Dec 24, 2007 - 6:34 AM
0 shoutsDenver (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.
From the Bleachers
-
DENVER: 3
SAN DIEGO: 23
Final
Dec 24 11:00 PM -
DENVER: 3
SAN DIEGO: 23
End of 3rd
Dec 24 10:24 PM -
NFL
FG DEN
JASON ELAM 23 YD
DENVER 3
SAN DIEGO 23 2:47 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dec 24 10:15 PM -
NFL
TD SDG
CHRIS CHAMBERS 4 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS
(NATE KAEDING KICK)
DENVER 0
SAN DIEGO 23 7:56 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dec 24 9:57 PM -
DENVER: 0
SAN DIEGO: 16
Halftime
Dec 24 9:29 PM -
NFL
FG SDG
NATE KAEDING 29 YD
DENVER 0
SAN DIEGO 16 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 24 9:29 PM -
NFL
FG SDG
NATE KAEDING 23 YD
DENVER 0
SAN DIEGO 13 3:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 24 9:14 PM -
DENVER: 0
SAN DIEGO: 10
End of 1st
Dec 24 8:46 PM -
NFL
TD SDG
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON 17 YD RUN
(NATE KAEDING KICK)
DENVER 0
SAN DIEGO 10 1:51 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dec 24 8:41 PM -
NFL
FG SDG
NATE KAEDING 40 YD
DENVER 0
SAN DIEGO 3 7:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dec 24 8:25 PM
