The Chargers failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 2011 and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, resulting in Turner's firing on December 31, 2012.
The Raiders Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo suffered a head injury in the second quarter.
[1] San Diego led at halftime 10–6, and the Raiders did not scored a touchdown until 54 seconds remained in the game.
[2] Undrafted rookie Mike Harris made his first NFL start, filing in for left tackle for an injured Jared Gaither.
Running back Ryan Mathews and receiver Vincent Brown missed the game with injuries.
Rivers had one of his worst statistical performances, completing 21 of 38 passes for 173 yards, with two interceptions and a passer rating of 45.2.
Running back Ryan Matthews made his season debut, and ran for 44 yards on 10 carries.
The Falcons improved to a perfect 3–0 all-time record in San Diego while the Chargers dropped to 2–1 on the season while suffering a television blackout in Southern California.
The Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37–20 and started the season with a 3–1 record for the second consecutive year.
U-T San Diego wrote that Mathews would have been expected to start were it not for his fumble against Atlanta the prior week.
[5] Nick Novak filled in for kicker Nate Kaeding, who was out with a groin injury, and made all three of his field goals.
Rivers had two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter: an interception that led to a Saints field goal and a fumble as San Diego was driving to tie the score in the game's last minute.
[6] With the loss, San Diego missed an opportunity to take a two-game lead over the Denver Broncos for the AFC West.
[8] The Chargers built their first-half lead after two special teams fumble recoveries and an 80-yard touchdown return by Quentin Jammer off a Peyton Manning interception.
[8] After the game, Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported that the Chargers used an "illegal stickum-type substance" during the game, and a Chargers equipment member was caught by the line judge hiding and handing out the substance to players, which was confiscated by the league.
[9] Chargers head coach Norv Turner denied that the team cheated, and stated that the object was a towel with a substance that dries footballs.
[13] With the Broncos' win that same week, the Chargers fell into a second place tie with the Raiders in the AFC West.
[14][15] The defense followed with Jarret Johnson's sack of the Chiefs' Matt Cassel, which caused a fumble that was recovered by Shaun Phillips for a San Diego touchdown.
San Diego (4–5) lost 34–24 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5–4), dropping the Chargers two games behind division-leading Denver.
However, he three two interceptions in the fourth quarter, including one that was returned 83 yards for a touchdown that he threw heading out of bounds to avoid a sack.
Vincent Jackson, who left the Chargers as a free agent for Tampa Bay, had five receptions for 59 yards in his first game against San Diego.
[20] The Chargers first 9 points of the game were scored by the defense—an interception returned for a touchdown by Eric Weddle, and a safety by Shaun Phillips.
[19] Denver swept the season series against the Chargers, giving them the advantage in a tiebreaker with San Diego if needed.
The Ravens faced fourth-and-29 at their own 37 with 1:37 left when running back Ray Rice caught a pass one yard past the line of scrimmage.
[7][22] The Ravens kicked a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at the end of regulation, and made another 38-yarder to win with 1:07 left in overtime.
It was the third time the Chargers blew a double-digit lead in the second half, including the earlier back-to-back losses to the Saints and Broncos.
[24] Williams intercepted Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and returned it for a 31-yard touchdown, his second score of the season.