2016 San Diego Chargers season
The 2016 season was the San Diego Chargers' 47th in the National Football League, their 57th overall, their 56th and final season in San Diego, California and their fourth and final season under head coach Mike McCoy.
2016 San Diego Chargers season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Mike McCoy |
General manager | Tom Telesco |
Owner | Alex Spanos |
Home field | Qualcomm Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 5–11 |
Division place | 4th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | CB Casey Hayward RB Melvin Gordon QB Philip Rivers |
AP All-Pros | CB Casey Hayward (2nd team) |
Due to the age of Qualcomm Stadium, there was speculation that the team would be relocating back to Los Angeles, where the franchise played its first season in 1960. This followed a decision by the NFL to allow the St. Louis Rams to return to the Greater Los Angeles Area with a provision that the Chargers may relocate to Los Angeles as well. On January 4, 2016, the team filed a relocation application to the NFL along with the Rams and the Oakland Raiders releasing a statement and a video on the team's website. The league made its decision in a special meeting on January 12; it approved the Chargers' relocation if they chose to share SoFi Stadium with the Rams (the Raiders-Chargers proposal did not receive enough support from the league as a whole to proceed, prompting the Raiders to back out). On January 29, 2016, the Chargers announced they would remain in San Diego for the 2016 season as negotiations with the city continued; the team also reached an agreement in principle to use the Rams' Los Angeles stadium should negotiations with the city of San Diego fail.[1] On November 8, 2016, Measure C was voted down by voters 57% to 43%; and on January 12, 2017, the Chargers officially announced a move to Los Angeles, making 2016 their final season in San Diego.
This would also be the first time in nine seasons that Pro Bowler free safety Eric Weddle was not on the team, having departed via free agency to the Baltimore Ravens. Weddle had spent his entire career with the Chargers, starting with the 2007 NFL season.
On January 1, 2017, the Chargers fired McCoy after four seasons.[2]
Offseason
Roster Changes
Signed
Position | Player | 2015 Team | Contract |
---|---|---|---|
WR | Travis Benjamin | Cleveland Browns | 4 years, $26 million |
CB | Casey Hayward | Green Bay Packers | 3 years, $15.3 million |
DT | Brandon Mebane | Seattle Seahawks | 3 years, $13.5 million |
FS | Dwight Lowery | Indianapolis Colts | 3 years, $7.2 million |
G | Matt Slauson | Chicago Bears | 2 years, $4 million |
TE | Jeff Cumberland | New York Jets | 1 year, $840,000 |
Departures
Position | Player | 2016 Team |
---|---|---|
FS | Eric Weddle | Baltimore Ravens |
WR | Malcom Floyd | Retired |
TE | Ladarius Green | Pittsburgh Steelers |
CB | Patrick Robinson | Indianapolis Colts |
P | Mike Scifres | Carolina Panthers |
RB | Donald Brown | New England Patriots |
ILB | Donald Butler | Miami Dolphins |
Draft
2016 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Joey Bosa * | DE | Ohio St | |
2 | 35 | Hunter Henry | TE | Arkansas | |
3 | 66 | Max Tuerk | C | USC | |
4 | 102 | Joshua Perry | LB | Ohio St | |
5 | 175 | Jatavis Brown | LB | Akron | Compensatory |
6 | 179 | Drew Kaser | P | Texas A&M | |
6 | 198 | Derek Watt | FB | Wisconsin | |
7 | 224 | Donavon Clark | G | Michigan St | |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Notes
- The Chargers traded their 2016 fifth-round selection, along with their 2015 first- and fourth-round selections to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 49ers' 2015 first-round selection.
- The Chargers acquired an additional sixth-round selection in a trade that sent guard Jeremiah Sirles to the Minnesota Vikings.
- As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Chargers experienced during the 2015 free agency period, the team received one compensatory selection for the 2016 draft in the fifth round.[3] Free agent transactions that occurred after May 12, 2015 did not impact the team's formula for determining compensatory selections for the 2016 draft.[4]
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 13 | at Tennessee Titans | L 10–27 | 0–1 | Nissan Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 19 | Arizona Cardinals | W 19–3 | 1–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
3 | August 28 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 10–23 | 1–2 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap |
4 | September 1 | San Francisco 49ers | L 21–31 | 1–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 11 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 27–33 (OT) | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
2 | September 18 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 38–14 | 1–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 25 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 22–26 | 1–2 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap |
4 | October 2 | New Orleans Saints | L 34–35 | 1–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 9 | at Oakland Raiders | L 31–34 | 1–4 | Oakland Alameda Coliseum | Recap |
6 | October 13 | Denver Broncos | W 21–13 | 2–4 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 23 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 33–30 (OT) | 3–4 | Georgia Dome | Recap |
8 | October 30 | at Denver Broncos | L 19–27 | 3–5 | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Recap |
9 | November 6 | Tennessee Titans | W 43–35 | 4–5 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
10 | November 13 | Miami Dolphins | L 24–31 | 4–6 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
11 | Bye | |||||
12 | November 27 | at Houston Texans | W 21–13 | 5–6 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 21–28 | 5–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 11 | at Carolina Panthers | L 16–28 | 5–8 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
15 | December 18 | Oakland Raiders | L 16–19 | 5–9 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 24 | at Cleveland Browns | L 17–20 | 5–10 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
17 | January 1 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 27–37 | 5–11 | Qualcomm Stadium | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 33 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 73,238
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Leading 21–3 at halftime, the Chargers blew their lead, scoring only six more points by field goals. Kansas City rallied with 24 unanswered points, forcing overtime, where the Chiefs won the season's opening game.
Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Chargers | 7 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 38 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 52,165
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Already without Keenan Allen for the entire season, running back Danny Woodhead suffered a torn ACL, putting him out for the season. Nevertheless, the Chargers would go on to burn the Jaguars, winning 38–14 and with that, they went to 1–1.
Week 3: at Indianapolis Colts
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
Colts | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 4:25 p.m. EDT/1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 64,747
- Referee: Ronald Torbert
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
With a stunning loss on a 63-yard Colts touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton with 1:17 to play, the Chargers' record fell to 1-2.
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Chargers | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), fair
- Game attendance: 60,641
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Ronde Barber and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Ahead 34-21, the Chargers gave up two Drew Brees touchdown passes in the final five minutes and fell to 1-3.
Week 5: at Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
Raiders | 3 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 34 |
at Oakland Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 54,275
- Referee: Gene Steratore
- TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
With their third straight loss to the Raiders, the Chargers fell to 1-4.
Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 21 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 5:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), fair
- Game attendance: 58,904
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (CBS/NFLN/Twitter): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
The Chargers wore Color Rush uniforms with shades of blue and yellow San Diego used from 1974 until 1984.
The team snapped a 3-game losing streak against the Broncos and improved to 2-4.
Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 33 |
Falcons | 6 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 4:05 p.m. PDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 69,832
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
The Chargers came into this game with a 1–8 all-time record against Atlanta, and this marked San Diego's first visit to Atlanta since 2004. The Falcons had built a 27–10 lead by the two-minute warning at the end of the first half, but the Chargers pulled them back and leveled the score at 30–30 with a 33-yard Josh Lambo field goal with 18 seconds left in regulation. Lambo then hit a 42-yard attempt in overtime to seal the win for the Chargers as they improved to 3-4.
Week 8: at Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
Broncos | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 2:05 p.m. MDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 76,756
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Chargers | 9 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 43 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 52,281
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Dan Fouts and Scott Kaplan
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 55,107
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Philip Rivers would throw four fourth quarter interceptions in this game, including a crucial pick-6 with a minute remaining that was returned by Kiko Alonso.
With the loss, the Chargers went into their bye week at 4–6.
Week 12: at Houston Texans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Texans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/10:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 71,897
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
This would end up being the last win for the Chargers in franchise history while in San Diego.
Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 28 |
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 53,832
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, David Diehl and Holly Sonders
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: at Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
Panthers | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 28 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 73,856
- Referee: Ronald Torbert
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Brady Quinn and Holly Sonders
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 15: vs. Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 68,352
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
With the loss, the Chargers were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the 3rd straight year, and 7th time in 8 years.
Week 16: at Cleveland Browns
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Browns | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: December 24
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 57,272
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Solomon Wilcots
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
The loss dropped the Chargers to 5–10, and they became the only team to lose to the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 37 |
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: January 1, 2017
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 54,915
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
With their sixth straight loss to the Chiefs, the Chargers finished the season 5–11. This would be the final game played as the San Diego Chargers before relocating to Los Angeles following the season.
Standings
Division
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) Kansas City Chiefs | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–0 | 9–3 | 389 | 311 | W2 |
(5) Oakland Raiders | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 3–3 | 9–3 | 416 | 385 | L1 |
Denver Broncos | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2–4 | 6–6 | 333 | 297 | W1 |
San Diego Chargers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 410 | 423 | L5 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1 | New England Patriots | East | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 5–1 | 11–1 | .439 | .424 | W7 |
2[lower-alpha 1] | Kansas City Chiefs | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–0 | 9–3 | .508 | .479 | W2 |
3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | North | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .494 | .423 | W7 |
4[lower-alpha 2] | Houston Texans | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 7–5 | .502 | .427 | L1 |
Wild Cards | |||||||||||
5[lower-alpha 1] | Oakland Raiders | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 3–3 | 9–3 | .504 | .443 | L1 |
6 | Miami Dolphins | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .455 | .341 | L1 |
Did not qualify for the playoffs | |||||||||||
7[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] | Tennessee Titans | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .465 | .458 | W1 |
8[lower-alpha 3] | Denver Broncos | West | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .549 | .455 | W1 |
9[lower-alpha 4] | Baltimore Ravens | North | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .498 | .363 | L2 |
10[lower-alpha 4] | Indianapolis Colts | South | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .492 | .406 | W1 |
11 | Buffalo Bills | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .482 | .339 | L2 |
12 | Cincinnati Bengals | North | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .521 | .333 | W1 |
13[lower-alpha 5] | New York Jets | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .518 | .313 | W1 |
14[lower-alpha 5] | San Diego Chargers | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .543 | .513 | L5 |
15 | Jacksonville Jaguars | South | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 2–4 | 2–10 | .527 | .417 | L1 |
16 | Cleveland Browns | North | 1 | 15 | 0 | .063 | 0–6 | 1–11 | .549 | .313 | L1 |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 6] | |||||||||||
|
References
- Hirsh, Lou (January 29, 2016). Chargers to Play in S.D. for 2016; More Negotiations Planned. San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- Marc Sessler (January 1, 2017). "Chargers fire Mike McCoy after four seasons at helm". NFL.com. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- "Over The Cap".
- Florio, Mike (March 31, 2015). "June 1 free-agency deadline moved to May 12". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 31, 2015.