What Is 2011 San Diego Chargers football team

Overview

The 2011 San Diego Chargers season marked the franchise's 42nd in the NFL and fifth under head coach Norv Turner. Competing in the AFC West division, the team struggled with consistency, finishing with an 8–8 record and failing to reach the postseason for the second consecutive year.

Despite a strong offensive performance from quarterback Philip Rivers and a 1,000-yard rushing season from Ryan Mathews, defensive shortcomings and late-season losses derailed playoff hopes. The Chargers ended the year on a three-game losing streak, culminating in Norv Turner’s dismissal after five seasons at the helm.

• Philip Rivers threw for 4,629 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 90.8 passer rating, ranking among the league’s top passers.
• Ryan Mathews rushed for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns on 214 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt.
• The team’s defense allowed 24.5 points per game, ranking 27th in the league and contributing to their missed playoff berth.
• San Diego started the season 2–3 but rallied to go 6–2 over Weeks 6–13 before collapsing down the stretch.
• They played their home games at Qualcomm Stadium, averaging 58,321 fans per game despite mid-tier performance.

Key Players and Performance

The Chargers' 2011 campaign was defined by individual excellence overshadowed by team inconsistency. While offensive production remained high, defensive lapses and an inability to close out tight games proved costly in a competitive AFC West.

• Antonio Gates caught 79 passes for 964 yards and seven touchdowns, remaining a primary target for Rivers.
• Malcom Floyd averaged 18.1 yards per catch, totaling 756 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
• Defensive end Cory Liuget, a rookie first-round pick, recorded 5.5 sacks and showed promise on the defensive line.
• Eric Weddle led the secondary with 82 tackles and two interceptions in his first full season as a starter.
• Kicker Nate Kaeding struggled, making only 20 of 26 field goals (76.9%), below his career average.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2011 Chargers compared to division rivals in key statistical categories:

All three AFC West teams finished 8–8, a rare three-way tie for first place. The Broncos won the tiebreaker based on division record, leaving the Chargers out of the playoffs despite scoring more points than Denver. This highlighted a season of missed opportunities and narrow losses.

Why It Matters

The 2011 season was a turning point for the Chargers franchise, symbolizing the end of the Norv Turner era and the need for organizational change. Despite consistent offensive production, the team’s inability to win close games and improve defensively led to a major rebuild in subsequent years.

• The Chargers went 1–6 in games decided by 7 points or fewer, underscoring poor clutch performance.
• Philip Rivers’ high yardage total masked a career-high 20 interceptions, raising concerns about decision-making.
• Turner’s firing signaled a shift, eventually leading to the drafting of Mike McCoy as head coach in 2013.
• The season highlighted the importance of special teams, as poor kicking contributed to multiple losses.
• It marked the last full season for several key veterans before a youth-driven transition began.
• Chargers fans grew increasingly frustrated, foreshadowing future relocation debates in later years.

Ultimately, the 2011 Chargers serve as a case study in how statistical parity and tiebreakers can exclude competitive teams from the postseason, reinforcing the NFL’s win-or-go-home reality.