Super Bowl or bust for A.J. Smith and Norv Turner

Published: 22^nd Apr 12 10:26 am

by Kenny Gardner
San Diego Chargers

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The San Diego Chargers have a 17-15 record over the last two seasons. San Diego has not made the playoffs since the 2009 season and has not won a playoff game since the 2008 NFL season. This will be A.J. Smith‘s 10th season as general manager and Norv Turner‘s sixth season as head coach. I think it is safe to say that Chargers fans were shocked when the organization decided to bring them back. When Turner was hired by Smith, he had a career record of 58-82-1 which is a .414 winning percentage.

Turner’s coaching career with the Chargers started off great as San Diego defeated the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts during the 2007-2008 playoffs to make it to the AFC Championship game. Philip Rivers played in the AFC title game against the New England Patriots with a torn ACL and LaDainian Tomlinson left the game with an injury. San Diego would go on to lose 21-12 to the 17-0 Patriots. San Diego knocked off Indianapolis again during the 2008-2009 playoffs, but fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round.

San Diego lost their only playoff game during the 2009 season to the New York Jets after a 13-3 season. San Diego’s 2-5 start to the 2010 season and six game losing streak during the 2011 season cost them opportunities to make the playoffs as they were one win away in both seasons. San Diego had the number one offense and defense in 2010, but failed to make the playoffs. One playoff win in the last four seasons and one playoff appearance in the last three is inexcusable for a team with so much talent. This is why Smith and Turner need to be fired after the 2012 season if San Diego does not make it to the Super Bowl.

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