SAN DIEGO — On the last day of September, the San Diego Chargers lost for the third time in four games and their fans were chanting the name of the coach who was fired in February.
Norv Turner was Public Enemy No. 1. LaDainian Tomlinson was a frustrated non-factor.
Fast forward 11 weeks, and the Chargers are AFC West champions with two games to play.
They left no doubt in clinching the title Sunday, beating the punchless Detroit Lions 51-14. It was their fourth straight win and eighth in 10 games.
“It isn’t our main goal, but it feels good to win the division, especially starting 1-3,” said Tomlinson, who had 116 yards and two scores on 15 carries to continue his climb up the career rushing and touchdown charts.
With their third division crown in four years secured, the Chargers (9-5) need simply to win out to secure the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed.
The next challenge, of course, is finding a way to win in January. The Chargers have dropped four straight postseason games dating to their embarrassing Super Bowl loss to San Francisco on Jan. 29, 1995.
This rout was so complete that L.T. got the second half off.
Backup Michael Turner hurt a shoulder in the second quarter, which allowed Darren Sproles to run for 122 yards and two TDs. It was the first time in Chargers history that two backs rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game.
It helped immensely that Detroit’s Jon Kitna tied his career-high with five interceptions. Three of them came in a span of six plays in the first half, leading to 17 points.
Detroit had six turnovers, leading to 27 points.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie broke a 46-year-old Chargers record with his 10th interception of the season, tops in the NFL.
