The Los Angeles Chargers just completed year three in their new home base. It was a 5-11 campaign that led to drafting Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Philip Rivers is now in Indianapolis and the Chargers are officially rebuilding.
In three year in Los Angeles, the Chargers have made the playoffs once and have two winning seasons. There are not many great moments in Los Angeles but the Chargers had many years of success in San Diego. They moved to San Diego in 1961 after spending one year in Los Angeles once they entered the league.
The Chargers have never won a Super Bowl and have made just one title-game appearance. There are still many great moments that fans have seen from their team. Here are the top five moments in franchise history.
5. 1963 AFL Championship Game
The Chargers won a division title in five of their first six years of existence. This includes 1963 when they finished 11-3. The Chargers were favored heading into this game and they left no doubt once both teams took the field.
Lance Alworth was named MVP of the league in 1963 after totaling 1,205 yards and 11 touchdowns. Heading into the game, the Chargers were well-rested and expected to win. There was no drama in this one as they dominated the Boston Patriots 51-10. Keith Lincoln was named MVP after having a game for the ages.
Lincoln finished with 349 yards and two scores. He gained 206 yards on 13 carries, 123 receiving yards, and even completed a pass for 20 yards. To this day, the 1963 championship is the only one in Chargers' history. Even if you were not there to watch, it is still one of the top moments in franchise history.
4. LaDainian Tomlinson
It is something special when one player takes up an entire spot. That is just how good LaDainian Tomlinson was in a Chargers jersey. San Diego selected Tomlinson with the No. 5 pick in the 2001 NFL Draft out of TCU.
Tomlinson rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons. He led the NFL in rushing yards twice and rushing touchdowns three times. He had one of the best seasons by a running back ever in 2006. Just one year after Shaun Alexander set the NFL record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 27, Tomlinson went nuts. On December 10, 2006, Tomlinson broke the record by scoring his 28th rushing touchdown of the season. The crowd at Qualcomm Stadium was chanting “MVP, MVP!” as Tomlinson celebrated with the team.
At the end of the season, their wish was granted. Tomlinson was named league MVP after totaling 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns. Tomlinson spent nine years in San Diego before ending his career with the New York Jets. He finished with 12,490 yards and 138 touchdowns as a member of the Chargers.
Tomlinson retired as one of the best running backs in NFL history. He is still the best back and arguably the best player in Chargers history.
3. Overtime in Miami
The 1981 Chargers won the AFC West for the third year in a row, finishing 10-6 and earning a bye in the wild card round. San Diego traveled to Miami to take on the Dolphins in the divisional round.
This game almost ended up as one of the worst memories in franchise history. San Diego jumped out to a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The offense was rolling but the tide turned in the second quarter. The Dolphins scored 17 unanswered points and added a touchdown early in the third to tie the game at 24.
The Chargers would regain the lead on a 25-yard touchdown from Dan Fouts to Kellen Winslow. The Dolphins would not go away all night. They scored the next 14 points to take a touchdown lead in the fourth quarter. The Chargers were in need of a big drive to keep from suffering an abysmal loss and that is what they got. It ended with a nine-yard connection between Fouts and James Brooks that sent the game to overtime. The Chargers would survive in overtime on a Rolf Benirschke field goal.
Winslow finished with 13 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown. The season would end for the Chargers with a 27-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. The excitement of that night in Miami cannot be taken away.
2. Wide Right
The top two moments on this list come from the 1994 season. We begin in the divisional round of the playoffs. The 11-5 Chargers were ready to welcome the Dolphins to town with hopes of moving onto the AFC Championship Game.
The scoring got started by a touchdown pass from Dan Marino to Keith Jackson. By halftime, the Chargers found themselves in a 21-6 hole. From then on, the defense took over. It began with a safety and a touchdown run by Natrone Means. Trailing 21-15, Stan Humphries found Mark Seav for the go ahead touchdown.
The Dolphins had one final shot to get into field goal range. Despite Marino going 0-3 on the drive, Miami was able to get into range on a 32-yard pass interference call. This put the Dolphins at the 30-yard line of the Chargers. Pete Stoyanovich jogged onto the field to attempt a 48-yard field goal to win. By the name of this entry, you can guess what happened. With one second left, Stoyanovich's kick was pushed wide right and the Chargers advanced.
If this game brought excitement, just wait until what happened the very next week.
1. 1994 AFC Championship Game
A thrilling win over the Dolphins sent the Chargers to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game. No one gave San Diego a chance on the road against Neil O'Donnell and the Steelers.
O'Donnell got the home team on the board early with a touchdown pass to John Williams. Two Gary Anderson field goals put the Steelers up 13-3 and they seemed to be on their way. The Chargers were able to breakthrough when Humphries and Alfred Pupunu connected for a 43-yard score. Heading into the fourth quarter, we had a ball game at 13-10.
The score stayed 13-10 until just over five minutes remaining. Humphries threw his second 43-yard touchdown of the game, this time to Tony Martin. All of a sudden, the Steelers were trailing 17-1 and getting the ball back. O'Donnell began the drive by completing seven straight passes. Pittsburgh was set up with first-and-goal from the Chargers' nine-yard line. A Barry Foster run went for no gain followed by an incomplete pass. On third-and-goal, O'Donnell completed a pass for seven yards.
It all came down to that one fourth down play from the three-yard line. O'Donnell took the snap and lofted a pass over the middle intended for Foster but it fell incomplete. With 1:04 left in the game, San Diego regained possession and ran the clock out. They were headed to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
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