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Chargers in must-win situation vs. Raiders

Dec 2, 2008 - 6:08 PM OAKLAND (3-9) AT SAN DIEGO (4-8), THURSDAY 8:15 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Entering the season as an overwhelming favorite to win the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers find themselves closer to the division cellar than the lead.

San Diego looks to keep its teetering playoff hopes flickering when it hosts the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.

Reeling from a three-game losing streak, the Chargers (4-8) trail the Denver Broncos (7-5) by three games for the AFC West lead and are only one game in front of the Raiders.

It has been a stunning fall for San Diego, which captured the division title and advanced to the conference championship game last season.

Nonetheless, coach Norv Turner is putting up a brave front as the Chargers cling to hopes of catching Denver with only four games remaining.

"Our guys are a high-character football team, and they're going to compete and do everything they can throughout the rest of the season," Turner said.

San Diego absorbed its latest body blow in a 22-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last weekend, dropping the team to 3-3 at home.

Atlanta's Michael Turner rushed for 120 yards against his former teammates and the Chargers were held to 20 points or fewer for the fourth straight game.

Philip Rivers was held without a touchdown pass for just the second time this season - and second time in three games - and threw for a season-low 149 yards. The running game also struggled, with former MVP LaDainian Tomlinson shackled for 24 yards on 14 carries.

"We got our (rear ends) kicked, that's plain and simple," Tomlinson said. "We got dominated today. Whenever you get out-physicaled, that's hard to swallow."

The Raiders, meanwhile, failed to build on its upset of the Broncos, dropping a 20-13 decision at home to the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Justin Fargas carried 18 times for 82 yards, JaMarcus Russell was awful, completing 10-of-28 passes for 132 yards as the Raiders lost for seventh time in eight games.