2017 Los Angeles Chargers season
The 2017 season was the Los Angeles Chargers' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their 58th overall, their second in the Greater Los Angeles Area and their first under head coach Anthony Lynn. It was the Chargers' first season in Los Angeles since their inaugural 1960 season, when they were in the AFL, as the team exercised its option to move back to the city and join the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2017.[1] The 2017 season was the first of three seasons played at StubHub Center prior to the new stadium in Inglewood being completed in 2020.
2017 Los Angeles Chargers season | |
---|---|
Owner | Alex Spanos |
General manager | Tom Telesco |
Head coach | Anthony Lynn |
Home field | StubHub Center |
Results | |
Record | 9–7 |
Division place | 2nd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 6 |
AP All-Pros | 1
|
The Chargers, despite an 0–4 start, finished the season with 9–7 record and improved their 5–11 record from last season after a week 13 win over the Cleveland Browns. Their season finale win over the Raiders helped the Chargers finish with a winning record for the first time since 2014. However, they missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season — the Chargers finished in a four-way tie with the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens for the two Wild Card playoff spots, but the Titans and Bills claimed the Wild Cards based on tiebreakers.
Offseason
Transition to Los Angeles
On January 2, 2017, Chargers' head coach Mike McCoy was fired along with the majority of his coaching staff. On January 12, 2017, Chargers' owner Dean Spanos announced during a press conference the decision to immediately return the San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles. Spanos had a deadline of January 17, 2017, to decide if he wanted to return the team to Los Angeles. The Chargers were chosen by the league in 2016 as the second team to be allowed to relocate to Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Rams and play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Until the new stadium was compleated in 2020, the Chargers played the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.[2]
The Chargers transitioned from San Diego to new headquarters in the Los Angeles area throughout the offseason, although social and fan reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The team held their mini-camp in San Diego, with the final day on the field at the old practice field coming on June 15. Former players James Lofton, Nick Hardwick and Jacques Cesaire showed up on the final day, as did fans.[3]
Trucks moved equipment up the road after the final practice. Front office people continued to work in San Diego until the team's lease expired later in the summer then the team completely moved to their new headquarters in Costa Mesa, California.[4]
Signings
Position | Player | Age | 2016 Team | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
OT | Russell Okung | 29 | Denver Broncos | 4 years, $53 million |
DE | Damion Square | 28 | San Diego Chargers | 2 years, $4 million |
S | Tre Boston | 25 | Carolina Panthers | 1 year, $900,000 |
RB | Branden Oliver | 25 | San Diego Chargers | 1 year, $800,000 |
TE | Jeff Cumberland | 29 | San Diego Chargers | 1 year, $775,000 |
RB | Kenjon Barner | 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1 year, $690,000 |
DE | Tenny Palepoi | 26 | San Diego Chargers | 1 year, $615,000 |
Releases
Position | Player | Age | 2017 Team |
---|---|---|---|
OT | King Dunlap | 31 | Retired |
OG | D.J. Fluker | 25 | New York Giants |
LB | Manti Te'o | 26 | New Orleans Saints |
WR | Jeremy Butler | 25 | Buffalo Bills |
CB | Brandon Flowers | 31 | Retired |
WR | Stevie Johnson | 30 | TBD |
DT | Sean Lissemore | 29 | TBD |
RB | Danny Woodhead | 32 | Baltimore Ravens |
RB | Dexter McCluster | 28 | TBD |
RB | Ronnie Hillman | 25 | Dallas Cowboys |
CB | Robert McClain | 28 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Draft
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | Mike Williams | WR | Clemson University |
2 | 38 | Forrest Lamp | G | Western Kentucky |
3 | 71 | Dan Feeney | G | Indiana |
4 | 113 | Rayshawn Jenkins | S | Miami |
5 | 151 | Desmond King | S | Iowa |
6 | 190 | Sam Tevi | OT | Utah |
7 | 225 | Isaac Rochell | DE | Notre Dame |
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 13 | Seattle Seahawks | L 17–48 | 0–1 | StubHub Center | Recap |
2 | August 20 | New Orleans Saints | L 7–13 | 0–2 | StubHub Center | Recap |
3 | August 26 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 21–19 | 1–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap |
4 | August 31 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 13–23 | 1–3 | Levi's Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 11 | at Denver Broncos | L 21–24 | 0–1 | Sports Authority Field at Mile High | Recap |
2 | September 17 | Miami Dolphins | L 17–19 | 0–2 | StubHub Center | Recap |
3 | September 24 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 10–24 | 0–3 | StubHub Center | Recap |
4 | October 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 24–26 | 0–4 | StubHub Center | Recap |
5 | October 8 | at New York Giants | W 27–22 | 1–4 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
6 | October 15 | at Oakland Raiders | W 17–16 | 2–4 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Recap |
7 | October 22 | Denver Broncos | W 21–0 | 3–4 | StubHub Center | Recap |
8 | October 29 | at New England Patriots | L 13–21 | 3–5 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
9 | Bye | |||||
10 | November 12 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 17–20 (OT) | 3–6 | EverBank Field | Recap |
11 | November 19 | Buffalo Bills | W 54–24 | 4–6 | StubHub Center | Recap |
12 | November 23 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 28–6 | 5–6 | AT&T Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 3 | Cleveland Browns | W 19–10 | 6–6 | StubHub Center | Recap |
14 | December 10 | Washington Redskins | W 30–13 | 7–6 | StubHub Center | Recap |
15 | December 16 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 13–30 | 7–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 24 | at New York Jets | W 14–7 | 8–7 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 31 | Oakland Raiders | W 30–10 | 9–7 | StubHub Center | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
Broncos | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. MDT/7:20 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 76,324
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins, Rex Ryan and Sergio Dipp
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Rookie kicker Younghoe Koo's game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds was blocked by the Denver's Shelby Harris, and the Chargers lost 24–21. An earlier attempt by Koo was successful, but it was called off after the Broncos had called a timeout right before the snap.[5]
Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 3 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 19 |
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 25,381
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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In their first Game back In Los Angeles since 1960 Koo missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired in a 19–17 loss to Miami.[6]
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 25,386
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 10 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 26 |
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 25,374
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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The Chargers play a home game at StubHub Center against the NFC East's Philadelphia Eagles. Notably, this home game turned out to be a 'road game' for the Chargers as Eagles fans took over StubHub and turned it into, as dubbed on Twitter, "Lincoln Financial Field West". In the end the Eagles won 26-24 over the Chargers.
With the loss, the Chargers' record dropped to 0-4, last place in the AFC West.
Week 5: at New York Giants
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
Giants | 9 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 77,373
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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In a back-and-forth game against the Giants, the Chargers proved victorious after rallying to score 10 unanswered points to retake the lead. Four plays after Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a season-ending broken ankle, Philip Rivers delivered a 10-yard touchdown pass to Melvin Gordon with just under three minutes to go, and the Los Angeles defense prevented New York from responding. With the win, the Chargers earned their first win of the season, also snapping a 9-game losing streak that dated back to their previous season in San Diego.[7]
Week 6: at Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
Raiders | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 54,685
- Referee: Clete Blakeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 25,388
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon and Amanda Balionis
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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With their first home victory as the L.A. Chargers, Philip Rivers went 15/26 for 183 passing yard and 2 touchdowns, shutting out the Denver Broncos. It was their first home win in Los Angeles since December 18, 1960.
Week 8: at New England Patriots
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
Patriots | 0 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. PDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), rain
- Game attendance: 65,878
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Jaguars | 6 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
at EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 60,835
- Referee: Ronald Torbert
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon and James Lofton
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Buffalo Bills
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
Chargers | 10 | 27 | 10 | 7 | 54 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 25,015
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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The Chargers handily routed the Bills, partly thanks to Buffalo's now-infamous decision to start rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman, who threw five interceptions to the Chargers defense in the first half alone before being pulled for previous starter Tyrod Taylor.[8] With the win, Los Angeles snapped its 2-game losing streak to improve to 4–6.
Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 28 |
Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. CST/1:30 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 93,012
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Philip Rivers threw three touchdowns in the second half, and Dak Prescott threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, one of which was returned 90 yards by rookie Desmond King for a touchdown, for a second straight win. With the win and the Chiefs losing on Sunday, the Chargers ended up one game out of first in the AFC West. This would be the first time since 2010 that the Chargers would wear the alternate powder blue jerseys introduced in 2007 against an NFC team and the first time ever it was worn on the road.
Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Chargers | 0 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 19 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 25,320
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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The Chargers, for the second straight year in a row, faced a winless Browns team. Former Browns kicker Travis Coons, signed off the Chargers' practice squad in place of an injured Nick Novak, kicked four field goals in the game. Keenan Allen caught a touchdown, and the defense forced two fourth-quarter turnovers to seal the game. With the win, along with the Chiefs' loss to the Jets earlier and the Raiders beating the Giants, the Chargers moved into a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West.
Week 14: vs. Washington Redskins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
Chargers | 13 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 30 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Kansas City Chiefs
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
Game information | ||
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Week 16: at New York Jets
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Jets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game information | ||
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Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Chargers | 0 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 30 |
at StubHub Center, Carson, California
- Date: December 31
- Game time: 1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), hazy
- Game attendance: 25,430
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Division
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(4) Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | 415 | 339 | W4 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 6–6 | 355 | 272 | W2 |
Oakland Raiders | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 301 | 373 | L4 |
Denver Broncos | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 289 | 382 | L2 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1[lower-alpha 1] | New England Patriots | East | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .484 | .466 | W3 |
2[lower-alpha 1] | Pittsburgh Steelers | North | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 6–0 | 10–2 | .453 | .423 | W2 |
3[lower-alpha 2] | Jacksonville Jaguars | South | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .434 | .394 | L2 |
4[lower-alpha 2] | Kansas City Chiefs | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .477 | .481 | W4 |
Wild Cards | |||||||||||
5[lower-alpha 3] | Tennessee Titans | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .434 | .396 | W1 |
6[lower-alpha 3] | Buffalo Bills | East | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .492 | .396 | W1 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
7[lower-alpha 3] | Baltimore Ravens | North | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .441 | .299 | L1 |
8[lower-alpha 3] | Los Angeles Chargers | West | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 6–6 | .457 | .347 | W2 |
9 | Cincinnati Bengals | North | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–3 | 6–6 | .465 | .321 | W2 |
10[lower-alpha 4] | Oakland Raiders | West | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .512 | .396 | L4 |
11[lower-alpha 4] | Miami Dolphins | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .543 | .531 | L3 |
12[lower-alpha 5] | Denver Broncos | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .492 | .413 | L2 |
13[lower-alpha 5] | New York Jets | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .520 | .438 | L4 |
14[lower-alpha 6] | Indianapolis Colts | South | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .480 | .219 | W1 |
15[lower-alpha 6] | Houston Texans | South | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .516 | .375 | L6 |
16 | Cleveland Browns | North | 0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | 0–6 | 0–12 | .520 | – | L16 |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 7] | |||||||||||
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References
- "Chargers announce decision to relocate to Los Angeles". National Football League. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- "Chargers chairman 'looking forward' after announcing L.A. move". ESPN.com. January 12, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- "Chargers, Philip Rivers bid bittersweet farewell to San Diego". June 15, 2017.
- "Chargers, Philip Rivers bid bittersweet farewell to San Diego". June 15, 2017.
- Wang, Jack (September 11, 2017). "Chargers' comeback falls short as blocked field goal seals 24-21 loss to Broncos". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017.
- Sherman, Rodger (September 17, 2017). "This Time, the Missed Game-Winning Kick Is Younghoe Koo's Fault". The Ringer. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017.
- "Chargers vs. Giants - Game Recap - October 8, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
- Rollins, Khadrice (November 19, 2017). "Bills' Nathan Peterman Benched For Tyrod Taylor After Five First-Half Interceptions". si.com. Retrieved November 19, 2017.