For the record: 7-8, one game behind Denver in the AFC West. The winner of Sunday’s game at Qualcomm Stadium will win the division.
Last week: Beat Tampa 41-24 on the road to stay alive in the division race.
Who’s hot: The Chargers’ much-maligned secondary sealed the win when Antoine Cason intercepted a pass by Jeff Garcia late in the fourth quarter and returned it for a touchdown.
Who’s not: LaDainian Tomlinson is having his least-productive season ever, with an average of only 67.6 yards per game. He rushed for 90 yards against the Bucs and hasn’t had a 100-yard day since Oct. 26.
Key stat: San Diego QB Philip Rivers’ passer rating is 104.0, the best in the NFL. He’s the only quarterback with a rating higher than 100. Still, he wasn’t among the three players picked for the Pro Bowl, though he is the first alternate.
FYI: San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding set a franchise record Sunday by making a 57-yard field goal. He held the previous record of 54 yards.
Coachspeak: “I can’t say enough about our guys in terms of the way they’ve handled the last month. The way they prepared. The way they competed.” — Chargers coach Norv Turner
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
