The 2012San Diego Chargersseason was the franchise's 43rd season in the National Football League, the 53rd overall and the sixth under head coach Norv Turner. The Chargers attempted to improve on their 8–8 record in 2011 and return to the playoffs.
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The Chargers lost 27–3 to the Atlanta Falcons, who remained one of three undefeated teams in the league. Rivers had one of his worst statistical performances, completing 21 of 38 passes for 173 yards, with two interceptions and a passer rating of 45.2. Running back Ryan Matthews made his season debut, and ran for 44 yards on 10 carries. However, he had a fumble inside the Falcons' 5-yard line. The Chargers had four turnovers to the Atlanta's one. The Chargers had not been held to three points since a 30–3 loss at Miami during the 2002 season. The Falcons improved to a perfect 3–0 all-time record in San Diego while the Chargers dropped to 2-1 on the season.[2]
Week 4: at Kansas City Chiefs[]
Week Four: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
SD- Nick Novak, 45 yard field goal 2:00 (SD 37-20)
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The Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37–20 and started the season with a 3–1 record for the second consecutive year. San Diego forced the Chiefs into six turnovers, and they led 20–0 in the second quarter. Rivers completed 18 of 23 passes for 209 yards and two touchdown passes, but threw one interception in the red zone.[3]Jackie Battle started at running back instead of Mathews. Battle was in 27 plays compared to Mathews' 21, and he had 15 carries for 39 yards with a team-high four catches for 42 yards. Most of Mathews work was in the fourth quarter when San Diego's victory was mostly already decided. U-T San Diego wrote that Mathews would have been expected to start were it not for his fumble against Atlanta the prior week.[4]Nick Novak filled in for kicker Nate Kaeding, who was out with a groin injury, and made all three of his field goals.[3]
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints[]
Week Five: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
San Diego led 24–14 in the third quarter before the New Orleans Saints rallied for a 31–24 victory. The Chargers' Melvin Ingram was called for roughing the passer, nullifying a Drew Brees interception returned for a touchdown that would have put the Chargers ahead 31–14. Rivers had two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter: an interception that led to a Saints field goal and a fumble as San Diego was driving to tie the score in the game's last minute.[5]
With the loss, the Chargers dropped to 3-2 while the Saints would get their first win of the season and improve to 1-4.
Brees, a former Charger, broke an NFL record with his 48th straight game with a touchdown pass. He finished with 370 yards and four touchdown passes. Rivers threw for 354 yards and two touchdowns, both to former Saint Robert Meachem; they were Meachem's first touchdowns of the season.[5]
Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos[]
Week Six: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
The Chargers lost 35–24 to the Denver Broncos after leading 24–0 at halftime. The loss tied San Diego with Denver for the AFC West lead with a 3–3 record. Rivers had a career-high six turnovers, five in the second half. One of his interceptions and one of his fumbles were returned by the Broncos for touchdowns. He had four interceptions, including three in the fourth quarter.[6]
The Chargers built their first half lead after two special teams fumble recoveries and an 80-yard touchdown return by Quentin Jammer off a Peyton Manning interception. It was the first score of Jammer's career. Rivers also threw two touchdowns to Antonio Gates in the first half.[6]
After the game, Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported that the Chargers used an "illegal stickum-type sustance" during the game, and a Chargers equipment member was caught by the line judge hiding and handing out the substance to players, which was confiscated by the league.[7] Chargers head coach Norv Turner denied that the team cheated, and stated that the object was a towel with a substance that dries footballs.[8]
Week 8: at Cleveland Browns[]
Week Eight: San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
San Diego lost their third straight game, 7–6 on the road to the Cleveland Browns. After blowing second-half leads the past two games in consecutive losses, the Chargers never led in this game. Both offenses struggled with wind blowing to more than 40 mph (65 km/h) and rain falling throughout the entire game. Rivers was 18 of 34 for 154 yards, but had a touchdown pass dropped by Meachem in the third quarter. With the Chargers forced to run because of the bad weather, Mathews ran 24 times for 95 yards. The Browns' Trent Richardson ran for 122 yards and a touchdown. It was the second game of the year the Chargers did not score an offensive touchdown. The last time San Diego failed to score a touchdown in two or more games was in 2000, when it occurred three times.
With the loss, the Chargers fell to 3-4. With the Broncos' win that same week, the Chargers now sit in 2nd place tied with the Raiders in the AFC West.
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Week 9: vs. Kansas City Chiefs[]
Week Nine: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
