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Chargers look to clinch AFC West title

Dec 16, 2007 - 1:05 PM Detroit (6-7) at San Diego (8-5) 4:15 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The Detroit Lions are reeling. They don't figure to get much sympathy from the San Diego Chargers.

In a battle of teams heading in opposite directions, the Chargers look to clinch the AFC West when they host the Lions on Sunday.

San Diego is coming off its most satisfying win of the season, rallying from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Tennessee Titans, 23-17, in overtime.

Philip Rivers shook off a strained left knee ligament in the second quarter to key the comeback, throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to erase a 17-3 deficit.

LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 16-yard run with 7:29 left in overtime to keep the Chargers two games ahead of the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

After splitting its first 10 games, San Diego appears to be gaining momentum. The Chargers have reeled off three straight wins to match a season high.

Now, San Diego is looking to lock up its second straight division crown and third in four years.

"These are the games that the great teams - and I'm not saying we're there yet - win," Rivers said. "You find a way to win."

The Chargers, however, have been hit by the injury bug. Fullback Lorenzo Neal, Tomlinson's lead blocker, is out for the season with a fractured right fibula, while linebacker Shawne Merriman will miss Sunday's game with a sprained ligament in his left knee.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli may have his work cut out this week trying to get his team fired up as the Lions are coming off a crushing loss that severely damaged their playoff hopes.

Detroit was on the verge of beating Dallas for the second time in as many seasons, but the Lions squandered a 14-point lead in the final quarter.

Tony Romo tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Jason Whitten with 16 seconds remaining as the Cowboys rallied for a 28-27 victory.

It was the fifth straight loss for the Lions following a 6-2 start and dropped them one game behind the Minnesota Vikings in the battle for the NFC's second wild card spot.

One positive for Detroit was the play of Shaun McDonald, who caught eight passes for 96 yards as the replacement for Roy Williams, who is out for the season with a knee injury.