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SAN DIEGO --

Takeo Spikes' 8-yard sack on a second and 10 play, followed by Eric Weddle's interception of a Matt Moore pass intended for Anthony Fasano with 2:53 to play, pretty much slammed the lid on any Miami hopes of getting its first victory. The Chargers ran out the clock and came away with a 26-16 victory Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, and at 3-1 moved into first place in the AFC West.

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The Chargers burned more than seven minutes on the drive that led to Nick Novak's 38-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, and a 26-16 lead with 4:28 left.

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It's now 23-16, Chargers, after Dan Carpenter kicked a 51-field goal with 11:34 left in the game. Key play in the 46-yard drive, an 18-yard pass from Matt Moore to Lex Hilliard on third-and-3 at the Dolphins' 17.

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Nick Novak drilled a 23-yard field goal with 1:15 left in the third quarter to pad the Chargers' lead over Miami, 23-13, after an exchange of pass interference penalties.

Malcolm Floyd appared to have caught a 31-yard pass from Philip Rivers down to the Miami 3, but was called for "illegal touching" -- i.e., stepping out of bounds and coming back in to catch the pass. On the very next play, Floyd and Miami safety Yeremiah Bell got tangled up downfield, and Bell was called for pass interference, giving the Chargers a first down at the 13.

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Igor Olshansky, the defensive tackle who played here for so long and got wild cheers every time his name was announced -- to the point where I speculated the fans were cheering the idea of an Igor Olshansky rather than anything specific he did -- was in on his first tackle late in the third quarter.

No cheers, this time, when his name was announced. Just a few scattered boos.

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Dan Carpenter's 37-yard field goal with 6:46 left in the third quarter cut San Diego's lead to 20-13. It was helped along, natch, by another Chargers' miscue, rookie cornerback Marcus Gilchrist's 25-yard pass interference penalty that nullified Eric Weddle's interception and instead gave Miami a first-and-10 at the Chargers' 41.

Matt Moore found Brandon Marshall for 14 yards and a first down, setting up the field goal.

Watching the Dolphins' pass defense, it's not hard to understand why they're 0-3.

They've now allowed six Philip Rivers completions of 15 or more yards, Two of them, a 20-yarder to Vincent Brown and a 42-yard play on a short pass to Ryan Mathews, set up Mike Tolbert's touchdown leap from the 1 with 9:24 left in the third quarter, giving San Diego a 20-10 lead.

Essentially, the Dolphins' coverage and tackling ability have been lacking today. If the Chargers pay attention, they could still turn this into a rout.

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Nick Novak drilled a 48-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the first half, and the Chargers left the field with a 13-10 intermission lead over the Miami Dolphins ... the 0-3 Dolphins, for those who have forgotten.

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Halftime statistical notes: Vincent Jackson already has 108 receiving yards, on three catches, The Chargers have 34 rushing yards, total, but Philip Rivers has thrown for 191 yards (14 of 19) with a touchdown and no picks.

Matt Moore, the former UCLA and Oregon State quarterback summoned after Chad Henne injured his shoulder late in the first quarter, completed 8 of 9 passes for 85 yards in the half. Reggie Bush has 38 yards on 10 carries to lead all rushers so far.

SAN DIEGO -- Well, it has already begun. Safety Bob Sanders, who was available to the Chargers primarily because of a spotty injury history the past couple of years in Indianapolis, is inactive for today's game with Kansas City because of a knee issue.

And so is tight end Antonio Gates, who is again being plagued by the plantar fasciitis that limited him to 10 games in 2010. And so is rookie defensive end Corey Liuget, who has an ankle injury. The Chargers are expected to plug in Steve Gregory to replace Sanders, Jacques Cesaire to replace Liuget and Randy McMichael to replace Gates.

The lists:

Chargers: S Paul Oliver, S Bob Sanders, RB Jordan Todman, LB Darryl Gamble, DE Luis Castillo, DE Corey Liuget.

(Incidentally, Castillo, who is out with a fractured tibia, is on the cover of the game program celebrating the Chargers' ties to the Latino community. Nice timing.)

Chiefs: QB Ricky Stanzi, S Reshard Langford, T Steve Maneri, WR Jerheme Urban, WR Jonathan Baldwin, DL Brandon Bair, DL Jerrell Powe.

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers' events seemed a little more balanced and a little more effective for most of the third quarter. San Diego pulled within 17-14 on Mike Tolbert's 7-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the corner, after Philip Rivers found Ryan Mathews on a 37-yard pass play.

But, just when Rivers appeared to be driving his team for the go-ahead score, he was hit by Jared Allen on a third-and-3 play at the Vikings' 24 just as he was winding up to throw the ball. The resulting floater landed in the arms of Cedric Griffin and ended that drive.

SAN DIEGO -- Is it really that surprising that the Chargers would be booed off the field halfway through their opener?

The traditional San Diego tone -- an early slumber -- was set on the very first play of the 2011 season, when Percy Harvin took the opening kickoff 3 yards deep in the end zone, eluded a tackle from rookie Darryl Gamble at the 30, veered left and strutted the last 5 yards to the end zone.

And not only that, but kicker Nate Kaeding hurt his left knee on the play and was carted to the locker room.

Mike Scifres filled in for him on one extra point -- following Philip Rivers' 1-yard touchdown pass to Mike Tolbert after Donovan McNabb was intercepted at his own 6 -- but not having their regular field goal kicker undoubtedly colored the Chargers' strategy late in the half when, facing a fourth-and-20 situation from the Vikings' 25, Norv Turner decided to go for it. Rivers was flushed out of hte pocket and threw it up for grabs, and had no chance.

But Rivers was ineffective most of the half, completing 15 of 25 for 142 yards with a sack, an interception and several uncharacteristically off-target throws.

Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson had 74 yards on 9 first half carries, including a 46-yard jaunt that set up Minnesota's second touchdown, McNabb's 3-yard scoring pass to Michael Jenkins.

SAN DIEGO -- Two local products, both taken in last April's draft, are among the inactives for today's Chargers-Vikings game. Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright, a third-rounder from Colton and USC, and Vikings defensive end D'Aundre Reed, a seventh-rounder from Moreno Valley Rancho Verde and Arizona, will be in street clothes.

(Don't worry, Norco citizens. Toby Gerhart is active for the Vikings.)

The inactives:

Chargers: WR Patrick Crayton, CB Shareece Wright, RB Jordan Todman, OLB Larry English, LB Jonas Mouton, ILB Na'il Diggs, WR-KR Vincent Brown.

Vikings: CB Asher Allen, CB Brandon Burton, S Mistral Raymond, LB Xavier Adibi, C Brandon Fusco, T DeMarcus Love, DE D'Aundre Reed.

SAN DIEGO -- They keep score in the last exhibition game, of course, and on the surface the game is played the same way as always.

(With the exception, of course, of the stars spending the evening on the sidelines rather than being on the field, entertaining those who paid regular season ticket prices to be here.)

But at its most basic, that last exhibition isn't about the team. It's about individuals, and what they can display in one last chance to show their wares to the people who will decide their fates in two days.

The Chargers' roster Thursday night was 80. Saturday it must be trimmed to 53. So, counting the guys who will be brought back for the practice squad after they clear waivers, a quarter of the guys who wore San Diego uniforms in the club's 20-17 loss to San Francisco won't be wearing them again.

Different players approach it in different ways.

SAN DIEGO -- The regulars on both offense and defense played one half for the Chargers Thursday night before taking the rest of the night off. Both did their part. The defensive ones forced a punt at midfield, and the offensive ones drove to a touchdown, Philip Rivers dumping a 7-yard touchdown pass Mike Tolbert, who dove into the end zone.

Rivers set that play up with a pretty 48-yard strike down the sideline to Vincent Jackson.

Nate Kaeding added a 32-yard field goal with 2:22 left before halftime for San Diego.

Tavaris Jackson played two series at quarterback for Pete Carroll's Seahawks, after which former Chargers' No. 3 quarterback Charlie Whitehurst took over.

Cornerback Shareece Wright (Colton High, USC), the subject of today's column, was not on the list of players not expected to play that the Chargers handed out before the game. But Wright, who has missed a full week of practice with a groin injury, was not in uniform Thursday night.

Those who were on that list included TE Antonio Gates, OT Marcus McNeill, LB Larry English and CB Antoine Cason, all projected starters.

For those who are optimistic about Los Angeles getting a pro football team -- and those who are worried that the San Diego Chargers will be that team, as noted in today's column -- here is the original memorandum of understanding that lays out the plan for AEG's downtown stadium, as approved in a unanimous vote by the LA City Council Tuesday.

This is, remember, only the first step. Lots of specific issues still need to be negotiated, including the specific financing, leasing arrangements, what infrastructure expenses AEG will be responsible for, and the like. As I said in the column, lots of moving parts.

Sam Farmer of the LA Times noted that this vote put LA's effort to return the NFL into the red zone. Maybe so, but if you want to put it in football terms, this is a city that hasn't converted any of those opportunities in 16 years, and is in fact prone to interceptions. So nothing is guaranteed.

And here's today's view from San Diego, including Mark Fabiani's current spin, from the Union-Tribune's Matthew Hall, who has been front and center on stadium issues in that city.

Rich Bisaccia, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers associate head coach and special teams coordinator, has been named the Chargers' special teams coach. He replaces Steve Crosby, who was let go last week after a tumultous season for the Chargers' special teams.

Bisaccia (bih-SAW-chee-uh) joined the Buccaneers in 2002 and in his first year won a Super Bowl championship as Tampa Bay featured one of the league's top special teams units. In 2010, the Buccaneers coverage units allowed just 7.3 yards per punt return (7th in the NFL) and 20.7 yards per kickoff return (8th in the NFL). Tampa Bay's kickoff return unit averaged 24.3 yards per return (8th in the NFL), including an 89-yard touchdown return.

"Rich's special teams have had success in this league," said Chargers head coach Norv Turner in a statement released by the club. "He's been with Tampa Bay for nine years and their teams have been consistently good to excellent. He helped them win a Super Bowl. Rich is a high-energy guy that I know will bring out the best in our players."

Bisaccia's comment, also disseminated by the Chargers:

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me to be part of a winning organization and work with Norv Turner. There's a real opportunity here to win it all. I've worked with Jon Gruden and now I have the opportunity to work with Norv. These are two of the best coaching minds in football. I'm really looking forward to it."

In nine seasons with the Bucs' Bisaccia's kickoff teams were consistently among the NFL's best, allowing the sixth lowest kickoff return average (21.0) and averaging 23.0 yards on their own returns, fourth best in the league. They scored eight return touchdowns in that span, four on kickoffs and four on punts. In 2009, the Bucs led the NFL with six blocked kicks, led the league in kickoff return average, were fourth in punt return average and second in opponent kickoff return.

One day after the Chargers finished their season, 9-7 and out of the playoffs despite all kinds of statistical glitter, special teams coach Steve Crosby was informed that his contract would not be renewed.

Special teams gaffes were a big part of the 2-5 start that put the Chargers in a hole from which they could not extricate themselves. They weren't the sole factor. But Crosby, who had just finished his ninth season on the Chargers staff, is the first to go.

"We appreciate Steve's hard work and dedication to this team over the past nine seasons," Coach Norv Turner said in a statement distributed by the club.

SAN DIEGO -- On Sunday defensive end Luis Castillo mentioned how rare it is to post a shutout in the NFL, after the Chargers blanked Kansas City, 31-0.
They came within 4:26 of doing it again Thursday night, giving up San Francisco's only score late in the stages of their 34-7 victory.
'We wanted it back-to-back, but it's a great win,' said Castillo. 'It's our offense controlling the ball and keeping us fresh. Then you give us a lead, you make the other team one-dimensional and it's easy to pass rush.'
Defensive tackle Antonio Garay said 'everyone was pretty upset' when the 49ers scored at the end of the game, but it's all relative. The Chargers have won six of their last seven games, and seem to be hitting on all cylinders.
The offense, known in recent years as a big-play, downfield passing attack, has evolved into a more balanced effort. Rookie Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert offer different styles of runners coming at a defense. Meanwhile, Rivers has become more patient, using short throws to keep drives going.
The team is in sync -- winning two games by a combined score of 65-7 within five days -- during and after the games.
Castillo compliments the offense. Rivers compliments the defense.
'If I had to go seven quarters and 10 minutes without scoring,' said the quarterback, marveling at the shutdown defense, 'I'd be going nuts.'
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SAN DIEGO -- Vincent Jackson caught three touchdown passes, Philip Rivers went over the 4,000 yard mark and the San Diego defense extended its string of shutout quarters to seven, tying a team record, as the Chargers kept the pressure on in the AFC West with a 34-7 victory over San Francisco Thursday night.

The Chargers (8-6) moved to within a half game of Kansas City in the AFC West. The Chiefs play at St. Louis Sunday.

Jackson caught scoring passes of 58, 11 and 21 yards from Rivers, and could have had a fourth TD catch but was ruled out of the end zone on a second quarter catch. He finished the night with five catches for 112 yards.

Rivers finished 19 for 25 for 273 yards and three touchdowns, and joined Hall of Famer Dan Fouts as the only Chargers quarterbacks to have three straight 4,000 yard seasons.

The Chargers outgained San Francisco 387-206 in total offense, and their defense had six sacks. They tied a record for consecutive scoreless quarters originally set in 2006 against Oakland and Tennesee.

SAN DIEGO -- A wild half, that included the 49ers declining three points to go for seven, figuring they got seven, but winding up with nothing, ended with the Chargers in control after Philip Rivers' second touchdown pass of the night to Vincent Jackson, an 11-yard score on a crossing pattern with 1:19 left for a 17-0 lead.

Earlier, Jackson had come within a fraction of an inch of another TD catch, but the back of his shoe grazed the back line of the end zone as he came down, and San Diego was forced to settle for a field goal on that possession.

It's a game that has included late hits, a penalty for climbing atop a teammate to block a field goal (Antonio Garay, with the personal foul that started that whole mad sequence for the 49ers in the red zone at the start of the period), and a player (San Francisco's Justin Smith) being ejected for grabbing an official.

Rivers ended the first half with 195 yards passing, enabling him to join Dan Fouts as the only Chargers to top 4,000 yards passing in three consecutive years. The Chargers outgained the 49ers 241-112 in the half.

SAN DIEGO--The Chargers struck fast on their first possession tonight, Philip Rivers hooking up with Vincent Jackson on a 58-yard touchdown play. Jackson ripped the ball away from 49ers cornerback Nate Clements at the 16 and raced in for his first touchdown this season, in just his third game.

Otherwise, this is looking like it's going to be a long struggle for San Diego. San Francisco's defense has harrassed Rivers the last two possessions, and after an early bit of sputtering the 49ers offense seems to be progresssing.

They received a bit of help from San Diego's Antonio Garay, who committed a personal foul on Andy Lee's 38-yard field goal attempt. So instead of three points the 49ers took the 10 yards and a first-and-goal at the 10, Alex Smith cashed it in with what appeared to be a 7-yard touchdown run, but the Chargers challenged and won when replays showed Smith's knee came down short of the goal line.

And then Brandon Siler knifed through the line and tackled Anthony Dixon for a 2-yard loss on fourth and 1, and San Francisco came away with nothing.

SAN DIEGO--The Chargers inactive list tonight against the 49ers is pretty robust.

Antonio Gates (torn plantar fascia) will be unavailable. So will Malcom Floyd, whose balky hamstring appearently worsened during the course of the short week; he had limited practice time Monday, none at all Tuesday and was listed as "questionable" Wednesday.

And so will linebacker Larry English, who reinjured his foot Sunday against Kansas City, and guard Louis Vasquez, who has been dealing with neck issues for several weeks yet was a full practice participant all week.

Tyronne Green will replace Vasquez at guard. Randy McMichael will be Gates' replacement at tight end. And Legedu Naanee, who himself was on the inactive list last week, starts for Floyd.

The inactives:

Chargers -- WR Patrick Crayton, S Darrell Stuckey, S Tyrone Carter, LB Larry English, G Louis Vasquez, WR Malcom Floyd, TE Antonio Gates, DE-DT Travis Johnson.

49ers -- QB David Carr (third quarterback), K Joe Nedney, CB Tremaine Brock, CB William James, S Chris Maragos, LB Thaddeus Gibson, T Joe Staley, T Alex Boone.

Additionally, the Chargers made some more roster moves earlier today. From the practice squad, they signed linebackers Darry Beckwith (a first-year player from LSU who would be making his NFL debut if he plays) and Brandon Lang (a rookie from Troy who had played in seven games earlier this season). They also waived running back Curtis Brinkley.

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego's defense, much maligned last week against Oakland, held Kansas City to 96 yards total offense in a 31-0 victory that kept the Chargers alive in the AFC West race.

San Diego (7-6) trails Kansas City (8-5) by a game with three left. And the Chargers broke a tie with the Raiders, who lost to Jacksonville 38-31 earlier in the day.

The Chargers, whose run defense was shredded the week before by the Raiders, allowed the Chiefs -- the league leaders in ground yardage -- 47 rushing yards.

Quarterback Brodie Croyle, pressed into service because of Matt Cassel's emergency appendectomy Wednesday, is now 0-10 as an NFL starter. Croyle was 7 for 17 for 40 yards.

Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to Malcom Floyd, and Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews -- making his first game appearance in five weeks -- each scored rushing touchdowns for San Diego.

The shutout was the Chargers' first since a 27-0 whitewash of the Raiders on Sept. 11, 2006.

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers have treated this like a must-win game so far, and the results show it.

Philip Rivers has thrown two touchdown passes to Malcom Floyd (who has four catches for 51 yards), while Mike Tolbert rumbled for another touchdown. Vincent Jackson has been an impact receiver (two catches, 29 yards), Ryan Mathews has been productive (6 carries, 28 yards) in his first game action in five weeks, and the Chargers defense has limited Kansas City to 51 yards total offense in the first half.

Brodie Croyle has completed 7 of 11 passes for 40 yards, but also has been sacked twice. The Chiefs came into the game No. 1 in the NFL in rushing yardage, but they've dented San Diego's defense for 34 yards on nine attempts.

And with the Chargers ahead by three touchdowns, KC's rushing attack has been effectively neutered.

SAN DIEGO -- Some curious names on -- and off of -- the Chargers' inactive list today.

Antonio Gates, who had indicated earlier in the week that he intended to play today, injuries and all, will not play.

Neither will guard Louis Vasquez. And Legedu Naanee is listed as the third quarterback but presumably would be inactive as a receiver.

Meanwhile, Vincent Jackson -- who lasted just a few minutes into his return to the fold two weeks ago in Indianapolis before suffering a calf injury and missed last week's Oakland game -- is projected as the starter in Naanee's spot today.

And Darren Sproles is active -- and presumably will be returning kicks and punts -- one week after suffering a concussion against the Raiders.

The inactives:

Chargers: WR Legedu Naanee (listed as third QB), WR Patrick Crayton, S Darrell Stuckey, S Tyrone Carter, RB Curtis Brinkley, G Louis Vasquez, TE Antonio Gates, DE-DT Travis Johnson.

Chiefs: QB Matt Cassel, S-CB Donald Washington, CB Mike Richardson, FB Tim Castille, LB Corey Mays, LB Charlie Anderson, C Rudy Niswanger, DT Anthony Toribio.

(And no, Cassel is not listed as the Chiefs' third quarterback.)

SAN DIEGO -- Two seemingly unrelated events Wednesday may have thrown a monkey wrench into the fevered speculation of the past few weeks, which has the Chargers all but headed from San Diego to a planned downtown Los Angeles football stadium backed by Philip Anschutz.

The Chargers essentially re-upped for one more season in San Diego by notifying Mayor Jerry Sanders they would not exercise the buyout clause in their Qualcomm Stadium lease next spring.

Meanwhile, Anschutz Entertainment Group CEO Tim Leiweke was telling a group of business leaders at a downtown LA luncheon that the clock was running, and that the NFL, the city and an interested team essentially had a three-month window to make a commitment.

According to Jon Regardie, executive editor of the Los Angeles Downtown News, Leiweke told the group that the architectural review of the retractable domed stadium project had begun, but that three things must happen by next February.

Regardie wrote:

First, he said, negotiations already under way with the city have to be finalized. L.A. officials, he said, are in talks regarding the plan to tear down the West Hall of the Convention Center. He said he expects to reach an agreement on those issues early next year, and to begin the entitlement process for the stadium in January.

He also said AEG wants to identify a team that would move to Los Angeles. He said the goal is not to "steal" a team from another city, but to target franchises whose financial situation will require a move. He added that AEG, which owns the Los Angeles Kings and has a one-third stake in the Lakers, is prepared to "invest" in a football team.

That last, incidentally, was the issue that prompted the recent round of feverish speculation in the first place, when the Chargers made it known that majority owner Alex Spanos was prepared to sell his 36 percent individual stake in the team for estate tax purposes. Most folks just assumed AEG to be the logical buyer, but that hasn't happened yet.

Additionally, as Brooks Melchior of the SPORTSbyBROOKS blog pointed out, FIFA's decision last week to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar instead of the United States was a setback. Anschutz was a key backer of the US Soccer effort and an Anschutz-owned downtown stadium was expected to host World Cup matches and likely the final.

Without that carrot, the reclusive billionaire's enthusiasm for the project may have waned.

Meanwhile, the Chargers made their one-year commitment to San Diego in the form of a letter to Mayor Jerry Sanders. And while Spanos talked freely to the San Diego Union-Tribune about the difficulty of making a commitment beyond that, his only comment to the rest of the media came in the form of a statement disseminated by the club:

"We are grateful for the Mayor's support, along with the attention our efforts have received from CCDC (Center City Development Corporation) Chairman Fred Maas and members of the City Council. In 2011 we will continue our work of the last almost nine years now to find a stadium solution that works for both the team and the public."

SAN DIEGO -- It is fortunate that the Chargers face the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, in what has become an absolute must-win game. This way, tight end Antonio Gates has a full week to nurse his plantar fasciitis, sitting out practices and saving his energy for game time.

"I would have to be really, really hurting for me not to go," he said. "But it's still obviously a work in progress over the long haul to get myself healthy and get back to where I need to be."

But next week, when the Chargers play the 49ers in a Thursday night game on the NFL Network, they may have to do it without Gates, their leading receiver.

"That would probably be my biggest challenge thus far," he said. "Could I play a game tomorrow? No. And tomorrow's Thursday. I'm just going to see how it plays out, how it goes. That's been on my mind because the turnaround is so fast.

"My focus is on Kansas City, and whether or not I play on Thursday or not, that's going to be tough. Real tough."

If the games were reversed, and the Chargers were playing the 4-8 49ers this Sunday and the 8-4 Chiefs four days later, Gates said he might very well have had to consider sitting out the first game to prepare himself for the second.

"I think that would be an option, definitely," he said. "Things happen within the weeks. You can't assume things based on how you feel now, going into next week. But I definitely couldn't go tomorrow. I just couldn't do it.

"This game is real important, and my focus is on this one game. I'll see where it takes me from there. The medicine and all that stuff starts wearing off on Wednesday. So to say I'm just going to be walking around limping and then get out there and play, that would be something I'd really, really have to consider.

"To play back-to-back would really be hard, considering what I've been dealing with so far. Now I don't know. Maybe after this week I'll feel a whole lot better, due to the rehab and everything I'm doing. But as of right now, I don't have a clue on how that's going to play out."

The ideal, of course, would be for Gates to take some extended time off, but that's not going to happen as long as the Chargers still have a shot at the postseason.

"Every game, if you watch over the last two games, I've done more in a game," he said. "Somehow it still feels like it's the same. When you do more, you put more pressure on it. You run harder, you cut harder, and it feels like it felt like the prior week, because you've actually done more on it.

"I just feel still sore. I'm limping around on Wednesday like I just did it, because I put more pressure on it and I'm expected to try to do more every single week. It gets stronger, but yet the recovery is just a give and take."

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SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers finally put together a sustained offensive drive toward the end of the quarter, but bogged down in the red zone and had to settle for Nate Kaeding's 33-yard field goal with 44 seconds left.

Darren Sproles, who took that helmet-to-helmet hit in the first half, has a concussion and isn't playing any more today. Antoine Cason is now returning kicks.

And even with Sproles out, Ryan Mathews still has not played a down today.

SAN DIEGO -- The only newsworthy notes out of the inactives list and starters list, for the Chargers: Vincent Jackson and Steve Gregory are inactive, and Mike Tolbert started ahead of Ryan Mathews today.

The inactives:

Chargers: WR Patrick Crayton, SS Darrell Stuckey, SS Steve Gregory, RB Curtis Brinkley, G Louis Vasquez, DT Cam Thomas, WR Vincent Jackson, DE-DT Travis Johnson.

Raiders: QB J.T. O'Sullivan (remember him?), third quarterback; CB Walter McFadden, RB Michael Bennett, CB Chris Johnson, LB Bruce Davis, G Daniel Loper, G Bruce Campbell, WR Nick Miller.

O'Sullivan, who had been the Chargers' third quarterback before being released earlier this season, was signed Friday by the Raiders after Bruce Gradkowski was placed on IR.

SAN DIEGO -- After throwing an interception to short-circuit a second-half comeback last week against New England, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning figured to be one mad quarterback coming into this Sunday night's game against the Chargers.

And that testiness came out Wednesday, somewhat surprisingly, during the generally bland conference call interview with the opposing city's media.

Tom Krasovic of AOL Fanhouse had the transcription of Manning's exchange with a San Diego writer, who framed his question by saying the Chargers were 4-1 against Indianapolis (since 2005) and asking if that had made this more of a rivalry.

Manning called him on that "4-1" statement, which omitted Indianapolis' 2004 victory, then added: "It's a preparation thing, right? Get your stats correct before you come with this question."

SAN DIEGO -- Vincent Jackson had pretty much avoided the media for the three weeks since he swallowed his pride and returned to the Chargers, accepting a $240,058 contract -- after turning down a $3.268 million tender in June -- in order to accrue the six games he needs to qualify for unrestricted free agency after this season.

Now that he's officially on the roster and expected to be activated for Sunday night's game at Indianapolis, Jackson met the media following Wednesday's practice. This is how it went:

How to explain what the team has done with a cavalcade of different receivers because of injuries:

"Everybody's stepped up and hasn't made excuses, and Philip's done a good job taking control of this team, being a good leader and making it work with whoever steps up."

How difficult was the time away?

"It was tough, but I did everything I could do to prepare and be ready to play football when the time came."

Some people questioned that there was maybe some bad blood between you and the front office, but with you and your teammates, it's always been good. There's no doubt of how close you are with Philip Rivers and your teammates.

"Absolutely. These guys welcomed me back as soon as I got here, and it's been nothing but positives. And I'm excited to play the rest of this season."

The last time we saw you on the football field, it was the playoff game, and you kicked a flag and got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That's a lasting memory a lot of people have of you. What have you learned since then?

SAN DIEGO -- Not that the Chargers are creatures of habit or anything, but we've seen this act before.
Monday night's throttling of Denver, 35-14, was their third win in a row -- reminiscent of past seasons when they've come from the lower reaches of the AFC West to make a playoff run.
The Chargers (5-5) say they don't do this on purpose, always swearing at the beginning of the year that they are determined not to get off to a slow start.
Then they fall on their faces, and proceed to come roaring back.
Monday's win was their seventh consecutive in November. They haven't lost a December game since 2005 -- and are on an 18-0 streak in that month.
That doesn't make them very comfortable. Linebacker Shaun Phillips said it was a mistake to think history will save them.
'If we're thinking about last year, we've lost already,' he said.
Said Philip Rivers, 'We can't assume we'll stay on a roll and find our way into January. We are, in a way, in playoff football already. We almost can't afford a step back at this point.'
Even so, the schedule looks favorable from here on out. There is a tough game at Indianapolis this week, then the two division showdown games against Oakland (5-5) and Kansas City (6-4) -- both at home.They finish home to San Francisco, at Cincinnati and at Denver.
They will likely be favored in five of their last six games -- which would put them at 10-6 if form plays out.
Strange team. Again.