• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Chargers look to avoid 1-4 start against Broncos

Oct 7, 2007 - 10:30 AM San Diego (1-3) at Denver (2-2) 4:15 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- The San Diego Chargers are reeling and first-year coach Norv Turner has come under heavy criticism.

But things do not get any easier for the defending AFC West champions this week as they visit the Denver Broncos, who are also hungry for a victory.

Last week, the Chargers squandered a 10-point lead in the first half and suffered a 30-16 loss to the previous winless Kansas City Chiefs.

It was the third straight defeat for San Diego, which dropped to 1-3 - one more loss than all of last season, when the Chargers finished an NFL-best 14-2.

"I just hate the fact that Norv has to take scrutiny," San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips said. "It's not his fault. Coach Turner is the head man and he runs the show, but the bottom line is we take every snap."

After three sluggish performances, LaDainian Tomlinson finally got untracked, rushing for 132 yards against the Chiefs. But Turner went away from Tomlinson in the second half, when he rushed for only 16 yards.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers continues to be ineffective as well, committing three turnovers that led to 17 points. He completed only 21-of-42 passes for 211 yards and no touchdowns.

Rivers has been sacked nine times and has thrown six interceptions. As a team, the Chargers have 10 turnovers through four games.

"I'm not sure I've ever been 1-3 and turned the ball over like I have the past couple of weeks," Rivers said. "It's a situation I haven't had to deal with, but I'm strong enough to handle it and I think our team is."

But the Chargers will be facing a Broncos team that is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak since 2003.

After winning its first two games on last-play field goals, Denver has suffered back-to-back losses to Jacksonville and Indianapolis.

The Broncos ranked 31st against the run - which could be good news for Tomlinson - and allowed the Colts to rush for 226 yards.

San Diego swept the Denver last season by scores of 35-27 and 48-20. Tomlinson averaged 104 yards rushing in the two games.