. "It almost seemed like we were the team that

SAN DIEGO - Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers twice had their playoff destiny in their own hands. They still ended up missing the post-season for the fourth time in five seasons.Losing at home to New England and Denver on consecutive weeks was one thing, although it proved the Chargers couldnt hang in there with the AFCs elite teams.Getting handled by the division rival Kansas City Chiefs on the final day of the regular season was another thing, because all the Chargers (9-7) had to do was win and they would have been in the post-season.What we have is a pretty good team, star tight end Antonio Gates said. We are a playoff team. Everybody knows that. Teams that had an opportunity to play against us, they know. Denver knows. Those games are coming down to one or two plays. Weve just got to be able to make those plays. Weve got to be a better situational football team.The Chargers final stretch was at times riveting and at times illustrated how much work they still have to do.Rivers brought the Chargers back from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes for a win at Baltimore. He rallied the Bolts to an overtime win at San Francisco after the Chargers fell behind by 21 points in a dismal first half.In between, though, were the home losses to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The Chargers scored only one offensive touchdown in each of those games, as they did in the 19-7 loss at Kansas City that saw the Bolts fail to repeat the playoff trip they made last year.Its tough, because youve got to constantly build on what you have, Gates said. We have a great foundation, great players, great coaching staff. Its just up to us to build on it. Obviously this year didnt go the way we liked. We were one game away from making the post-season. Ive got all the confidence in the world that the foundation has been put in place and will eventually succeed in due time.Earlier, the Chargers won five straight games, including against defending Super Bowl champion Seattle. They then lost three straight, including a 37-0 pratfall at Miami.It was a heck of a year in a lot of ways, Rivers said. A lot of highs, some lows, and ultimately it ends on a low, and thats disappointing. But we fought like crazy. At the end it wasnt good enough. But the effort and fight and togetherness and the team was there every Sunday.Here are some things to remember about the Chargers season:RIVERS: The QB played through chest and back injuries. As usual, coach Mike McCoy bristled whenever asked about them, and Rivers declined to divulge much information. Rivers didnt rule out needing off-season surgery on his back injury, although he said reports he had a bulging disc in his back were not exactly accurate. Rivers said discussing his injuries would be self-serving, and then added: My injuries had nothing to do with whether I threw it good or threw it bad. Still, Rivers threw seven interceptions in the final three games, including two in the loss at Kansas City, when he also lost a fumble. He finished the season with 4,286 yards, 31 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He had seven more interceptions than during his bounceback season of 2013.BEST QB-TE COMBO EVER: Gates caught 12 touchdown passes from Rivers, giving the duo 72, the most in NFL history between a quarterback and tight end.NOT MUCH RUNNING BY RYAN: Oft-injured Ryan Mathews, among the big-name Chargers who will be eligible for free agency, was limited by knee and ankle injuries to only six games, his fewest in five seasons with the Bolts. He had 330 yards, second on the team to Branden Oliver, an undrafted rookie who ran for 582 yards and three scores. Due to his lack of durability, Mathews likely will be allowed to leave as a free agent.CENTERS: Due to injuries, the Chargers started five different centres. Veteran Nick Hardwick was knocked out of the opener with a season-ending stinger. Rich Ohrnberger started seven of the next nine games before he went on IR with a back injury. Doug Legursky started two games before going on IR with a knee injury. Rookie Chris Watt started five games before getting knocked out with a calf injury and Trevor Robinson started the season finale.DWIGHT FREENEY: If this was the last season of Freeneys stellar career, at least he went out with a sack in the loss at Kansas City. Freeney, who turns 35 in February, finished his second season with the Chargers and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He played in all 16 games after having his 2013 season cut short by injury after just four games. He had 3 1/2 sacks this season, giving him 111 1/2 for his career.___Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Glen Rice Jersey . "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. Devonte Graham Hornets Jersey .5 million, four-year contract with the Texas Rangers that could be worth $32. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Jalen-Mcdaniels-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Ozuna hit Reeds 2-2 pitch off the batters eye far above the 407-foot sign in straightaway centre. It was the fifth blown save in 25 tries for Reed (1-5) and the ninth home run the closer has allowed in 38 appearances. Nuno, acquired in the deal that sent Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees, gave up three hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked one in seven innings. Cody Zeller Jersey . -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego. Willy Hernangomez Hornets Jersey . The Padres made the moves before Fridays game at Washington. They promoted infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso.CARSON, Calif. -- Two early goals proved insurmountable as the Vancouver Whitecaps tried to extend their longest unbeaten streak of the season. Landon Donovan and Marcelo Sarvas scored in the first 32 minutes to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-0 victory Saturday night in front of 21,637 at the StubHub Center. The Whitecaps (7-5-12), whose six-game undefeated stretch ended, remain only two points ahead of the Portland Timbers and three in front of the Colorado Rapids in the quest for fifth place, the final playoff berth in Major League Soccers Western Conference. Despite the loss, Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson expressed satisfaction with his teams play. "From the first goal to the second, we were in control without really hurting them," Robinson said. "When the second goal went in, our heads went down a little bit. But in the second half, I was really proud of the way we performed and the way we tried to have a go (at the Galaxy)." Donovan, the all-time leading scorer for both MLS and the United States national team, scored the first goal in the fourth minute. After Robbie Keanes side-winding half-volley bounced past three players -- including two Whitecaps defenders -- a sliding Donovan converted a left-footed shot from four yards over lunging goalkeeper David Ousted at the left-wing post. That goal ended the Whitecaps streak of 325 consecutive shutout minutes. Donovan and Keane became involved with Sarvas goal in the 32nd minute. After receiving Donovans pass in the penalty area, Sarvas back-heeled the ball to Keane, who lost control while trying to transfer it to his left foot.dddddddddddd. But the ball rolled to Sarvas, who scored on a 10-yard diagonal shot inside the far post on the right-wing side. The Galaxy (11-5-7) took the early lead despite playing its third game in eight days, including Wednesday night in Colorado. "After the second goal, we dropped off," Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey said. "It almost seemed like we were the team that played on Wednesday." Vancouvers two best scoring chances came in the second half. In the 55th minute, Kekuta Manneh finished a box-to-box solo run by forcing Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo to dive to the left to stop a 12-yard shot. Then in the 81st minute, Penedo lunged to his right to deflect Darren Mattocks 19-yard line drive with his right hand. "I thought we went toe-to-toe with them in the second half," Harvey said. "We created half-chances, but not enough." Vancouver played with 10 men after defender Johnny Leveron received a red card in the 90th minute for tripping the Galaxys Alan Gordon from behind. Leveron will be suspended for the Whitecaps home match Aug. 30 against Portland. Midfielder Mauro Rosales and defender Kendall Waston made their debuts for the Whitecaps. Rosales, acquired from Chivas USA on Thursday for midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, replaced Sebastian Fernandez at halftime. Waston, who joined the Whitecaps on Aug. 14 from Costa Ricas Deportivo Saprissa, came in for Manneh in the 79th minute and received a yellow card in the 87th minute. ' ' '