The 1993 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 34th season, their 33rd in San Diego, and 24th in the National Football League.
The 1993 season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 1992. Instead, they slipped to an 8–8 record. A tougher schedule made wins harder to come by — their beaten opponents averaged a 0.500 win percentage, compared to 0.369 the year before. Football Outsiders nonetheless rated the 1993 Chargers as the fourth-best team that season, and the second best in the AFC behind their conference rival Chiefs.
Uncertainty at the quarterback position contributed to a slow start. Stan Humphries suffered a shoulder injury during the pre-season, and posted a quarterback rating of just 46.12 through the first four games; John Friesz replaced him, posting better numbers but going 2–4 as a starter. Humphries returned for the final six games with a greatly improved rating of 90.7, and San Diego won four of them, but missed the playoffs by a single win.
The pass-catching corps were largely unchanged. Only two pass catchers from 1992, Rod Bernstine and Brian Brennan, did not return for 1993. Anthony Miller led the team in all major receiving categories (84 receptions, 1,162 yards, 7 touchdowns), while Ronnie Harmon had 73 catches out of the backfield. Marion Butts (746 yards, 4 touchdowns) split time in the backfield with rookie Natrone Means (645 yards, 8 touchdowns). On defense, the leaders were Leslie O'Neal (12.0 sacks), Junior Seau (129 tackles), and Darren Carrington (7 interceptions, plus 1 fumble recovery). Veteran cornerback Gill Byrd missed the entire season with injury and retired afterwards. Kicker John Carney started the season in fine form, running the consecutive field goal streak he'd started in 1992 up to a new NFL record of 29. His form slipped as the season wore on, and he finished on 31 field goals from 40 attempts, making 77.5 percent of his kicks.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsT Stan Brock (Saints) G David Richards (Lions)CB Brian Davis (Seahawks) LB Henry Rolling (Rams) T Broderick Thompson (Eagles) LB Kevin Murphy (Seahawks) QB Bob Gagliano (Falcons) T Leo Goeas (Rams)
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 August 7 New England Patriots W 13–7 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 2 August 14 at Los Angeles Rams W 23–17 2–0 Anaheim Stadium 3 August 21 Phoenix Cardinals W 10–3 3–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 4 August 28 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–30 3–1 Candlestick Park
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 5 Seattle Seahawks W 18–12 1–0 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,039 2 September 12 at Denver Broncos L 17–34 1–1 Mile High Stadium 75,074 3 September 19 Houston Oilers W 18–17 2–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,519 4 Bye 5 October 3 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–31 2–2 Kingdome 54,778 6 October 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 3–16 2–3 Three Rivers Stadium 55,264 7 October 17 Kansas City Chiefs L 14–17 2–4 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,729 8 Bye 9 October 31 at Los Angeles Raiders W 30–23 3–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 45,122 10 November 7 at Minnesota Vikings W 30–17 4–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 55,527 11 November 14 Chicago Bears L 13–16 4–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 58,459 12 November 21 Los Angeles Raiders L 7–12 4–6 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,615 13 at Indianapolis Colts W 31–0 5–6 Hoosier Dome 54,110 14 December 5 Denver Broncos W 13–10 6–6 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,233 15 December 12 Green Bay Packers L 13–20 6–7 Jack Murphy Stadium 57,930 16 December 19 at Kansas City Chiefs L 24–28 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium 74,778 17 Miami Dolphins W 45–20 7–8 Jack Murphy Stadium 60,311 18 January 2, 1994 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 32–17 8–8 Tampa Stadium 35,587 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
In a game with no offensive touchdowns, John Carney's six field goals brought San Diego their first opening day win for seven years. They had to overcome a terrible start, Stan Humphries' second pass attempt of the season being batted in the air by Cortez Kennedy for Joe Nash to intercept and return 13 yards for a touchdown. Humphries was intercepted again only three plays later, but Seattle missed a field goal, and the Charger offense began to move the ball. Four consecutive field goal drives had them up 12–10 at the half.
Marion Butts rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries, but had to leave the game early in the 3rd quarter. Still, the Chargers managed two more Carney kicks, the latter making it a two score game with just 5:35 to play. The Seahawks responded with a drive deep into Charger territory, but Burt Grossman recovered a fumble at the two. Charger punter John Kidd then gave up an intentional safety as time expired.
Carney's six field goals were a club record; he had successes from 50 and 51 yards out, becoming the first Charger with two 50+ yard field goals in the same game. Humphries wasn't intercepted again after the first two possession, but completed only 13 of 30 for 123 yards and a 27.5 QB rating.
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
The Chargers' first loss of the season arrived after a comeback attempt faltered. Two John Elway touchdown passes either side of an Eric Bieniemy fumble helped Denver lead 17–0 at halftime. Cornerback Marquez Pope played a key role in shifting momentum after the break, intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble on consecutive Bronco possessions. Both turnovers set the Chargers up with excellent field position, and both chances were converted, Humphries hitting Derrick Walker and Nate Lewis for touchdowns.
Now trailing only 17–14, San Diego were close to a stop on the next drive, but Elway converted a 3rd and 19 with a 46-yard completion to the one yard line. Ex-Charger Rod Bernstine scored a play later. Following an exchange of field goals, Humphries was intercepted and Denver iced the win.
Nate Lewis had 10 receptions and 119 yards, both career highs.
Week 3: vs. Houston Oliers
It was déjà vu for the Chargers, as John Carney kicked six field goals for the second consecutive home game. San Diego's defense played a huge role throughout the game; in the first half, Darren Carrington and Junior Seau both intercepted Warren Moon, either side of a Carrington fumble recovery. Each of these takeaways was converted into a field goal. Carney's third, from 27 yards out, gave him a streak of 26 consecutive regular season successes, stretching back to the previous season. This broke an NFL record set by Morten Andersen only a week earlier.
Moon got Houston in the end zone on their next drive, then Humphries threw his second pick six of the season, and it was 14–9 at the break. Humphries continued to struggle in the 3rd quarter, and was pulled for John Friesz, who completed a 47-yard pass downfield to Nate Lewis on his very first play. That set up Carney's fourth kick. Moon was intercepted on the next two Houston possessions: the first of these, by Sean Vanhorse, ended an Oiler threat; the second was Seau again, and led to Carney's fifth field goal and a 15–14 lead.
Moon was also benched at this point - his backup Cody Carlson drove Houston to a 3rd and 2 at the San Diego 8, whereupon a touchdown pass to Haywood Jeffires was incorrectly ruled to have been out of bounds. As a result, the Oliers settled for a field goal, and led by only two points with 4:59 to play. Friesz then completed four passes for 46 yards, as San Diego went 75 yards in 13 plays, culminating in Carney's final kick with just 3 seconds on the clock.
Humphries finished with just 7 completions from 26 attempts, for 73 yards and an interception, for a 23.6 QB rating.
Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks
Stan Humphries struggled again, and the Chargers slipped to 2–2. They trailed 7–0 when John Carney missed a 48-yard field goal, bringing his streak of consecutive kicks without a miss to an end at 29 (a record since surpassed). A Marion Butts run levelled the scores, but Humphries threw two interceptions thereafter as the Seahawks pulled away.
This time, Humphries completed 12 of 27 for 141 yards, with a QB rating of 30.0; three of the six worst ratings of his career came in the first four games of this season. John Friesz, who came in and threw a consolation score to Anthony Miller, was named the starter for the next game.
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
John Friesz struggled on his first start of the season, hindered by a rushing attack which could gain only 19 yards on 20 carries. Still, the defense kept them in the game at half time, trailing only 6–3. On the first Charger drive of the 3rd quarter, Friesz executed a successful QB sneak on 4th and 1, earning a 1st and goal at the 8. However, Kevin Greene hit Friesz as he threw on the next play, causing a goal line interception and knocking the quarterback out of the game with a concussion.
Humphries came in, but was soon sacked by Greg Lloyd, causing a fumble which Levon Kirkland recovered and ran in for the game's only touchdown. San Diego finished with 138 yards, their worst tally for 16 years.
Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego dropped a thriller to lose their third straight. Shortly after Anthony Miller had an 89-yard touchdown reception chalked off for a Harry Swayne hold, the Chiefs opened the scoring, veterans Joe Montana and Marcus Allen combing from 15 yards out. The Chargers were forced to punt on their next possession, but John Kidd's monster 67 yard kick pinned Kansas City at their own three. This shift in field position set San Diego up for a 36-yard touchdown drive, rookie Natrone Means powering over the goal line for his first career touchdown. Montana and Friesz then exchanged interceptions, before a Nick Lowery field goal made it 10–7 at the break.
John Carney had a chance to tie the scores in the 3rd quarter, but saw his kick blocked. Early in the 4th, Darrien Gordon returned a punt 54 yards to the three, and Miller caught the go-ahead touchdown pass on 3rd and goal. Lowery then hit the upright from 35 yards out, before Carney had another one blocked. Taking over on the 20 with 3:27 to play, Montana then led his team on the game-winning drive, converting a 4th and 10 along the way. Allen scored from a yard out with 1:57 remaining. Friesz also managed to convert a 4th and 10, but then threw four consecutive incompletions from the Kansas City 47.
Anthony Miller caught 6 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. This result broke a string of nine consecutive home wins for San Diego, including one in the playoffs.
Week 9: at Los Angeles Raiders
Donald Frank's 102 yard interception return gave the Chargers a much-needed win. Los Angeles got off to an ideal start, Jeff Hostetler finding Tim Brown for a 71-yard touchdown on their very first play. San Diego responded quickly with Anthony Miller's 29-yard touchdown reception on the next drive. Following an exchange of field goals, it was 10–10 at halftime.
The Hostetler-to-Brown connection produced another long touchdown in the 3rd quarter (38 yards); San Diego again responded on the ensuing drive, Shawn Jefferson gaining 33 yards on a reverse before Butts ran it in from 12 yards out. Hostetler, who passed for 424 yards on the day, moved his team to the Charger 5 with a 55-yard completion, but threw his next pass straight at Frank, who ran the length of the field for an easy touchdown. Gary Plummer intercepted Hostetler on the next drive, and the teams traded field goals through the final quarter.
While Friesz only threw for 162 yards, the rushing duo of Means and Butts gained 68 and 64 yards respectively.
Week 10: at Minnesota Vikings
A balanced offensive performance saw the Chargers even their record at 4–4. A short TD run by Butts opened the scoring, and San Diego led 10–3 at the break. A 66-yard strike from Friesz to Miller extended the advantage, but John Carney missed the conversion, and back-to-back touchdown drives by Minnesota put the Vikings up by a point.