2004 San Diego Chargers season

2004 San Diego Chargers season
Head coach	Marty Schottenheimer
General manager	A.J. Smith
Owner	Alex Spanos
Home field	Qualcomm Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) (20–17 OT)
← 2003 Chargers seasons 2005 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Chargers 3 7 10 7 27 Texans 3 10 7 0 20 Date: September 12 Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX Source: [1]

Scoring summary 1 11:49 HOU Kris Brown 37-yard field goal HOU 3–0 1 7:35 SD Nate Kaeding 48-yard field goal Tied 3–3 2 14:07 HOU Kris Brown 20-yard field goal HOU 6–3 2 9:51 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 10–6 2 4:36 HOU Dominick Davis 2-yard run (Kris Brown kick) HOU 13–10 3 9:12 SD Reche Caldwell 36-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 17–13 3 4:40 HOU Dominick Davis 1-yard run (Kris Brown kick) HOU 20–17 3 0:00 SD Nate Kaeding 29-yard field goal Tied 20–20 4 8:34 SD Eric Parker 19-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 27–20

Scoring summary
1	11:49	HOU	Kris Brown 37-yard field goal	HOU 3–0
1	7:35	SD	Nate Kaeding 48-yard field goal	Tied 3–3
2	14:07	HOU	Kris Brown 20-yard field goal	HOU 6–3
2	9:51	SD	LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 10–6
2	4:36	HOU	Dominick Davis 2-yard run (Kris Brown kick)	HOU 13–10
3	9:12	SD	Reche Caldwell 36-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 17–13
3	4:40	HOU	Dominick Davis 1-yard run (Kris Brown kick)	HOU 20–17
3	0:00	SD	Nate Kaeding 29-yard field goal	Tied 20–20
4	8:34	SD	Eric Parker 19-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 27–20

1 2 3 4 Total • Jets 14 3 10 7 34 Chargers 0 7 7 14 28 Date: September 19 Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA Source: [2]

Scoring summary 1 7:50 NYJ Curtis Martin 1-yard run (Doug Brien kick) NYJ 7–0 1 3:42 NYJ Curtis Martin 2-yard run (Doug Brien kick) NYJ 14–0 2 9:40 NYJ Doug Brien 28-yard field goal NYJ 17–0 2 9:28 SD Tim Dwight 87-yard punt return (Nate Kaeding kick) NYJ 17–7 3 11:16 NYJ Doug Brien 23-yard field goal NYJ 20–7 3 3:31 NYJ Jerald Sowell 4-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Doug Brien kick) NYJ 27–7 3 2:12 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 4-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) NYJ 27–14 4 7:38 SD Reche Caldwell 33-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) NYJ 27–21 4 3:56 NYJ Chris Baker 1-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Doug Brien kick) NYJ 34–21 4 0:30 SD Doug Flutie 6-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) NYJ 34–28

Scoring summary
1	7:50	NYJ	Curtis Martin 1-yard run (Doug Brien kick)	NYJ 7–0
1	3:42	NYJ	Curtis Martin 2-yard run (Doug Brien kick)	NYJ 14–0
2	9:40	NYJ	Doug Brien 28-yard field goal	NYJ 17–0
2	9:28	SD	Tim Dwight 87-yard punt return (Nate Kaeding kick)	NYJ 17–7
3	11:16	NYJ	Doug Brien 23-yard field goal	NYJ 20–7
3	3:31	NYJ	Jerald Sowell 4-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Doug Brien kick)	NYJ 27–7
3	2:12	SD	LaDainian Tomlinson 4-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	NYJ 27–14
4	7:38	SD	Reche Caldwell 33-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	NYJ 27–21
4	3:56	NYJ	Chris Baker 1-yard pass from Chad Pennington (Doug Brien kick)	NYJ 34–21
4	0:30	SD	Doug Flutie 6-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	NYJ 34–28

1 2 3 4 Total Chargers 3 0 7 3 13 • Broncos 7 6 7 3 23 Date: September 26 Location: Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, CO Source: [3]

Scoring summary 1 8:15 DEN Rod Smith 16-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick) DEN 7–0 1 2:18 SD Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goal DEN 7–3 2 12:24 DEN Jason Elam 22-yard field goal DEN 10–3 2 7:43 DEN Jason Elam 23-yard field goal DEN 13–3 3 7:37 SD Drew Brees 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) DEN 13–10 3 3:29 DEN Ashley Lelie 33-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick) DEN 20–10 4 14:06 SD Nate Kaeding 51-yard field goal DEN 20–13 4 11:12 DEN Jason Elam 43-yard field goal DEN 23–13

Scoring summary
1	8:15	DEN	Rod Smith 16-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick)	DEN 7–0
1	2:18	SD	Nate Kaeding 23-yard field goal	DEN 7–3
2	12:24	DEN	Jason Elam 22-yard field goal	DEN 10–3
2	7:43	DEN	Jason Elam 23-yard field goal	DEN 13–3
3	7:37	SD	Drew Brees 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	DEN 13–10
3	3:29	DEN	Ashley Lelie 33-yard pass from Jake Plummer (Jason Elam kick)	DEN 20–10
4	14:06	SD	Nate Kaeding 51-yard field goal	DEN 20–13
4	11:12	DEN	Jason Elam 43-yard field goal	DEN 23–13

1 2 3 4 Total Titans 0 7 0 10 17 • Chargers 7 14 3 14 38 Date: October 3 Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA Source: [4]

Scoring summary 1 5:56 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 15-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 7–0 2 14:10 TEN Derrick Mason 4-yard pass from Billy Volek (Gary Anderson kick) Tied 7–7 2 5:16 SD Antonio Gates 11-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 14–7 2 0:38 SD Justin Peelle 10-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 21–7 3 4:18 SD Nate Kaeding 31-yard field goal SD 24–7 4 12:26 TEN Gary Anderson 24-yard field goal SD 24–10 4 7:04 TEN Shad Meier 3-yard pass from Billy Volek (Gary Anderson kick) SD 24–17 4 6:42 SD Reche Caldwell 58-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 31–17 4 3:18 SD Jesse Chatman 21-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 38–17

Scoring summary
1	5:56	SD	LaDainian Tomlinson 15-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 7–0
2	14:10	TEN	Derrick Mason 4-yard pass from Billy Volek (Gary Anderson kick)	Tied 7–7
2	5:16	SD	Antonio Gates 11-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 14–7
2	0:38	SD	Justin Peelle 10-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 21–7
3	4:18	SD	Nate Kaeding 31-yard field goal	SD 24–7
4	12:26	TEN	Gary Anderson 24-yard field goal	SD 24–10
4	7:04	TEN	Shad Meier 3-yard pass from Billy Volek (Gary Anderson kick)	SD 24–17
4	6:42	SD	Reche Caldwell 58-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 31–17
4	3:18	SD	Jesse Chatman 21-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick)	SD 38–17

1 2 3 4 Total Jaguars 0 7 0 14 21 • Chargers 14 7 6 7 34 Date: October 10 Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA Source: [5]

Scoring summary 1 10:14 SD Antonio Gates 1-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 7–0 1 4:03 SD LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 14–0 2 9:23 SD Antonio Gates 11-yard pass from Drew Brees (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 21–0 2 1:33 JAC Chris Fumatu-Ma'afala 1-yard run (Josh Scobee kick) SD 21–7 3 7:15 SD Nate Kaeding 21-yard field goal SD 24–7 3 0:46 SD Nate Kaeding 28-yard field goal SD 27–7 4 10:42 JAC Byron Leftwich 2-yard run (Josh Scobee kick) SD 27–14 4 9:54 SD Jesse Chatman 41-yard run (Nate Kaeding kick) SD 34–14 4 7:21 JAC Cortez Hankton 7-yard pass from Byron Leftwich (Josh Scobee kick) SD 34–21

The 2004 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2003. They finished the regular season 12-4 and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, as it was the team's first division title since the 1994 season. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets. At the end of the season Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach of the Year.

With the first pick overall, the Chargers drafted Eli Manning. Manning would be traded to the New York Giants in exchange for Philip Rivers and several draft picks.

^{(traded to New York Giants for Philip Rivers, plus the Giants 3rd round pick of the same year and their 1st and 5th round picks in the 2005 draft.)}

San Diego clinches its first division title since 1994.

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