Fired coach Norv Turner and quarterback Philip Rivers only produced seven wins together in 2012. (US Presswire)

The Chargers (7-9) missed the playoffs for the third straight season because they found ways to lose games as a team.

Offense: D-

San Diego had scored an offensive touchdown in 151 straight regular-season games, a streak that predated QB Philip Rivers, until a 27-3 loss to the Falcons in Week 3. The offense was shut out of the end zone two more times in 2012 and finished the season ranked 31st (297.2 yards per game). A porous O-line was the main reason San Diego struggled to move the ball. Rivers was sacked 49 times and hit on 70 other occasions. Rivers threw 15 INTs, but made better decisions towards the end of the season. He didn’t throw a pick in the final four games and the Bolts went 3-1.

Defense: B-

Thanks to the defense, the Bolts had a legitimate chance of winning seven of the nine games they lost. The defense made marketable improvements under first-year coordinator John Pagano. They finished the season ranked 9th (326.4 yards per game), up eight spots from 2011 (ranked 17th, 346.6). There was still a lot of room for improvement. The defense repeatedly failed to make fourth quarter stops. The most memorable gaff occurred in Week 12 when Ravens RB Ray Rice converted a short dump pass into a first down on a 4th-and-29.

Special teams: B+

There were a lot of positives for the third unit. Kickers Nate Kaeding (7 for 7) and Nick Novak (18 for 20) combined for 25 of 27 on field goals. The two misses were from 55 and 54 yards. S Darrell Stuckey, the special teams captain, was phenomenal as a gunner until he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 12. WR-KR Micheal Spurlock returned a punt for 63-yards for a TD in week 16 and then took a kickoff 99 yards to the house in Week 17 to become the first player in Chargers history to return a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in consecutive games. P Mike Scifres averaged a net of 40.6 yards per punt on 81 punts with 30 landing inside the 20. Three blocked punts keep the overall grade out of the A range.

Coaching: D-

Coach Norv Turner avoids a failing grade because he kept a sinking ship afloat, and the players never turned their backs on him. Nevertheless, the season was full of historically bad moments that can be blamed on coaching. The Chargers blew double-digit halftime leads in consecutive games against the Saints (Week 5) and Broncos (Week 6). This was followed by a completely flat performance against a dismal Browns’ team after a bye week. Then there is the 4th-and-29 play. Put it all together and a change had to happen.

Cumulative GPA: 1.8

Average isn’t acceptable and that is why general manager A.J. Smith and coach Norv Turner were fired on Monday.

“Both Norv and A.J. are consummate NFL professionals, and they understand that in this league, the bottom-line is winning,” owner and team president Dean Spanos said. “My only goal is the Super Bowl, and that is why I have decided to move in a new direction with both our head coach and general manager positions. I am committed to our great fans, and we will do whatever we possibly can to achieve that goal.”

Follow the Chargers and Dan McLellan on Twitter @CBSChargers and@sandiegosports.