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Falling

1. Denver Broncos’ playoff hopes: A month ago, it seemed like a certainty that Denver would make the postseason for the first time since 2005. Now, it’s starting to look like a stretch that Denver will end up in the postseason.

The Broncos have lost four straight games after winning their first six games of the season. After losing by 29 points at home to San Diego on Sunday, the Broncos are a game off the pace in the division. They are in danger of becoming the second NFL team since 1978 to start 6-0 and not make the playoffs.

2. Denver’s run defense: Nothing like facing Denver’s defense to spark an anemic run game.

San Diego has been near or at the bottom of the NFL’s rushing rankings all season. Yet, the Chargers ran for 203 yards Sunday in their win. Denver has been ravaged by the run for the past three weeks.

3. Denver’s team chemistry: Losing creates friction and there was plenty of it on the sideline Sunday after rookie Knowshon Moreno lost a fumble at the goal line late in the first half with Denver trailing 13-0.

Denver receiver Brandon Marshall got in Moreno’s face about the fumble. Moreno, a rookie, responded by shoving the veteran. Moreno then tried to get at Marshall again. After the game, Marshall said he was frustrated by the fumble.

Rising

1. Andy Studebaker, Chiefs linebacker: Studebaker made the most of his first NFL start.

The linebacker had two interceptions and four tackles in Kansas City’s stunning overtime upset win over defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. Studebaker was playing for the injured Mike Vrabel.

The Chiefs have been excited about Studebaker, so expect him to get more playing time down the stretch.

2. Norv Turner, Chargers coach: Fans love to pounce on Turner when the Chargers aren’t playing well. So, Turner deserves credit when the Chargers are playing well.

San Diego is playing top-notch football these days. The Chargers have won five straight games and are now in first place in the division.

In his third season, Turner has turned around his team after slow starts every season. He deserves kudos for that.

3. Bruce Gradkowski, Raiders quarterback: Gradkowski did what he was promoted to do -- he led Oakland to a win. When he replaced JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007 with Gradkowski, a career journeyman, for the rest of the season last week, Oakland coach Tom Cable said it was because Gradkowski gave Oakland a better chance to win.

In his first Oakland start, Gradkowski overcame shoddy play by leading the Raiders to a game-tying touchdown in the final seconds of a 20-17 win by the Raiders. Gradkowski may not be the future in Oakland, but the Raiders are playing hard for him and he has given the team some hope for the immediate future with his energized play.

The day after his team took sole possession of first place in the AFC West, San Diego coach Norv Turner praised the Chiefs and the Raiders for their upset wins Sunday over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, respectively.

Here’s what Turner had to say, courtesy of the Chargers’ PR staff:

“Before I talk about the game, a couple of things that I found interesting, I’ve been coaching in this league a long time in the same division and you start believing some things that have been true. Sometimes you say it and you wonder if it still is true. A couple of the things that I’ve always talked about is how hard it is to play in Kansas City and the talent that Oakland has, particularly on their defensive front and their overall ability. When you go beat a team like that, sometimes people assume, ‘You went to Kansas City and you should beat them because they’re not very good,’ or ‘you beat Oakland because they aren’t (very good).’ Then you turn around and see Kansas City beat Pittsburgh and Oakland beat Cincinnati, two pretty good football teams, then it starts to reconfirm some of the things I believe. Maybe I haven’t lost it completely in terms of understanding completely what this league is all about.”

Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour is questionable to play Thursday at Dallas with a lower back injury. He missed most of Sunday’s win over Cincinnati due to the injury.

Turner expressed concern that right tackle Jeromey Clary could potentially miss the rest of the season with a leg injury he suffered against Denver. Brandyn Dombrowski is poised to take over for Clary.

Oakland safety Tyvon Branch was given a game ball following his best game as a pro.

Denver quarterback Kyle Orton looks like he is on his way to starting on a short week Thursday night against the visiting New York Giants as the Broncos try to snap a four-game losing streak and stay relevant in the playoff hunt.

The team pronounced Orton ready to practice Monday as the Broncos try to rebound from a 32-3 home loss to San Diego on Sunday in which the Chargers took sole possession of first place in the AFC West. The team did not practice but put out the participation list as a league mandate because the game is three days away. Thus, it appears Orton is on schedule to play Thursday. Orton didn’t practice all last week leading up to the game.

Orton didn’t start the game. But he did spell backup Chris Simms in the second quarter as Denver fell behind, 13-0. Simms struggled badly. Orton gave Denver a spark and played pretty well, despite limping badly.

After the game, Denver coach Josh McDaniels said he didn’t think Orton suffered a setback in the game, he was hurt Nov. 15 at Washington and he missed the second half.

While Orton is making strides toward playing Thursday, safety Brian Dawkins may be in jeopardy of not playing. He left in the first half Sunday with a neck injury and he did not return. Dawkins was not ready to practice Monday.

Denver right tackle Ryan Harris was not ready to practice with a toe injury. Harris was hurt Nov. 1 against Baltimore and hasn’t played since. Denver’s line play has suffered without Harris.

The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting that Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie is being investigated after a fight at a San Diego area bar early Monday as he was celebrating the team’s 32-3 win at Denver on Sunday. Police also said San Diego linebacker Stephen Cooper was at the bar.

The game gave San Diego sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a 7-3 record.

Cromartie was not arrested. San Diego police said the fight left one person with minor injuries. The paper reported someone apparently threw a champagne bottle that hit a person in the head.

For the second time in three weeks, we’re putting first-year Denver coach Josh McDaniels on the hot seat.

Who else can it be after McDaniels’ team lost its fourth straight game since starting 6-0? After Denver’s hot start, McDaniels was getting heavy consideration for coach of the year. Now, his team is in danger of becoming the first team since 1978 to start 6-0 and not make the playoffs.

After a crushing 32-3 defeat at home to San Diego on Sunday, McDaniels’ team is now in second place in the AFC West for the first time in his tenure. McDaniels made several questionable decisions Sunday, including inserting quarterback Kyle Orton in the second quarter instead of starting him. If Orton, who was dealing with an ankle injury, was healthy enough to play in the second quarter, why didn’t he start?

McDaniels has a short week to get his crew back in order. Denver hosts the Giants on Thursday night. At least McDaniels has a chance to get off the hot seat quickly.

We had plenty of candidates for this week’s player of the week honor. For the second time in 2009, three teams in the AFC West won as Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego all registered victories. It also happened in Week 6. The last time before then was in 2006.

We’re going to give the honor to the player who stepped up big in the most meaningful game involving the AFC West division. The honor goes to San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers.

Rivers didn’t put up huge numbers in San Diego’s 32-3 win over the Broncos. He was 17-of-22 for 145 yards. He had one touchdown pass and he was not intercepted. But he made the big plays when needed.

Rivers was 13-of-14 in the first half as the Chargers pounded Denver to take sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

DENVER -- The San Diego Chargers were in control before the game even started Sunday against the desperate but still cocksure Denver Broncos.

As they did a month ago in San Diego, the Broncos huddled near where the Chargers were warming up. Some Denver players were facing the Chargers and pointing. It appeared as though no San Diego player even noticed the Broncos’ bait job. The Chargers were far more interested in stretching their muscles than their tongues.

On Oct.19, the Chargers were incensed when Denver pulled the same trick on their home field. A shoving match ensued before the Broncos went on to beat the Chargers and take a commanding 3.5-game lead over San Diego in the AFC West.

A lot has changed since then.

“That stuff wasn’t going to work this time,” said San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was said Denver’s display last month was disrespectful. “We weren’t interested in any of that stuff [Sunday]. We were interested in winning the football game.”

Denver coach Josh McDaniels also got involved in the pregame chatter. He exchanged trash talk (which he told the San Diego Union Tribune that Chargers players started) with some San Diego linebackers. After the game, Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips called McDaniels “a little cocky [rear end].”

The Broncos had nothing Sunday -- not even effective pregame bravado.

The Chargers completed an amazing month in the division by plastering the Broncos 32-3 on their home field. Denver was completely outclassed by the Chargers, who appear to be the team they were expected to be in the preseason.

“We had it working today,” San Diego safety Eric Weddle said. “We knew what we were playing for.”

The Chargers were playing for power in the AFC West. And they got it. San Diego is 7-3 and leads Denver (6-4) by a game with six to go. The Chargers have an easier schedule down the stretch than the stumbling Broncos, who have to regroup and play host to the New York Giants on Thursday night. San Diego, which is in the hunt to earn a playoff bye, has two games remaining against teams with winning records.

The Chargers are poised to win their fourth straight division title. If they do, it will be the third straight year in which they came from behind to do so. San Diego started 5-5 in 2007 before winning its final six games. Last year, the Chargers became the first team to start 4-8 and make the playoffs as they won their final four games and Denver lost its final three games.

“Same old Chargers,” Weddle said.”This year, we’re starting early.”

The Broncos joined the 2003 Vikings as teams that won their first six games and then lost their next four games. The Vikings finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs that year. No NFL team has ever had a 3.5-game division lead and not made the playoffs.

In no way do the Broncos resemble the team of the first six weeks. The Broncos, who were given a spark by an injured Kyle Orton in the second quarter, were careless on offense (they lost two fumbles in San Diego territory, one coming in the end zone) and are worn down on defense. Denver had no pass rush against the Chargers and was riddled again on the ground as San Diego had 203 yards rushing.

“The plays that we were making when we were 6-0 we are no longer making,” Denver defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. “We have to regroup.”

The Chargers entered the game knowing they had the Broncos where they wanted them.

“We knew if we played the way we are capable, that we’re a better football team,” Weddle said. “We showed them that today.”

From the pregame warm-ups forward.

Rivers light up Denver again: After the loss last month, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was back to his dominant self against the Broncos. He has won six of his last eight meetings against Denver.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Rivers has completed at least 60 percent of his pass attempts against Denver in the past eight games. In his past six games against Denver, Rivers has 12 touchdown passes and one interception.

Rivers was a tidy 17-of-22 for 145 yards against Denver. He had one touchdown pass and no interceptions. He made every play he needed to as the Chargers cruised after taking a 13-0 lead at the half. Rivers completed 13-of-14 passes in the first half.

Orton shows toughness: The question, privately, in the San Diego locker room was why Denver didn’t start Orton. He didn’t start because of a badly sprained ankle. But after backup Chris Simms -- who played poorly in the second half at Washington last week in a loss that may haunt Denver -- was ineffective, Orton was put in with the Broncos down 13-0.

He completed his first three passes and led Denver to the goal line, where rookie running back Knowshon Moreno lost a fumble in the end zone. Had Denver scored there, it would have had all the momentum.

Orton finished the game and was 15-of-29 for 171 yards. The Broncos hope he can play against the Giants.

McDaniels said Orton didn’t start because Simms had all the practice reps last week and Orton wasn’t fully healthy.

“Give Orton credit,” Weddle said. “He showed a lot of toughness and he played pretty well.”

Broncos squabble on the sideline: Denver receiver Brandon Marshall got into Moreno’s face after his fumble at the goal line. Moreno, a rookie, responded by shoving the four-year veteran. Moreno tried to go after Marshall on the sideline and had to be restrained by teammates.

“It was frustrating,” Marshall said. “Those are plays that kind of kill drives and we need to punch it in next time.”

McDaniels downplayed the altercation.

“We’ve got a lot of emotional players on our team,” McDaniels said. “Obviously, we don’t want it make scenes or problems for ourselves on the sideline. There are a lot of things that happen on the sideline that involve emotion.”

DENVER -- San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman said the difference between the Chargers and the Broncos is that the Chargers “apply ourselves better when the pressure is on than they do.”

McDaniels said he isn’t sure how long safety Brian Dawkins will be out with a neck injury. He was hurt in the first half and he did not return. The Broncos host the Giants on Thursday.

Denver was penalized nine times for 65 yards. San Diego was penalized one time for 15 yards.

Denver had zero quarterback hits. Denver had five sacks against San Diego last month.

Denver Josh McDaniels said the reason why No 18 overall pick Robert Ayers was inactive was due to a coach’s decision.

Denver tight end Tony Scheffler had six catches for 101 yards against the Chargers last month. Sunday, he barely played and had one catch.

Bruce Gradkowski was named Oakland’s starting quarterback because team officials thought he could give the Raiders a better chance to win than JaMarcus Russell.

So far, so good.

Gradkowski wasn’t great for all of the game, but he threw a big touchdown late in the game to Louis Murphy to give Cincinnati the chance to fumble the ensuing kickoff in the final seconds. It set up a short Sebastian Janikowski field goal and gave the Raiders’ their third win of the season.

This win was unlikely, but the Raiders will take it. They are now 3-7 heading into a Thanksgiving Day trip to Dallas.

Life has been tough for the Raiders and Oakland deserves this dose of good fortune.

Gradkowski is likely not the long-term answer, but he has given the Raiders a renewed energy and a win. Oakland will gladly take both.

DENVER -- Officially, the AFC West race is not over.

The last month has showed us anything can happen.

But the firm grip Denver seemed to have on the division a month ago is gone and San Diego is now in control.

The Chargers are 7-3 and have won five straight games. Denver is now 6-4 after losing four straight games and stumbling after a 6-0 start.

It’s incredible to think that Denver was up 3.5 games after it beat San Diego 34-23 on "Monday Night Football" on Oct. 19.

Since then, the Chargers have caught fire and become the complete team everyone expected them to be. Since then, Denver has fallen apart and become the tattered mess everyone expected them to be.

The Chargers completely controlled Denver on Sunday. It was no contest.

There are still six games remaining in the season. A lot can happen. But the Chargers appear to be the better team.