The 2013 season was the San Diego Chargers' 44th in the National Football League (NFL), their 54th overall and their first under head coach Mike 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 division rival 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 coordinator Ken 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 quarterback Philip 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. 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.
Signings
Pos. Player 2012 Team Contract CB Derek Cox Jacksonville Jaguars 4 years, $20 million DE Dwight Freeney Indianapolis Colts 2 years, $8.7 million TE John Phillips Dallas Cowboys 3 years, $5.2 million OT King Dunlap Philadelphia Eagles 2 years, $3.7 million RB Danny Woodhead New England Patriots 2 years, $3.5 million CB Richard Marshall Miami Dolphins 1 year, $855,000 RB Chris Gronkowski Denver Broncos 1 year, $630,000 LB Thomas Keiser Carolina Panthers 1 year, $555,000
Re-signings Pos. Player Contract RB Ronnie Brown 1 year, $1 million
Departures
Pos. Player 2013 Team G Louis Vasquez Denver Broncos LB Antwan Barnes New York Jets CB Antoine Cason Arizona Cardinals CB Quentin Jammer Denver Broncos LB Shaun Phillips Denver Broncos WR Robert Meachem New Orleans Saints LB Takeo Spikes Retired LB Demorrio Williams G Reggie Wells
NFL draft
Draft notes
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 8 Seattle Seahawks L 10–31 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 15 at Chicago Bears L 28–33 0–2 Soldier Field Recap 3 August 24 at Arizona Cardinals W 24–7 1–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 4 August 29 San Francisco 49ers L 6–41 1–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Houston Texans L 28–31 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 September 15 at Philadelphia Eagles W 33–30 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 22 at Tennessee Titans L 17–20 1–2 LP Field Recap 4 September 29 Dallas Cowboys W 30–21 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 5 October 6 at Oakland Raiders L 17–27 2–3 O.co Coliseum Recap 6 Indianapolis Colts W 19–9 3–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 7 October 20 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–6 4–3 EverBank Field Recap 8 Bye 9 November 3 at Washington Redskins L 24–30 4–4 Fedex Field Recap 10 November 10 Denver Broncos L 20–28 4–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 11 November 17 at Miami Dolphins L 16–20 4–6 Sun Life Stadium Recap 12 November 24 at Kansas City Chiefs W 41–38 5–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 December 1 Cincinnati Bengals L 10–17 5–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 14 December 8 New York Giants W 37–14 6–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 15 at Denver Broncos W 27–20 7–7 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 16 December 22 Oakland Raiders W 26–13 8–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 17 December 29 Kansas City Chiefs W 27–24 9–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 5, 2014 at Cincinnati Bengals (3) W 27–10 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium Recap Divisional January 12, 2014 at Denver Broncos (1) L 17–24 1–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: vs. Houston Texans
With the loss, the Chargers started their season 0–1.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
The loss snapped the Chargers' nine-game winning streak against the Titans, losing to them for the first time since the 1992 season.
Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 5: at Oakland Raiders
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 Athletics American League Division Series game the previous night.
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9: at Washington Redskins
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 11: at Miami Dolphins
Week 12: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 13: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 14: vs. New York Giants
Week 15: at Denver Broncos
Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 17: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
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. Until the 2025 season, this was the last time Chargers swept the Chiefs. It was also their last home victory against the Chiefs until 2025, and their last in San Diego.
Postseason
AFC Wild Card Playoff Game: at #3 Cincinnati Bengals
With the Chargers defeating the Bengals, 27–10, they recorded their first playoff victory since 2008 and advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game.
AFC Divisional Playoff Game: at #1 Denver Broncos
With the Chargers falling to the Broncos, the Chargers finished the season 10–8, their first double-digit winning season since 2009.
Standings
Division
Conference
Footnotes
References
External links