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LB Merriman returns Sunday for the Chargers

Nov 28, 2006 - 11:20 PM ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- "Lights Out" will get to turn the switch back on.

Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman will return on Sunday when the first-place San Diego Chargers visit the Buffalo Bills.

Nicknamed "Lights Out" for his propensity to deliver big hits, Merriman was suspended four games in November for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

The Chargers went 4-0 in Merriman's absence, but the defense yielded 107 points in the four games.

With Merriman recording 8 1/2 sacks from his outside linebacker position, the Chargers allowed a total of 109 points in their first seven games.

Merriman was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005, when he compiled 10 sacks and 57 tackles.

While the defense struggled without Merriman, the offense more than compensated, averaging 34.3 points in the four games.

LaDainian Tomlinson leads the NFL with 24 touchdowns and needs five in the last five games to break the single-season record of 28 by fellow running back Shaun Alexander of Seattle in 2005. Tomlinson has recorded 21 of his scores in the last seven games.

Last week, Tomlinson rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another score in a 21-14 win over Oakland. He produced 109 yards on 19 carries to raise his season total to 1,146 yards.

The Bills have matched their win total from last season after J.P. Losman directed back-to-back, last-minute scoring drives in victories over Houston and Jacksonville.

Losman hit Roscoe Parrish with a 30-yard pass to set up Rian Lindell's winning 42-yard field goal as time expired in the Bills' 27-24 win over Jacksonville last week. The previous week, Losman threw a 15-yard touchdown to Peerless Price with nine seconds left in a 24-21 victory at Houston.

Willis McGahee returned last week for Buffalo after missing two games with broken ribs and produced 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.