1992 San Diego Chargers season
[1] During the regular season, the Chargers lost all four of their games against eventual playoff teams, though they did defeat Kansas City 17–0 at Jack Murphy Stadium in the wild card round.
[2] On December 22, Beathard had denied rumours that Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Bobby Ross was already set to be installed as Henning's replacement.
[13] Safety Anthony Shelton was injured during training camp, had shoulder surgery, and missed the entire season,[14] while H-Back Craig McEwen was waived;[15] neither played in the NFL again.
[21] Friesz required surgery for torn knee ligaments and was ruled out for the season, leaving journeyman Bob Gagliano as the only available quarterback with regular-season experience.
[23] That trade fell through, but the parties reached an agreement after Friesz's injury, with Humphries moving to San Diego in exchange for what proved to be a 3rd-round pick in the 1993 draft.
After winning a spot on the Chargers' roster, he made six sacks during the regular season and was granted the Ed Block Courage Award by his teammates.
[31] Cornerback Sean Vanhorse had been unable to get onto the field in his first two seasons in the league, but started nine games in 1992 after the Chargers picked him up through Plan B free agency.
[12] San Diego made Tennessee defensive end Chris Mims their first pick in the draft, with Beathard praising the player's pass-rushing ability.
Further down the draft, blocking tight end Deems May started six games in his rookie year, and spent five seasons in San Diego.
[21] Gagliano started at quarterback in the next game, completing 7 of 11 for 123 yards; Marion Butts and Bieniemy scored with short rushes as San Diego beat the Patriots.
[41] Gagliano was again the starter in the final preseason game against the Rams, leading an 80-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession, with Rod Bernstine scoring from the 1-yard line.
Lewis appeared to have opened the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown catch, but Swayne was flagged for illegal motion, and the Chargers settled for a Carney field goal.
Gagliano's Hail Mary pass was batted in the air and caught by Harmon for a 55-yard gain, but the Steelers were able to tackle him 11 yards short of the end zone, preserving their 7–6 lead at the intermission.
San Diego punted, and Pittsburgh lost another fumble on the next play, Henry Rolling knocking the ball from Barry Foster's grasp for Byrd to recover.
On their next drive, they picked up four first downs in moving from their own 2-yard line to a 3rd and 1 at the Houston 39 - this time, Bernstine was stopped for the loss of a yard, and the Chargers elected to punt.
San Diego's best chance to avoid the shutout came with five minutes left, after Harmon's 32-yard catch gave the Chargers a 1st and goal at the Oilers 4-yard line.
Humphries found Miller racing along the left sideline, the receiver catching the ball in stride at the Seattle 40 and outpacing the defense to score.
The following Chargers drive was extended by an illegal contact penalty as Humphries threw incomplete on fourth down, but San Diego came up empty-handed when Carney missed a 34-yard kick.
After Jeff George's first touchdown pass, San Diego responded by driving into Colt territory, but Bernstine fumbled and Quentin Coryatt recovered at his own 28.
[74] The turnovers continued in the second half, with Rolling forcing a fumble that Gary Plummer recovered at the Colts 20, setting up Carney's 23-yard field goal.
A 30-yard reception by Lewis helped move the Chargers into field goal range, but Carney was wide left as time expired in the half.
With Indianapolis failing to gain a first down on its first two possessions, the Chargers drove to within a yard of the end zone, only for Butts to fumble as he dove over the goal line with the Colts recovering.
After the Chiefs twice went three-and-out, either side of a Butts fumble, Harmon took a Humphries pass for 31 yards, and San Diego reached a 3rd and 1 on the Kansas City 45.
Lewis fielded the ensuing free kick near the left sideline at his own 20, angled right to exploit a gap in the Tampa coverage, broke a tackle and went for 62 yards before being forced out of bounds.
[93] San Diego missed chances to extend its lead on their first two possessions of the second half, with Butts stopped short on fourth down, and Humphries intercepted in Raiders territory.
San Diego was forced to punt again, but Carrington intercepted Chandler and returned the ball 37 yards to give them another chance, starting at the opposition 27.
Lewis's 17-yard catch on 3rd and 10 helped move San Diego in range for a 50-yard field goal try, which Carney converted in the final minute of the half; the score was 14–10 at the interval.
San Diego and Kansas City (who lost to Los Angeles) were tied at 8–5 with Denver a game back, though the Chiefs held the tiebreaker advantage having beaten the Chargers twice.
Plummer intercepted Klingler on the next play, leaving his offense to drive only 18 yards for their third touchdown in a row: Humphries converted a 4th and 1 with a sneak, and Bernstine, back after an eight-week injury break, went up the middle to score from the 7.
Due to a loss by Kansas City earlier in the day, San Diego moved into first place in the AFC West; the Chargers also clinched a playoff berth, their first since 1982.
