When will the San Diego Chargers end their bad stretch in the playoffs?

The San Diego Chargers missed out on opportunities to make the playoffs in 2010 and 2011.  They finished 2010 with a 9-7 record which was one win away from making the playoffs.  San Diego finished 2011 with an 8-8 record which was also one win away from a postseason appearance.  San Diego lost three of their last four playoff games from 2007-2009.  This began with an unfortunate injury to starting quarterback Philip Rivers.  Rivers tore his ACL prior to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.  He played in what is definitely one of the most gutsiest performances in NFL history, but it was not enough as the torn ACL and an injury to running back LaDainian Tomlinson cost San Diego their shot at making it to the Super Bowl as they lost 21-12.

After a first round victory in 2008, San Diego fell prey to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Rivers threw for 308 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception, but San Diego surrendered 35 points and lost by a final score of 35-24.  San Diego finished in a tie for the NFL’s second best record in 2009 as they finished the season at 13-3.  Rivers completed 68 percent of his passes for 298 yards, but he threw one touchdown and two interceptions in a loss against the New York Jets.  Tomlinson was a non-factor as he had 12 rush attempts for 24 yards and three receptions for zero yards.  A 53 yard touchdown run by New York’s Shonn Greene put them up 17-7 after the extra point with 7:26 left in the fourth quarter, and a team with Super Bowl aspirations was eliminated after a bye week in their only playoff game.

The Chargers were unfortunate in 2007 because of injuries.  Tom Brady threw three interceptions, but San Diego was unable to capitalize on offense.  It is unacceptable to give up 35 points in a game like they did against Pittsburgh.  The Lightning Bolts have to click as a collective unit in order to end this bad stretch because when the defense clicked, the offense was ineffective and when the offense clicked, the defense and special teams were ineffective as Santonio Holmes had a punt return TD which contributed to the 35 points San Diego surrendered against Pittsburgh.