| 2005 San Diego Chargers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Alex Spanos |
| General manager | A.J. Smith |
| Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
| Home stadium | Qualcomm Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 3rdAFC West |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| All-Pros | 4
|
| Pro Bowlers | |
The2005San Diego Chargersseason was the franchise's 36th season in theNational Football League (NFL), and the 46th overall. The Chargers failed to improve on their 12–4 record in2004, and finished the campaign 9–7 and 3rd overall in their division, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2003.Outside linebackerShawne Merriman was namedRookie of the Year at the end of the season.
Despite missing the playoffs, the Chargers defeated some of the best teams in the NFL, such as the two time defending Super Bowl championsNew England Patriots (41–17) and the previously undefeatedIndianapolis Colts (26–17). Following the season,Drew Brees signed as a free agent withthe New Orleans Saints. Brees was replaced byPhilip Rivers who became astarter for the Chargers for the next 14 seasons.
| 2005 San Diego Chargers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Shawne Merriman * | OLB | Maryland | Pick from NYG |
| 1 | 28 | Luis Castillo | DT | Northwestern | |
| 2 | 61 | Vincent Jackson * | WR | Northern Colorado | |
| 4 | 130 | Darren Sproles * | RB | Kansas State | |
| 5 | 164 | Wesley Britt | OT | Alabama | |
| 6 | 167 | Wes Sims | OG | Oklahoma | Pick from MIA |
| 7 | 242 | Scott Mruczkowski | C | Bowling Green | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least onePro Bowl during career | |||||
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Date | Opponent | Result | Host Stadium | NFL Recap | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 11, 2005 | atGreen Bay Packers | L 7–10 | Lambeau Field | Gamebook | 69,611 |
| August 21, 2005 | St. Louis Rams | W 36–21 | Qualcomm Stadium | Gamebook | 54,421 |
| August 26, 2005 | atMinnesota Vikings | L 16–19 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Gamebook | 64,172 |
| September 1, 2005 | San Francisco 49ers | W 28–24 | Qualcomm Stadium | Gamebook | 49,817 |
In addition to their regular games withAFC West rivals, the Chargers played teams from theAFC East andNFC East as per the schedule rotation, and also played intraconference games againstthe Steelers andthe Colts based on divisional positions from 2004.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 11 | Dallas Cowboys | L 24–28 | 0–1 | Qualcomm Stadium | 67,679 | Gamebook | |
| 2 | September 18 | atDenver Broncos | L 17–20 | 0–2 | Invesco Field at Mile High | 75,310 | Gamebook | |
| 3 | September 25 | New York Giants | W 45–23 | 1–2 | Qualcomm Stadium | 65,373 | Gamebook | |
| 4 | October 2 | atNew England Patriots | W 41–17 | 2–2 | Gillette Stadium | 68,756 | Gamebook | |
| 5 | October 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 22–24 | 2–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | 68,537 | Gamebook | |
| 6 | October 16 | atOakland Raiders | W 27–14 | 3–3 | McAfee Coliseum | 52,666 | Gamebook | |
| 7 | October 23 | atPhiladelphia Eagles | L 17–20 | 3–4 | Lincoln Financial Field | 67,747 | Gamebook | |
| 8 | October 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 28–20 | 4–4 | Qualcomm Stadium | 65,750 | Gamebook | |
| 9 | November 6 | atNew York Jets | W 31–26 | 5–4 | Giants Stadium | 77,662 | Gamebook | |
| 10 | Bye | |||||||
| 11 | November 20 | Buffalo Bills | W 48–10 | 6–4 | Qualcomm Stadium | 65,602 | Gamebook | |
| 12 | November 27 | atWashington Redskins | W 23–17(OT) | 7–4 | FedExField | 84,930 | Gamebook | |
| 13 | December 4 | Oakland Raiders | W 34–10 | 8–4 | Qualcomm Stadium | 66,436 | Gamebook | |
| 14 | December 11 | Miami Dolphins | L 21–23 | 8–5 | Qualcomm Stadium | 65,026 | Gamebook | |
| 15 | December 18 | atIndianapolis Colts | W 26–17 | 9–5 | RCA Dome | 57,389 | Gamebook | |
| 16 | December 24 | atKansas City Chiefs | L 7–20 | 9–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,956 | Gamebook | |
| 17 | December 31 | Denver Broncos | L 7–23 | 9–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | 65,513 | Gamebook | |
Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Chargers | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Broncos | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
atInvesco Field,Denver, Colorado
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 3 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Chargers | 7 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 45 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 3 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 41 |
| Patriots | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
atGillette Stadium,Foxborough, Massachusetts
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| Chargers | 0 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 22 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| Raiders | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
atMcAfee Coliseum,Oakland, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
atLincoln Financial Field,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
| Chargers | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Jets | 0 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 26 |
atGiants Stadium,East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chargers | 14 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 48 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 23 |
| Redskins | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
atFedExField,Summerfield, Maryland
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chargers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 0 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 23 |
| Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 10 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 26 |
| Colts | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
atRCA Dome,Indianapolis, Indiana
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
atArrowhead Stadium,Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 0 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 23 |
| Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| AFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (2)Denver Broncos | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | 395 | 258 | W4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 9–3 | 403 | 325 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 418 | 321 | L2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 0–6 | 2–10 | 290 | 383 | L6 |
Six Chargers were named to the2006 Pro Bowl,[2] and four were named first or second teamAssociated Press (AP)All-Pros.[3] Merriman won theAP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with28+1⁄2 of the 50 available votes.[4]
| Player | Position | Pro Bowl starter | Pro Bowl reserve | AP 1st team All-Pro | AP 2nd team All-Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Gates | Tight end | ||||
| Shawne Merriman | Linebacker | ||||
| Hanik Milligan | Special teams | ||||
| Lorenzo Neal | Fullback | ||||
| LaDainian Tomlinson | Running back | ||||
| Jamal Williams | Defensive tackle |
Media related to2005 San Diego Chargers season at Wikimedia Commons