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Reeling Chargers host surging Falcons

Nov 25, 2008 - 4:31 PM ATLANTA (7-4) AT SAN DIEGO (4-7), 4:05 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Few people predicted that the San Diego Chargers would be fighting for their playoff lives in late November.

Almost no one thought the Atlanta Falcons would have legitimate postseason aspirations at this point in the season.

The reeling Chargers will look to rebound from another tough loss and revive their fading playoff hopes Sunday when they host the surprising Falcons in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions.

The preseason favorite to win the AFC West, San Diego (4-7) has been one of the NFL's biggest disappointments this season.

One season after reaching the AFC championship game and two years removed from a league-best 14-2 record, the Chargers have made a habit of losing close games this season.

Six of San Diego's losses have been by seven points or less and four of those defeats have come in the last 24 seconds of the game.

San Diego's latest heartbreaker came last Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, who staved off a late rally to post a 23-20 victory on Adam Vinatieri's 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Philip Rivers passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers, who remained two games behind the first-place Denver Broncos (6-5) in the AFC West.

San Diego hosts Denver on December 28 in a regular-season finale that could determine the division winner.

But in order for that to be a meaningful game, the Chargers likely will have to defeat the high-flying Falcons (7-4), who have bounced back from the worst season in franchise history to emerge as a surprising contender in the competitive NFC.

Atlanta has won five of its last seven games, including last weekend's 45-28 triumph over the division-rival Carolina Panthers.

Michael Turner rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns for the Falcons, who climbed within one game of first place in the NFC South.

Turner has rushed for 1,088 yards and a league-leading 13 TDs this season for the Falcons, who went just 4-12 in a 2007 campaign marred by the off-field troubles of Michael Vick and the mid-season departure of coach Bobby Petrino.

Atlanta trails Carolina (8-3) and Tampa Bay (8-3) by one game in the division standings. The Falcons also are tied with Dallas and Washington for a potential NFC wild card.