Bengals North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 .543 .453 W2
11 [e] Houston Texans South 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .504 .402 L1
12 [e] Kansas City Chiefs West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .551 .509 L1
13 [f] Oakland Raiders West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .570 .450 L2
14 [f] Tennessee Titans South 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .512 .463 W1
15 [g] Miami Dolphins East 4 12 0 .250 1–5 2–10 .555 .438 L1
16 [g] Cleveland Browns North 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .590 .469 W1
Tiebreakers [h]
  1. ^ a b Indianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based upon head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b New York Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based upon better record against common opponents (New York Jets were 5–0 to Denver’s 3–2 against San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Miami).
  3. ^ a b c Jacksonville and Baltimore finished ahead of Buffalo because they each defeated Buffalo head-to-head.
  4. ^ a b Jacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based upon better record against common opponents (Jacksonville were 3–2 against Baltimore’s 2–3 versus Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Kansas City).
  5. ^ a b Houston finished ahead of Kansas City based upon head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ a b Oakland finished ahead of Tennessee based upon head-to-head victory.
  7. ^ a b Miami finished ahead of Cleveland based upon head-to-head victory.
  8. ^ 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.


Postseason

Main article: 2004–05 NFL playoffs
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance
Wild Card January 8, 2005 New York Jets (5) L 17–20 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium 67,536

Game summary

AFC Wild Card playoffs: vs. New York Jets

AFC Wild Card playoffs: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Jets 0 7 100320
Chargers 0 7 010017

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

See also

References

  1. ^ "2004 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "2004 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ^ 2012 San Diego Chargers Media Guide. pp. 263–264. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ "2004 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
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