The Greatest Team That NEVER Won A Playoff Game 

I grew up in San Diego a Chargers fan and that playoff game was the first football game that I ever watched. I used to curse that game but luckily it has prepared me for a lifetime of disappointment. Nothing can hurt me anymore.

As a Chargers fan, I'm alive. And that's all I can be thankful for.

Glad to see the chargers are honoring this team by continuing to do the same thing till this day!

Schottenheimer is the only coach to go 14-2 and get fired... it's amazing how good this team was

Ah yes...that slow slow sinking, suffocating, choking feeling that all us Chargers fans know so well, and relive SO often. I watched that entire season with my Dad, I remember telling him right before the playoff game "I just don't see how this team can lose." because they looked so absolutely dominant all year...man. Nothing gets you ready to deal with the ups and downs of life- quite like growing up a Chargers fan.

When I was a San Diego Chargers fan, I could endure a lot of things. I could endure a massive choke like this. 14-2 with a high octane offense and a very good defense and still screwed the pooch. I could endure having the number one D and O and still not making the dance. I can endure getting to the SB and getting squashed by the Niners. I could endure the Air Coryell offense having no defense and falling short. I could endure the goddamn Ryan Leaf era. But them moving to LA was the deal breaker for me. LA can now have all the choke jobs and the Chargering memes. Fuck em!

Secret Base has a really good video on the 2010 Chargers Chargering! I’m always excited to see more

Imagine going 14-2 and getting the one seed and then realizing your first Playoff game is against the Patriots.

I’m a Chargers fan, but I take pride in my AFC west brethren. Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders. We are the only division in football in which each team has been around the same time, since ‘60. Adds that much to our rivalries. And as a Bolts fan I’m pretty immune to heartbreak by now. But this playoff loss in January 07 to the pats was incredibly bitter. Still stings to this day. Really stings. We were dominant, we could and should have won the SB

RIP Coach Schottenheimer, we in KC also knew of plenty of playoff heartbreak during his coaching years.

This is one of my favorite teams of all time. This is the team that made me a chargers fan for most of my childhood. LT is still tied with The Bus as my favorite player all time. It sucks that they used to have so much flash and spark to them and now they feel kind of lifeless.

I was a huge patriots fan and lived an hour away from San diego. I got a job as an usher for the game and when the game stared I removed my uniform and found 2 empty seats and watched the whole game for free. Amazing!!

Thank you Brandon. People really don’t realize how good this team really was. So many hall of famers playing and coaching. It boggles the mind to think they couldn’t have went to at least one afc championship.

As a chiefs fan I got to grow up watching them play these chargers. It is a damn shame LT never got a ring.

I was invited to my first fantasy football in 2006, and had taken a break from watching football since i was very young. I got first round pick, and grabbed this really good running back named Ladainian Tomlinson, who not only crushed the single season record, elevated my team to victory...it made me a Chargers fan for over a decade. Still have the Tomlinson jersey...my favorite player of all time. Chargers also had the greatest theme song of all time, RIP San Diego Superchargers!

I would say 2007 was heartbreaking as well. We made it back to the AFC championship against the patriots, and rivers played on a partially torn ACL.

There is one team that rivals this one…. And it was the Chargers again four years later

2006 also the year Lovie smith got the Chicago bears to the Super Bowl, it was a weird year 2006

I was actually at that game. My father had season tickets and he got a couple of playoff tickets as soon as he could. We were so excited and ready. I still remember that Marlon McCree fumble. It haunts my dreams.

As great as the 06 Chargers were, people seem to forget it was the 07 Chargers that made the AFC Championship. And if not for Rivers playing on a torn ACL, they likely had a good chance of beating the 17-0 Patriots.

I really enjoy this series. Brandon does such a good job helping us reminisce on prior nfl years.

As a Colts fan. God I love Rivers. I loved our 2020 squad. My opinion of him completely changed

I grew up a Chargers fan and I remember this season when I was in high school. It was surreal to watch at team so utterly dominant. It was also devastating to know that they failed the best chance they would ever have to win a superbowl.

I was literally thinking about this, this morning. How shocking it was that Marty never won a Chip. He had multiple good teams, and the Chargers were a monster. I bet if he wasn't let go, he would of won one with San Diego.

don't let this distract you from the fact that that 2010 chargers had the number one offense AND number one defense and didn't even make the playoffs.

Do the 2005 Bengals. First post season appearance for the Bengals for 15 years. Ended in tragedy. Right up your alley Brandon.

I was a Chargers season ticket holder since 1978, and had my share of heartbreaks with Dan Fouts as quarterback, then the Super Bowl run with Stan Humphreys, and Jr Seau in 1994/5 that eventually led to the period you made this video about. Drafting Drew Breez started a series of events that nobody could predict, and while the first 2 seasons with Breez were disappointing, we made the playoffs in 2003, only to lose that home game against the Jets, when Nate Keading missed that field goal. I was so sure we would win, I looked at my buddy and said “I guarantee he is going to make that kick”. I never guaranteed anything Chargers related again.. Breez got hurt, and we had the #1 pick in the draft the following year, and we selected Eli Manning, who refused to play for us, so we traded him for Rivers. Breez left for New Orleans and the rest is history. We Chargers fans LT scored 31 touchdowns that season, and we felt unstoppable, but lost that playoff game (and several others) to TOM BRADY, and the Patriots, and sadly we never were able to get back to the Superbowl. It was those years that the phrase “to Charger” became an adjective, and a thing that has haunted our franchise ever since.. Personally, I blame Spanos for the curse that has haunted this team ever since! The Chargers really belong in San Diego, and I’ve recovered from the loss, I don’t think the team ever will. I’m still a Chargers fan, and I’m hopeful the team will become successful again. They have Herbert at quarterback and a bunch of very good players, and they have had 2 winning seasons and made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, but our new Brady is MaHomes, and I’m almost starting to hate him just as much.. Thanks for helping us remember how good we were, and how bad it always ended every season! At least we aren’t the Broncos led by Russell Wilson 👍🏼

I’m thankful we have the Chargers in our division.. it makes me feel better as a die hard Raiders fan lol. They’re always so generous and give us a win every year lol.

My dad and I are from SD. I was too young to really care about football yet but my dad is always super depressed when it comes to looking back at this season. If they win the AFC championship the chargers win the Super Bowl, San Diego gets a championship, and San Diego probably keeps it’s team. As it stands now we’ve moved to Seattle, are now Seahawks fans, and if we watch any chargers game we root against them

I just turned 29 last week, and this took me down memory lane. Indy and SD had some good matchups back then, and I used to love watching LT play. To this day he’s still my favorite rb ever. This era of football will probably always be my favorite.

I still have depression over this game. Greatest heartbreaking moment in SD sports history along with Tony and Seau’s deaths.

this is the ONLY team that makes me feel better about the steelers not winning a superbowl with prime Antonio Brown, Prime Leveon Bell and Prime Big Ben

Now do a video on the 2010 Chargers, who had the #1 offense and defense but missed the playoffs

The 14-2 ravens and the 15-1 Packers are not on this list is crazy 🤦🤡

Damn I never saw Brees’ injury.. that was nasty! These Balls Deep videos are some of the best shit you put out. Deserves way more love!

As a Charger since Fouts, this is painful; like and old play, a tragedy and yet here I am.

Just recently found your channel. Even as a Chiefs fan I think you're great dude. I love these deep dives the most. I think we are probably close to the same age so they're usually a walk down memory lane for me.

It’s really insane how good the chargers were in the LT era considering how little they accomplished in the postseason.

Hey Perna, have you done/considered doing a BD vid on the '99 Jaguars team that sent Marino to the retirement home? I dunno if there's enough material in that idea for a long-form vid, but with the Jags relevant once again a flash back to (one of) their good times seems like a decent idea.

I get up everyday at 4am and go to work until 5pm …. It’s hard to get up in the morning but thank you Brandon Perna for making my morning so much better ❤💪🏼 your awesome my man .

Jabbar Gaffney was an underrated Bronco. Super slow but routes were so crisp he was open a ton

Antonio Cromartie has more baby mama then Philip Rivers have kids😂😂😂😂

One of the few football games I was lucky to go to was a raiders, chargers game in 2006 my senior year of high school. LT had one of his best games that day and even as a raiders fan I was excited to watch him play.

This was the team I got hooked on the NFL with. Unfortunately the team is still blowing it year after year but I still love them! My hockey team is the exact same way…I obviously root for mediocre teams 😂

I hope you do more of these historical videos. This was so interesting.

Great video to bring back past scares!! Still loved the video though. Funny to me that 2 of the best Charger videos regarding past teams are, this 2006 chargers from a Denver fan and the 2010 chargers from a KC fan.... I guess we just don't have a good youtubers for Chargers fans, at least not of past seasons.

This era made me a Chargers fan. A lot of weekends watching the bolts while my uncles would drink beer and barbecue. LT, Sproles, Gates, and Jackson. Awesome team to watch.

Was 15 when we lost that game still love my chargers just hope they turn it around one day and get close to how great this team was thank you for the chargers content ⚡️⚡️⚡️

Brandon made this video just so he could make Philip Rivers jokes lol

I remember this season as a Chargers fan. I thought this was gonna be our year. Unstoppable forces with tons of young up and coming players and a good sprinkling of vets. I was so devastated to see how the season ended. The Chargers are still and probably will always be my 2nd favorite team. Just hope we don't waste Herbert like they did Rivers. And like my main team, GB wasted Favre and Rodgers. Appreciate seeing some love from a Broncos fan and we know we're your secret team to win if Denver and Buffalo don't win over the Chiefs. Keep up the good work and love the videos.

It continues to amaze me that RU-vid hasn't demonetized this segment for calling it Balls Deep. Great video, you're the best Brandon.

Love the Marty McFly tee! I’ve never seen that one with the Van Halen guitar on it. I want one! Great job Brando!

This was a great video. I wish you’d make more historical type of videos.

Only got into the NFL three years ago. Became a chargers fan cause I’m from LA and I went to college with Herbert. Also I really just loved the way the offense had a spark in it. When I get into something new I go deep. So I studied the history of my team. I was 8 years old in ‘06 and couldn’t be bothered about sports. But this season. And that game. It haunts me.

You should do a similar video on the 2005 Bengals, They were 11-5 on the way to probably a Super Bowl run when on the second play of the game Carson Palmer was hit and tore his ACL. Palmer would never play at the level of the 2005 season again thus ending any chance of them being taken seriously again in the future. Which is why a Burrow wearing #9 and all the curses being broken seems as a very feel good story for Bengal fans!

I’m gotta support this dude. Most entertaining football videos.

GREAT VIDEO... PATROITS STOPPED ALLOT OF FUTURE DYNASTIES. CHARGERS, COLTS, RAIDERS, JETS, RAVENS, JAGS, CHIEFS. VERY SATISFYING VIDEO. TY😁

My twins were born in the fall of 2006 so even if I saw any part of the '06 season, I was probably tandem nursing and half-asleep. Thanks for the overview of a season I literally don't remember 😂 for any team. What a tragedy for all the Chargers fans! Btw - great writing & editing on this one. I love the humor clips added.

Great Video

It's crazy how ya forget all that sruff... you are such a great find! Gotta try your Losers Blend! 🏈

I still remember the mixed feelings I had at that game. As a colts fan of the time I was thrilled that they would be hosting the afc champ game, but I was terrified of another loss to Brady. Luckily it didn’t play out that way as it was the one year the team had a solid defense

Great show! You always make me laugh.

I will miss the 06 Chargers when they had 11 pro bowlers and LT was the bomb. We need more teams like them in today’s NFL.

Good stuff B! You should look into Leon Washington’s underrated career when you get a chance 😁

Chargers reminded me of NBA Kings with Mike Bibby Chris Webber and Vlad years so good but kept losing to Lakers and Portland instead of Colt and pats

This was a real fun look back into my golden age of madden playing, and I bragged more than once about that jake Plummer win to all the patriots fans who surround me in New Hampshire

Great video! I've always been interested in the 06' Chargers as well. I wish they were still in San Diego! For all of the Navy pplz living there, .. we felt like the Chargers were the official team of the US Navy. ( I grew up in San Diego, in the Navy )

What about the 15-1 Packers the year after they won a SB? They lost in the divisional round and were a one and done

I grew up in San Diego. I still remember that season. I was 10. I was sad.

You know Perna, I am not a Chargers fan, but you make a great point at 4:45. That tackle by Lynch changed the destiny of two NFL teams for the better. (The Chargers, and the New Orleans Saints).

I n d e e d Well done on the vid !! EDIT: Can’t recall how many pro bowlers they had on that roster that year

i was very lucky to be at the game where LT broke the TD record (also my very first NFL game) I'll never forget how everyone in the stadium (even some Bronco fans) started cheering and yelling LT in unison... i always get bagged on for being the only Chargers fan in the vicinity but damn do i have SOME happy memories with them

U never..WVER dissapoint Perna ..even Raider Nation shows u love.. Bcuz u spit facts. 💯💯🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

You got one of the best sports channels 🔥

I love how you keep up the consistency with the commentary just mentioning Gates basketball background 😭

The reason why the 2010 Chargers were 10th in scoring defense was because their special teams was so bad the opponents never had to move the damn ball. They were already on the Charger's side of the field. The fact they were still in the top 10 despite this is mind boggling.

Perna's undying love of Tom Brady never stops.

I didn’t know benchwarmer brew had a sister page to donate. Very very cool man. Very unique!

As a Chargers fan, I demand Brandon release an 8-Bit Chargers shirt on Benchwarmer Brew as repatriations for this video giving me PTSD

I would give the edge to this Chargers team but the 2019 Ravens story is VERY similar and should have an honorable mention

The running gag of P Rivers having kids is brilliant.

As a lifelong Broncos fan, my first game in person was the NYE game against SD when Brees broke his leg. Being from the East Coast I was drinking at 8AM SD time and was damn well drunk by the end of the game. Made for a long NYE and even longer day after. A little over 5 months later, I was in attendance at the Preakness when Barbaro broke his leg and I was also equally drunk then. Apparently my drinking has an affect on sports.

This man storytelling is 😮🔥💯

I'm from SD. I haven't watched a full football game since the charges left. This video was amazing.

This is great!

Antonio and Phillip still get together every year with their families and have complete drafts and seasonal games between their kids they’re building their own league

This team is cursed. Marlon Mccree is Spanos personified as a football player!

LOL I like how you kept updating the baby number. noticed at 3 kids🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've had a related idea for a Balls Deep episode where you go into the worst team to ever make the 1st seed. Look at the teams that went one and done in the divisional round, then judge 'em by strength of schedule and other stats to determine their fraudulence.

Good video Perna. How about the 1998 Vikings? I am a Bills fans but loved these Chargers teams. Come to think of it..... maybe baseball or hockey should be my sport........

Good content! An idea for a New “Balls Deep” episode. Next talk about one of the most dysfunctional Teams in NFL history. 1993 Houston Oilers.

Man this brings back memories

Hoooo boy….. talk about repressed memories here…. First and foremost, I’m an ex-Chargers fan, an extremely bitter one at that. I’ll get to that later but the ‘06 Chargers up until that playoff loss was my happy place during my dad’s losing battle with leukemia. He even called me from the hospital just to tell me how amazed he was at the Seattle Rivers to Jackson touchdown…. and my dad wasn’t a football guy, just a very, very casual Rams fan only because they were LA way back in the day and he thought they were ‘alright’, that and he despised the Raiders. What killed it for me (and even the NFL itself for a couple years) wasn’t the choking, the bad years, Norbert Turner, Teddy Cotrell’s terrible defensive scheming, the San Diego sports curse or having a dump like Qualcomm Stadium that would probably literally collapse in a moderate earthquake…. I could endure all that and did so….. no what ended it was Dean Spanos essentially telling his fan base to go fuck themselves in 2016 without even a goodbye or even acknowledging his fan base…. very Irsay and Mayflower like. Pissed me off and I remember that rainy morning well…. I had a Chargers emblem on the back of my Wrangler and I remember taking a flathead screwdriver and scrapping it off, scratching my tailgate up in pure anger and watching that stupid logo float away in muddy water. I was so bitter I quit watching football for a couple years, not caring about it. Fortunately though I got over it and became a fan again after watching a modern classic…. Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams out dueling Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. It just felt right becoming a Rams fan and I remembered the goodwill from my dad towards the Rams so that helped too…. and knowing that Dean Spanos will always just be a hated tenant to Stan Kroenke. Thank you for bringing up how much of a gimp Spanos is. Hated in San Diego and hated in Los Angeles. I remember seeing his stupid private jet at LAX and giving it the middle finger. Futile and petty yes, but it sure felt good doing that!

As a Bolts fan, this hurts. I even went back home from Japan to see them play at playoffs only to be seen them loss to the spy handling Cheatriots. Instead I get to watch Colts vs. Bears SB. That was when I realize how Dean Spanos is such a Cheapskate Clown.

The best lights out dance was by Junior Seau when he sacked Rivers while Seau was with the Patriots.

You better be streaming the afc championship today I’ve been counting on it all week

I know this is random but your voice and the way you speak reminds me of the Many-Face God from Game of Thrones lol I like you both so it's all good. Btw I love this channel, your journalism and comedy is unmatched! Haha

LT was the man! He's in my top 5 best backs in NFL, definitely top 10

Still can't believe they lost to New England who had Reche Caldwell as their #1 receiver

1986 and 1987 Bears were more disappointing. Both teams dominated in the regular season and then got owned by the Washington [Redacted]s in their first playoff games.