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Chargers seek fifth straight win

Dec 24, 2007 - 11:34 AM Denver (6-8) at San Diego (9-5) 8:00 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Chargers could make their playoff road a bit easier with wins in their last two games.

Looking to hold on to the AFC's third seed, the Chargers host the Denver Broncos on Monday.

A major disappointment earlier this season, the Chargers have rebounded to win their second straight AFC West title.

Sparked by a four-game winning streak, the Chargers also have moved into a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the third seed in the playoffs. Pittsburgh visits St. Louis on Thursday night.

If the Chargers, who own the tiebreaker over the Steelers based on better conference record, finish third, they likely would avoid a wild card game against the physical Jacksonville Jaguars.

San Diego visits the Oakland Raiders next week.

Under the much-maligned Norv Turner, the Chargers got off to a 1-3 start this season. But they have won eight of their last 10 games since the rough beginning.

"(Adversity) builds character," Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "You find out who you are."

Tomlinson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns last week, lifting the Chargers to a 51-14 rout of the Detroit Lions. Darren Sproles rushed for 112 yards and two scores for the Chargers, who rolled up 416 total yards in one of their most impressive wins of the season.

After falling to 1-3 with a home loss to Kansas City on September 30, the Chargers followed that game up with a 41-3 thrashing of the Broncos. Michael Turner rushed for 147 yards and Tomlinson amassed 140 total yards.

While the Chargers headed back to the playoffs, the Broncos will miss the postseason for a second straight campaign.

Denver, which has lost three of its last four games, is coming off a disappointing 31-13 setback against the Houston Texans last Thursday.