The emotion we saw a year ago when the Chargers beat the Dolphins in what many thought might be the last home game in San Diego Chargers history was simply not there this time around.
Neither was the result.
The Bolts finished their season ... likely the Mike McCoy era ... and possibly their five-plus decade stay in San Diego with a 37-27 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
The crowd was far from a sellout and many of the 54,915 fans who showed up were wearing Chiefs red. San Diego supporters got basically two things to cheer for.
Possibly the last time Philip Rivers leaves the field as a San Diego Charger. pic.twitter.com/bHQz7cZdNn
— Derek Togerson (@DerekNBCSD) January 2, 2017
The first was in the 2nd quarter when tight end Antonio Gates caught a two-yard TD pass from Philip Rivers. It was the 111th TD reception of Gates' career, tying him with Tony Gonzalez for the most by a tight end in NFL history. Gates has indicated he would like to return to the Chargers and play the final year of his contract, which expires after 2017.
The other highlight came when Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off by Jahleel Addae, who weaved his way to a 90-yard touchdown return.
Other than that this game was all Chiefs. Smith, the Helix High School alum, threw a pair of touchdown passes to running back Charcandrick West. Smith also ran for a 5-yard score.
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Rivers threw a pair of first half interceptions, one of them in the end zone, to help the Chiefs build a 20-10 halftime lead. Kansas City really put the game out of reach in the 3rd quarter when Tyreek Hill fielded a punt at his own five yard line, split a couple of tacklers, and ran 95 yards for a touchdown and a 34-17 lead. It was the finale for what was a truly miserable season for the Chargers and their special teams unit.
San Diego finishes the season 5-11, just one win better than they were a year ago. The speculation is that means McCoy will be fired and the Chargers will start the search for a new head coach on Monday.
