Chargers win to set up showdown with Broncos

The Chargers got what they wanted for Christmas, a title match with the Denver Broncos. And they did it by dominating the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on Sunday and then watching the Bills knock off Denver. San Diego has won three straight and once again are playing their best football at the end of the season. Denver, meanwhile, is plummeting and the Chargers have all the momentum, not to mention home field advantage for the winner takes all match this Sunday.

Coming into the game the Chargers strategy for winning was to outscore their opponent, but the way they played on Sunday was reminiscent of how they’ve played in recent years. Rivers played exceptionally well; the running game was working, and the defense wreaked havoc on the Buccs, especially in the second half. San Diego got everything going early, scoring on three of their first four possessions to jump out to a 17-7 lead over Tampa Bay. Rivers threw two touchdowns, one to Brandon Manumaleuna and the other to Antonio Gates, and Ladainian Tomlinson had rushed 12 times for 49 yards by halftime.

The Chargers took a 20-10 lead into the second half only to watch it evaporate before the close of the third quarter. Tampa Bay came out fired up, determined to improve their own playoff chances. Jeff Garcia lead the assault, driving the Buccs down the field on consecutive drives and scoring two touchdowns, one which he ran in himself from seven yards out and the other a 71 yard bomb to Antonio Bryant. The Buccs had taken the lead back at 24-20, but the Chargers would soon answer.

San Diego came back with an 11 play 5:12 drive which ended with Rivers third touchdown pass of the day, a five yarder to Antonio Gates. From there the Chargers poured it on. They intercepted Garcia on the Buccs next drive and Rivers notched his fourth TD pass of the day, a 32 yarder to Darren Sproles. On the next Buccaneer possession Garcia was picked off again and this time Antoine Cason took it back 59 yards for the pick six. Just like that the Chargers had opened up a 41-24 lead. They never looked back and headed out of Tampa Bay with a victory and the hope that Buffalo would help them out against Denver, which they did.

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This game had the look and feel of the Chargers team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship game last January. They played a tenacious style defense, pressuring, sacking, and intercepting the quarterback, things that have not come easily for San Diego this year. Rivers was spectacular again, finishing the day with 21 of 31 passing for 287 yards, four touchdowns, and no turnovers. Tomlinson also had a big game rushing 21 times for 90 yards.

It has been a wild roller coaster ride of a season for San Diego and for the most part, extremely disappointing. But when they looked at the schedule a few weeks ago and saw that game at home against the Broncos they believed they had something to play for. The results showed up on the field and clearly they have the momentum going into the Denver game, a fact that may doom not only the Broncos, but other teams in the playoffs as well.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent