2004
They were the host team for Super Bowls XXII, XXXII, and XXXVII in San Diego, but failed to make the playoffs in any of those seasons. In fact, the Chargers had not made the post-season since 1995, the year after their Super Bowl XXIX appearance, until on December 19, 2004, a year removed from their disastrous 4–12 season of 2003, they finally earned a trip back to the post-season by capturing the AFC West Division title, winning their eighth-straight game while shutting out the Cleveland Browns 21–0. An estimated 1200+ fans waited as long as six hours to greet the team at Chargers Park, their year-round training facility starting in 2005. The Chargers went on to finish the regular season 12–4.
They entered the first round (the Wild Card portion) of the playoffs as a lower seed, and proceeded to be eliminated by opponent New York Jets, who won in overtime over the Chargers 20-17. Rookie placekicker Nate Kaeding missed a 40-yard field goal that would have advanced San Diego into the next round, thus opening the door for a Jets victory.
Despite an abrupt ending to their turnaround season, Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was named NFL Coach Of The Year for the 2004–2005 season, and quarterback Drew Brees was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Read more about this topic: History Of The San Diego Chargers