| Rivers, Chargers get back on track by ripping Broncos
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Philip Rivers completed 13-of-18 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns as the San Diego Chargers routed the Denver Broncos, 41-3, at Invesco Field.
"We got back to Chargers football that we all know and missed," Philip Rivers said. "We finally put a complete game together, and we're excited with the way we played. We've still got a long way to go. We got a one-game winning streak and we'll be looking to make it two against the Raiders."
Michael Turner rushed for 147 yards on 10 carries with a score for the Chargers (2-3), who last week lost 30-16 to Kansas City. LaDainian Tomlinson carried 21 times for 67 yards, and Antonio Gates caught seven balls for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Failing to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his 10 NFL starts, Jay Cutler completed 23-of-36 passes for 232 yards with an interception for the Broncos (2-3), who dropped a 38-20 decision to Indianapolis last week. Travis Henry rushed for 65 yards on 16 attempts, while Brandon Marshall caught seven balls for 72 yards and Glenn Martinez had six receptions for 70 yards.
"Well, we've got a lot of work to do," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "Anytime you give up the type of yards that we gave up in the running game, there's a concern there, so, we'll work at it extremely hard this week. Obviously, in our bye week we'll do it for a couple days and hopefully improve."
Denver's top receiver, Javon Walker (knee), sat out his second straight game. Wide receiver Brandon Stokley (head) and tight end Nate Jackson (groin) both left with injuries.
Philip Rivers led San Diego to paydirt on its first possession, running it in himself from two yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Siler recovered a fumble by Brian Clark -- who was re-signed last week -- and raced 23 yards into the end zone for a very quick 14-0 Chargers lead.
The second quarter belonged to the kickers, as a Nate Kaeding 26-yard field goal and a 45-yarder at the buzzer sandwiched a 30-yard field goal by Jason Elam, who scored Denver's only points, for a 20-3 halftime Chargers lead.
San Diego picked up where it left off coming out of the locker room, as Philip Rivers hooked up with Gates for a nine-yard touchdown pass that capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with 9:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Philip Rivers later found Vincent Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown pass, which culminated a 10-play, 79-yard drive with seven ticks left for a 34-3 Chargers lead heading into the fourth.
"It was unbelievable," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "You looked around the stadium in middle of the third quarter, and people were going home. That's a credit to our group of players. It's easy to start doubting and questioning yourself. But our players have not questioned or doubted. They hung in there and believed in what we're doing."
In the fourth, Tomlinson's backup, Turner, broke free for a 74-yard touchdown dash with 9:42 to go for the final margin.
Game Notes
The Broncos are below .500 after five games for the first time since 2000...The Chargers won consecutive games in Denver for the first time since 1967-68...Denver suffered its worst home loss since a 56-10 defeat by Kansas City in 1966...The Broncos lead the all-time series with San Diego, 52-42-1, but were swept in last season's home-and-home with their AFC West rival. The Chargers earned a 35-27 win at Invesco Field at Mile High in Week 11, and destroyed the Broncos by a 48-20 margin at Qualcomm Stadium in Week 14. Denver, which was swept by the Bolts for the first time since 1982, had won 14 of the previous 18 meetings, including a home-and-home sweep in 2005.
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