2017 Los Angeles Chargers season
OwnerAlex Spanos
General managerTom Telesco
Head coachAnthony Lynn
Home fieldStubHub Center
Results
Record9–7
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
6
AP All-Pros
1

The 2017 season was the Los Angeles Chargers' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their second in the Greater Los Angeles Area and their first under head coach Anthony Lynn. It was the Chargers' first season in Los Angeles since their inaugural 1960 season, when they were in the AFL, as the team exercised its option to move back to the city and join the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2017.[1] The 2017 season was the first of three seasons played at StubHub Center prior to the new stadium in Inglewood being completed in 2020.

The Chargers, despite an 0–4 start, finished the season with 9–7 record and improved their 5–11 record from last season after a week 13 win over the Cleveland Browns. Their season finale win over the Raiders helped the Chargers finish with a winning record for the first time since 2014. However, they missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season — the Chargers finished in a four-way tie with the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens for the two Wild Card playoff spots, but the Titans and Bills claimed the Wild Cards based on tiebreakers.

Offseason

Transition to Los Angeles

On January 2, 2017, Chargers' head coach Mike McCoy was fired along with the majority of his coaching staff. On January 12, 2017, Chargers' owner Dean Spanos announced during a press conference the decision to immediately return the San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles. Spanos had a deadline of January 17, 2017, to decide if he wanted to return the team to Los Angeles. The Chargers were chosen by the league in 2016 as the second team to be allowed to relocate to Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Rams and play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Until the new stadium was compleated in 2020, the Chargers played the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.[2]

The Chargers transitioned from San Diego to new headquarters in the Los Angeles area throughout the offseason, although social and fan reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The team held their mini-camp in San Diego, with the final day on the field at the old practice field coming on June 15. Former players James Lofton, Nick Hardwick and Jacques Cesaire showed up on the final day, as did fans.[3]

Trucks moved equipment up the road after the final practice. Front office people continued to work in San Diego until the team's lease expired later in the summer then the team completely moved to their new headquarters in Costa Mesa, California.[4]

Signings

Position Player Age 2016 Team Contract
OT Russell Okung 29 Denver Broncos 4 years, $53 million
DE Damion Square 28 San Diego Chargers 2 years, $4 million
S Tre Boston 25 Carolina Panthers 1 year, $900,000
RB Branden Oliver 25 San Diego Chargers 1 year, $800,000
TE Jeff Cumberland 29 San Diego Chargers 1 year, $775,000
RB Kenjon Barner 27 Philadelphia Eagles 1 year, $690,000
DE Tenny Palepoi 26 San Diego Chargers 1 year, $615,000

Releases

Position Player Age 2017 Team
OT King Dunlap 31 Retired
OG D.J. Fluker 25 New York Giants
LB Manti Te'o 26 New Orleans Saints
WR Jeremy Butler 25 Buffalo Bills
CB Brandon Flowers 31 Retired
WR Stevie Johnson 30 TBD
DT Sean Lissemore 29 TBD
RB Danny Woodhead 32 Baltimore Ravens
RB Dexter McCluster 28 TBD
RB Ronnie Hillman 25 Dallas Cowboys
CB Robert McClain 28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL draft

Main article: 2017 NFL draft
2017 Los Angeles Chargers draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 7 Mike Williams WR Clemson University
2 38 Forrest Lamp G Western Kentucky
3 71 Dan Feeney G Indiana
4 113 Rayshawn Jenkins S Miami
5 151 Desmond King S Iowa
6 190 Sam Tevi OT Utah
7 225 Isaac Rochell DE Notre Dame

Staff

2017 Los Angeles Chargers staff

Front office

  • Owner – Alex Spanos
  • Chairman/president – Dean Spanos
  • Executive vice president – Michael Spanos
  • CEO/president – Business Operations – A. G. Spanos
  • General manager – Tom Telesco
  • President – Football Operations – John Spanos
  • Executive vice president of football administration/player finance – Ed McGuire
  • Senior executive – Randy Mueller
  • Director of pro scouting – Dennis Abraham
  • Senior director of pro personnel – Louis Clark
  • Director of player personnel – JoJo Wooden
  • Director of college scouting – Kevin Kelly

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – John Lott
  • Assistant strength – Jonathan Brooks
  • Assistant strength – Larry Jackson

Final roster

2017 Los Angeles Chargers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 14 inactive, 9 practice squad

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 13 Seattle Seahawks L 17–48 0–1 StubHub Center Recap
2 August 20 New Orleans Saints L 7–13 0–2 StubHub Center Recap
3 August 26 at Los Angeles Rams W 21–19 1–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
4 August 31 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–23 1–3 Levi's Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 11 at Denver Broncos L 21–24 0–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap
2 September 17 Miami Dolphins L 17–19 0–2 StubHub Center Recap
3 September 24 Kansas City Chiefs L 10–24 0–3 StubHub Center Recap
4 October 1 Philadelphia Eagles L 24–26 0–4 StubHub Center Recap
5 October 8 at New York Giants W 27–22 1–4 MetLife Stadium Recap
6 October 15 at Oakland Raiders W 17–16 2–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
7 October 22 Denver Broncos W 21–0 3–4 StubHub Center Recap
8 October 29 at New England Patriots L 13–21 3–5 Gillette Stadium Recap
9 Bye
10 November 12 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–20 (OT) 3–6 EverBank Field Recap
11 November 19 Buffalo Bills W 54–24 4–6 StubHub Center Recap
12 November 23 at Dallas Cowboys W 28–6 5–6 AT&T Stadium Recap
13 December 3 Cleveland Browns W 19–10 6–6 StubHub Center Recap
14 December 10 Washington Redskins W 30–13 7–6 StubHub Center Recap
15 December 16 at Kansas City Chiefs L 13–30 7–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
16 December 24 at New York Jets W 14–7 8–7 MetLife Stadium Recap
17 December 31 Oakland Raiders W 30–10 9–7 StubHub Center Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Denver Broncos

Week One: Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 01421
Broncos 7 7 10024

at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Rookie kicker Younghoe Koo's game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds was blocked by the Denver's Shelby Harris, and the Chargers lost 24–21. An earlier attempt by Koo was successful, but it was called off after the Broncos had called a timeout right before the snap.[5]

Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week Two: Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 3 0 10619
Chargers 0 10 7017

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

Game information

In their first Game back In Los Angeles since 1960 Koo missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired in a 19–17 loss to Miami.[6]

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week Three: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 14 3 0724
Chargers 7 3 0010

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

Game information

Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Four: Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles 10 6 3726
Chargers 0 10 01424

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

Game information

The Chargers play a home game at StubHub Center against the NFC East's Philadelphia Eagles. Notably, this home game turned out to be a 'road game' for the Chargers as Eagles fans took over StubHub and turned it into, as dubbed on Twitter, "Lincoln Financial Field West". In the end the Eagles won 26-24 over the Chargers.

With the loss, the Chargers' record dropped to 0-4, last place in the AFC West.

Week 5: at New York Giants

Week Five: Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 10 71027
Giants 9 0 7622

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

In a back-and-forth game against the Giants, the Chargers proved victorious after rallying to score 10 unanswered points to retake the lead. Four plays after Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a season-ending broken ankle, Philip Rivers delivered a 10-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Gordon with just under three minutes to go, and the Los Angeles defense prevented New York from responding. With the win, the Chargers earned their first win of the season, also snapping a 9-game losing streak that dated back to their previous season in San Diego.[7]

Week 6: at Oakland Raiders

Week Six: Los Angeles Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 01017
Raiders 7 3 0616

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: October 15
  • Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 54,685
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos

Week Seven: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 0 000
Chargers 7 7 0721

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 25,388
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Amanda Balionis
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

With their first home victory as the L.A. Chargers, Philip Rivers went 15/26 for 183 passing yard and 2 touchdowns, shutting out the Denver Broncos. It was their first home win in Los Angeles since December 18, 1960.

Week 8: at New England Patriots

Week Eight: Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 0 0613
Patriots 0 15 3321

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 29
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), rain
  • Game attendance: 65,878
  • Referee: Pete Morelli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week Ten: Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 0 7 73017
Jaguars 6 0 83320

at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

Game information

Week 11: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week Eleven: Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 7 0 31424
Chargers 10 27 10754

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

Game information

The Chargers handily routed the Bills, partly thanks to Buffalo's now-infamous decision to start rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman, who threw five interceptions to the Chargers defense in the first half alone before being pulled for previous starter Tyrod Taylor.[8] With the win, Los Angeles snapped its 2-game losing streak to improve to 4–6.

Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys

NFL on Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve: Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 131228
Cowboys 0 0 066

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Game information

Philip Rivers threw three touchdowns in the second half, and Dak Prescott threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, one of which was returned 90 yards by rookie Desmond King for a touchdown, for a second straight win. With the win and the Chiefs losing on Sunday, the Chargers ended up one game out of first in the AFC West. This would be the first time since 2010 that the Chargers would wear the alternate powder blue jerseys introduced in 2007 against an NFC team and the first time ever it was worn on the road.

Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Thirteen: Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 7 0310
Chargers 0 9 10019

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

Game information

The Chargers, for the second straight year in a row, faced a winless Browns team. Former Browns kicker Travis Coons, signed off the Chargers' practice squad in place of an injured Nick Novak, kicked four field goals in the game. Keenan Allen caught a touchdown, and the defense forced two fourth-quarter turnovers to seal the game. With the win, along with the Chiefs' loss to the Jets earlier and the Raiders beating the Giants, the Chargers moved into a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West.

Week 14: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Fourteen: Washington Redskins at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 6 0713
Chargers 13 10 7030

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C), partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 25,393
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 15: at Kansas City Chiefs

Week Fifteen: Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 6 7013
Chiefs 3 7 101030

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 7:25 p.m. CST/5:25 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 75,011
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (NFLN): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 16: at New York Jets

Week Sixteen: Los Angeles Chargers at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 7014
Jets 0 0 707

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,562
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week Seventeen: Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 10 0010
Chargers 0 20 10030

at StubHub Center, Carson, California

  • Date: December 31
  • Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), hazy
  • Game attendance: 25,430
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Standings

Division

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Kansas City Chiefs 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 415 339 W4
Los Angeles Chargers 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 355 272 W2
Oakland Raiders 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 301 373 L4
Denver Broncos 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 289 382 L2

Conference

AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1[a] New England Patriots East 13 3 0 .813 5–1 10–2 .484 .466 W3
2[a] Pittsburgh Steelers North 13 3 0 .813 6–0 10–2 .453 .423 W2
3[b] Jacksonville Jaguars South 10 6 0 .625 4–2 9–3 .434 .394 L2
4[b] Kansas City Chiefs West 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .477 .481 W4
Wild Cards
5[c] Tennessee Titans South 9 7 0 .563 5–1 8–4 .434 .396 W1
6[c] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .492 .396 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[c] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .441 .299 L1
8[c] Los Angeles Chargers West 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .457 .347 W2
9 Cincinnati Bengals North 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .465 .321 W2
10[d] Oakland Raiders West 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .512 .396 L4
11[d] Miami Dolphins East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .543 .531 L3
12[e] Denver Broncos West 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .492 .413 L2
13[e] New York Jets East 5 11 0 .313 2–4 5–7 .520 .438 L4
14[f] Indianapolis Colts South 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .480 .219 W1
15[f] Houston Texans South 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .516 .375 L6
16 Cleveland Browns North 0 16 0 .000 0–6 0–12 .520 – L16
Tiebreakers[g]
  1. ^ a b New England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b Jacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
  3. ^ a b c d Tennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed.
    Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record.
    Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
  4. ^ a b Oakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
  5. ^ a b Denver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ a b Indianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
  7. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

References

  1. ^ "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". National Football League. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Chargers chairman 'looking forward' after announcing L.A. move". ESPN.com. January 12, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Chargers, Philip Rivers bid bittersweet farewell to San Diego". June 15, 2017.
  4. ^ "Chargers, Philip Rivers bid bittersweet farewell to San Diego". June 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Wang, Jack (September 11, 2017). "Chargers' comeback falls short as blocked field goal seals 24-21 loss to Broncos". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Sherman, Rodger (September 17, 2017). "This Time, the Missed Game-Winning Kick Is Younghoe Koo's Fault". The Ringer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017.
  7. ^ "Chargers vs. Giants - Game Recap - October 8, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  8. ^ Rollins, Khadrice (November 19, 2017). "Bills' Nathan Peterman Benched For Tyrod Taylor After Five First-Half Interceptions". si.com. Retrieved November 19, 2017.

External links

Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers seasons
2017 NFL season
Categories