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After emotional win, Chargers head on road to face Vikings

Nov 4, 2007 - 11:53 AM San Diego (4-3) at Minnesota (2-5) 1:00 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The San Diego Chargers seek a return to normalcy as they head on the road for Sunday's contest against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Chargers are coming off a difficult week after dealing with the wildfires that swept through Southern California and led to Qualcomm Stadium being used as an evacuation site.

They were forced out of San Diego and spent the week practicing at the Arizona Cardinals' facility in Phoenix. Despite the disruption, the Chargers were not distracted and routed the Houston Texans, 35-10.

It was the third straight win for San Diego, which has recovered from its 1-3 start and is tied with Kansas City for first place in the AFC West.

The Chargers' offense didn't do much as Philip Rivers attempted only 11 passes and LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for under 100 yards. But cornerback Antonio Cromartie led a dominating defensive effort by scoring two touchdowns - one on a fumbled snap in the end zone and the other on a 70-yard interception return.

Rivers threw three touchdowns against the Texans, despite completing only seven passes. The game was over early as San Diego, which forced five turnovers, opened a 28-3 lead three minutes into the second quarter.

Coach Norv Turner may ask Rivers to do more against the Vikings, whose defense ranks last against the pass, yielding 288 yards per game.

In last week's 23-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota allowed Donovan McNabb to pass for 333 yards.

The sputtering Vikings have dropped two straight and five of their last six to fall into last place in the NFC Central.

Minnesota's passing attack, which ranks 30th, has been virtually non-existent the last two weeks and its quarterback situation remains unsettled.

Brooks Bollinger, the Vikings' third-string quarterback, provided a spark last week after Kelly Holcomb left in the third quarter with a neck injury.

Bollinger completed 7-of-10 passes for 94 yards and leading the Vikings to a pair of field goals.

Tarvaris Jackson, who missed last week's game with a broken finger, could return as the starter for this contest.

The Vikings also will be hoping for a bounce-back game from rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who was held to 70 yards against Eagles. Peterson entered the game as the league's leading rusher with 670 yards.