ESPN NFL

INDIANAPOLIS -- Don’t expect a quick resolution to the San Diego Chargers' kicking competition in 2012.

Nate Kaeding and Nick Novak are under contract, and I believe we will see them compete during training camp and the preseason. If both remain healthy, we might not know who he kicker will be until rosters are finalized in early September.

San Diego general manager A.J. Smith was unwilling to speculate about what the team would do at kicker, and didn’t indicate he’d be in any hurry to make a decision.

Why should he?

He has two quality kickers under contract. What if a player is hurt the offseason or in camp? If Smith makes a decision now and the player he keeps gets hurt, the other kicker likely will not be available. This way, the Chargers can control the situation and choose the best kicker after the preseason.

Kaeding suffered a torn ACL in Week 1. Novak was signed and performed well for the rest of the season. Because of Kaeding’s success prior to the 2011 season and Novak’s performance last season, I think both players deserve the chance to win the job.

The San Diego Chargers got the news they expected about kicker Nate Kaeding since Sunday night.

The reliable placekicker is out for the year after he suffered a torn ACL on the opening play of the 2011 season, a kickoff that Minnesota’s Percy Harvin took back 103 yards for a touchdown in an eventual 24-17 San Diego win.

There were strong indications Sunday that Kaeding -- who was ably replaced by punter Mike Scifres -- would be out for the year. The Chargers will work out kickers Tuesday and make a quick decision.

San Diego will miss Kaeding. He is a consummate pro and he is very accurate. His injury has to be pegged on the Chargers’ special teams, which ruined last season.

While the unit looked good in the preseason and it improved during Sunday’s game, there is no way Kaeding should have to try to make a tackle. Now, he’s out for the season and it will be up to his replacement to keep up his end of the unit.

The Chargers did get better news on defensive end Luis Castillo. He has a broken leg, but he could be back later in the season. The San Diego Union Tribune reports the team will likely bring back Ogemdi Nwagbuo to take Castillo’s place. Nwagbuo is a solid player who was one of the team’s toughest cuts.

The team also got good news on the knee injury suffered by running back Mike Tolbert, who scored all three of San Diego’s touchdowns Sunday. Tolbert is expected to be fine.

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers lumbered off the field after a first half that couldn’t have gone any worse.

The Chargers -- who trailed the Minnesota Vikings 17-7 -- were sent the locker room by a hearty round of boos. The message from the San Diego crowd, which has understandably grown impatient after seeing this talented team stumble early year after year, was clearly: Please, not again.

The Chargers, though, didn’t let the fans’ restlessness or the seriousness of the situation get them down. In fact, safety Eric Weddle had his own message for anyone who might be concerned.

“We are not the 2010 San Diego Chargers,” Weddle said of the team that led the NFL in total offense and total defense but failed to make the playoffs. “It may not have looked too good, but we are not going to lose the game in one play or in one half. It is not going to happen. We did not waver. It came along. We knew it would.”

Showing the resiliency and timeliness of a championship team, the Chargers overcame their first-half troubles and took over in the second half, beating the Vikings 24-17.

While some may not be impressed that it took a furious rally to beat the Vikings at home, this win is significant because of how the Chargers responded to a dire situation. After spending a large chunk of training camp dedicated to fixing the NFL’s worst special teams, San Diego watched Percy Harvin take the opening kickoff 103 yards for a score. To add further anguish, Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding was lost for the game on the play, making punter Mike Scifres the team’s place-kicker. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Kaeding may have a torn ACL.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looked uncomfortable and rusty in the first half as he couldn’t quite make the play that counted most. The Chargers went deep into Minnesota territory twice in the first half and netted no points.

And there was the case of the San Diego defense, which was eaten up by Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson in the first half.

It all added up to a tension-filled halftime by the sea. Was it really going to happen again? Were special teams, key injuries and poor run defense going to undo the Chargers again? Were they going to fall on their face early under Norv Turner again?

“I understand everyone wondering it,” Weddle said. “Here we were in the moment and the same things were happening again … But we were just not ready to go down.”

So perhaps this year will be different. The Chargers are always a tough date late in the season. But there’s no denying it takes Turner’s players a while to ramp it up. Since Turner took over in 2007, the Chargers are 6-8 in September and 7-8 in October. But they are 28-7 in the final two months of the season.

Having to go to New England in Week 2 after a loss to Minnesota would have seriously hampered this team’s demeanor. Now, the Chargers can head east, not worrying about the late-summer blues.

There’s so much to celebrate about this win in San Diego.

There’s the brilliance of Rivers. There’s the timely play by the defense. There’s the heroics of Scifres. There’s the emergence of running back Ryan Mathews.

But it all starts with Rivers.

For anyone who wants to know why Rivers is considered an elite quarterback despite the fact he doesn’t own a Super Bowl ring, please check the final score of the game. On second down and 10 from the Minnesota 19 late in the fourth quarter, Rivers hit running back Mike Tolbert for a touchdown.

It was much more than a medium-yardage scoring play. Rivers, not famous for his mobility, evaded a Vikings’ rush and showed great patience, waiting for Tolbert to get open. He did, Rivers instantly hit him and Tolbert, who scored all three of the Chargers’ touchdowns, rolled into the end zone.

“That was classic Philip,” Weddle said. ‘He’ll wait all day for a play to happen. That’s why our goal is to get the ball back in his hands so he can make plays like that.”

Rivers (who threw for 335 yards on 33-of-48 passing) and his offensive mates received plenty of help. The Vikings had 161 yards of offense in the first half. They finished the game with 187 yards. Peterson had 74 yards on the ground in the first half. He finished with 98 yards on 16 carries.

Many San Diego defenders said they were fired up during the week when Peterson -- who ran for an NFL record 296 yards against the Chargers in 2007 -- said on a radio show that he planned to run for 200 yards and get a win in Week 1. New Chargers inside linebacker Takeo Spikes was fuming after the game about it. Several Chargers said the coaching staff played a clip of Peterson saying it.

"It was a direct slap in the face,” said Spikes, who had a terrific debut in San Diego with a game-high 11 tackles. “You don't come in our house saying that hey I'm going to get over 200 yards and guarantee a W. That is a disrespect to us. We put in a lot of time in this game; respect every guy in this locker room as a player. I find it hard to believe and you are going to say all that and your success is predicated off the guys up front and with us knowing that. I know our guys up front -- those dogs hunt. … It was personal, absolutely personal.”

Despite the motivation provided by Peterson, the Chargers wouldn’t have won the game if it weren’t for Scifres. The punter, who signed a contract extension during the week, took over for Kaeding and he was perfect, including tying the score with a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It was the first field goal of his NFL career.

An added bonus in all this fun for San Diego was the hard running displayed by 2010 No. 1 pick Ryan Mathews. He had 45 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving. He seems like a much improved player from last year.

It’s all another reminder, as Weddle said, that these are not the 2010 San Diego Chargers.

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers' 24-17 comeback win over the Minnesota Vikings didn’t come without a cost.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports kicker Nate Kaeding -- who was hurt on a Percy Harvin touchdown return on the opening kickoff -- may have a torn ACL.

The San Diego Union Tribune reports defensive end Luis Castillo has a broken tibia. He will be out a significant amount of time, if not for the season.

Running back Mike Tolbert, who scored all three of San Diego’s touchdowns Sunday, has a knee injury. But it isn’t considered serious.

The Kaeding and Castillo injuries are of concern for the Chargers. The Chargers will need to sign a kicker and Jacques Cesaire and Vaughn Martin will play more for the Chargers now.

SAN DIEGO -- A look at San Diego's impressive 16-14 comeback victory.

What it means: The Chargers proved they are resilient. Everything crashed in on them as the Vikings took a 17-7 lead at the half. San Diego's special teams -- one of the worst the NFL had ever seen in 2010 -- gave up a 103-yard kickoff return for a score on the opening play. Kicker Nate Kaeding was lost for the game on the play. At the half, the Chargers had to wonder whether they were in for another slow start under Norv Turner. However, San Diego took over on both sides of the ball in the second half. The offense finished drives, and the defense finished Adrian Peterson, who sliced it up in the first half. It wasn’t pretty, but the Chargers showed the resolve of a champion in Week 1.

Tomorrow’s talker: Philip Rivers was shaky and seemed off in the first half. In the second half, he took over. His winning touchdown pass to running back Mike Tolbert was brilliant. He showed great patience and proved what a star he is.

Rookie no more: Running back Ryan Mathews had a terrific game. He ran with authority and confidence. After a so-so rookie season, Mathews looks like a matured player. He can help make this offense special.

Nice save: Game ball to punter Mike Scifres. He took over place-kicking duties when Kaeding went down. Scifres was perfect, including nailing a tying field goal in the fourth quarter from 40 yards. It was his first NFL field goal. Earlier in the game, the Chargers went for it on fourth-and-20 because they didn’t trust Scifres. He signed a contract extension last week. He just earned it.

What's next: San Diego has a huge test next week when it travels to New England. It could be an early playoff preview.

INDIANAPOLIS -- All due respect to the great Peyton Manning, but this game wasn’t about him.

This was about the NFL’s top-ranked defense, which hasn’t been getting much notice. Whether it was because of the 2-5 start or the elastic unit’s penchant for giving up the occasional big play and long scoring drive, the San Diego Chargers’ defense had been overlooked.

It can’t be any longer. This was a look-at-us game by the San Diego defense, which stifled Manning, causing him to have one of his worst NFL days.

“This game was about us, and what we are doing,” said San Diego safety Eric Weddle, whose 41-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Chargers a 12-point lead in the third quarter and was the turning point of a 36-14 San Diego win.

“We all know that Peyton Manning is one of the best all-time and we respect him greatly. But all we heard going into this game was Peyton and how we couldn’t’ stop him. When are they going to start talking about our secondary? When are they going to start talking about the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL? This is a great defense, but nobody noticed … It was a slap in the face.”

Sunday night, though, Manning was the one who was hammered in the face.

The story of the Chargers’ extremely easy victory was their continued mastery of Manning. But this one was special. Manning, who completed 31 of 48 passes for 285 mostly meaningless yards, was intercepted four times. San Diego linebacker Kevin Burnett gave the Chargers a 10-7 late in the first quarter on a 29-yard interception return. Manning is now 1-13 in games in which he has thrown at least three interceptions.

“We played our defense,” San Diego cornerback Antoine Cason said. “We know how good he is. But it was about us staying in our defense. Let’s play our game and see what happens.”

What happened Sunday night was that the Chargers showed the rest of the AFC that they are a legitimate playoff threat again heading into December, which, by the way, is a month in which starting quarterback Philip Rivers has never lost a game in four seasons as a starter. The Chargers aren’t bad in November either. This was San Diego’s eighth straight November win.

The Chargers are 6-5, winners of four straight games after starting 2-5. The four-time defending AFC West champions trail Kansas City (7-4) by one game in the AFC West. The Chargers leapfrogged Oakland (5-6) for second place.

The Chargers are in fine shape heading toward the stretch run. They play three straight games at home over 11 days, beginning Sunday against the Raiders. The Chiefs and 49ers follow.

Sunday night’s dominant road performance showed San Diego is ready for December.

It all started with the strong play against Manning. Manning is 1-5 against the Chargers in his past six meetings, including a six-interception performance in 2007. The Chargers were nearly as dominant in this game.

Led by defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who should be a head-coaching candidate in January, San Diego’s defense took over after allowing Manning to cruise down the field on the opening drive of the game. Weddle said the Chargers started to play “smart” after the opening drive.

You've got to love brain power.

“They got after us tonight,” Manning said. “They executed their defense better than we did our offense.”

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Manning struggled on throws of 10 yards or more. He was 3-of-15 in pass attempts of 11 yards or longer with a passer rating of 5.8. In Manning's famous three- and four-receiver sets, San Diego buckled down. All four of San Diego’s interceptions came in those sets.

Several Chargers said the key to their success against Manning was making him uncomfortable. While San Diego had only one sack, Manning was hurried routinely.

“You keep him in the pocket and he will pick you apart,” said San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips, who sacked Manning for his 10th sack of the season. “We kept pressure on him.”

While the San Diego defense was the star of the night, Phillips said it was a complete team effort. The Chargers' offense and special teams ensured that Manning rarely started in good field position.

San Diego’s offense scored one touchdown, half as many as its defense. The Chargers had to settle for five Nate Kaeding field goals.

Another big development was that San Diego's special-teams play -- a disaster in the first nine games -- was strong for the second straight week. San Diego coach Norv Turner said he gave a game ball to the kick coverage unit and said the improvement was "dramatic.”

Nothing, though, was more dramatic Sunday night than San Diego’s complete ownership of Manning.

“We showed who we are,” Weddle said. “We showed how good this defense is against a great player.”

INDIANAPOLIS -- The San Diego Chargers jumped out to a 16-7 lead late in the second quarter.

But we now have a much closer game after the Colts erupted for a 65-yard, five-play touchdown drive in 1:14 to cut the score to 16-14 with 22 seconds to go in the first half after holding the Chargers to a three-and-out series.

The Chargers had to settle for three Nate Kaeding field goals and a defensive score. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, who entered the game leading the NFL in passing yards, has just 72 yards on 8-of-12 passing. The Chargers’ offense is going to have to find the end zone a couple of times if they want this lead to hold up.

The Chargers initially took advantage of a poor night so far by Indianapolis superstar quarterback Peyton Manning. He has thrown two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Kevin Burnett.

The Colts’ offense has sputtered until the end of the half after rolling down the field on the opening drive. San Diego’s defense also toughened last week after Denver waltzed down the field on the opening drive. San Diego then scored 35 unanswered points in a 35-14 win. San Diego running back Mike Tolbert is playing well in his second straight start for the injured Ryan Mathews.

Tolbert, who had 111 yards rushing against Denver last week, has 58 yards on nine carries. However, he is being examined for a hand injury. With Mathews already out with an ankle injury, the Chargers will need the hard-running Tolbert in the second half. Darren Sproles is strictly a change-of-pace player. He wears down as the primary back.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates doesn’t have a catch. He has missed three weeks with a foot injury. The Chargers are also playing without receiver Vincent Jackson. He suffered a calf injury on the first play of the game. It was Jackson’s season debut after ending his holdout.

Want another reason why the rest of the AFC West should worry about the San Diego Chargers, who have won three straight games and appear to be embarking on another late-season playoff run?

The return of Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson. As expected, the Chargers officially activated Jackson to the roster Tuesday as the Chargers prepare for a pivotal game at Indianapolis on Sunday night. He has been on the roster-exemption list for the past three games after ending his holdout.

There has been speculation that San Diego would be reluctant to play Jackson because of hard feelings over his holdout and the fact that he will likely walk as a free agent after the season. Also, there has been speculation that Jackson may not be motivated to play at a high level because of his own hard feelings.

My expectations? San Diego, which has been depleted by injuries, will use Jackson often and he will be a professional and play with his usual strong work ethic. The word is Jackson has looked very good in recent practices. Tuesday, San Diego coach Norv Turner told reporters he expects Jackson to be a solid contributor.

Jackson’s pending return was not lost on his teammates Monday night after San Diego evened its record at 5-5 with a 35-14 win over Denver.

“We get Vincent back this week,” safety Eric Weddle said without prompting. “That’s only going to make us better.”

There’s no reason to think Jackson won’t start right away. His replacement as the No. 1 receiver, Malcom Floyd, aggravated a hamstring injury Monday night and could miss more time. No. 2 receiver Legedu Naanee still is being hampered by a hamstring injury that kept him out of several games and No. 4 receiver Patrick Crayton, who has been starting in Naanee’s place, has a wrist injury that could cost him a significant amount of time. Buster Davis, the team’s No. 3 receiver, was put on the injured reserve last month.

Tight end Antonio Gates has missed two games with a foot injury and there’s no guarantee he will return against the Colts, although the team is hopeful. The team is also hopeful rookie tailback Ryan Mathews will return from an ankle injury at Indianapolis, although expect backup Mike Tolbert to play significantly. He had 11 rushing yards against Denver.

The Chargers have survived the onslaught of injuries because of the special play of quarterback Philip Rivers. He has to be thrilled about the notion of getting Jackson back. Rivers and Jackson have been one of the NFL’s best long-play combinations. Rivers’ stance during Jackson’s holdout was always this: “I wish Vincent was here. We’d be a better team with him.” Now, the surging Chargers will get Rivers’ wish.

To make room for Jackson, San Diego cut kicker Kris Brown. He was on the roster while Nate Kaeding was dealing with a groin injury.

The Vincent Jackson holdout is officially over and he’s back with the Chargers, for now.

The only reason why Jackson signed his tender Friday is because he needed to accrue a season toward free agency. Jackson’s camp announced last week that he’d report Friday. Jackson will now be set to be an unrestricted free agent in March. Then, Jackson will almost certainly leave as a free agent unless the Chargers give him the franchise tag, which could open a whole new can of worms.

The odds are Jackson is coming back to San Diego to say good-bye. After he serves three games on the roster exempt list, he will be eligible to play in Week 12 at Indianapolis on Nov. 28.

Expect Jackson to become a contributor as soon as he’s eligible to play. San Diego coach Norv Turner loves Jackson and will be thrilled to add him to an offense that is ranked No. 1 in the NFL. There is still room for Jackson, especially in the deep passing game.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, in the past two seasons, Jackson led the NFL with 16 catches for 729 yards on pass plays of 31-plus yards. He was targeted 36 times on passes of 31-plus yards. Quarterback Philip Rivers has a great connection with Jackson, and I think the two will enjoy instant chemistry again.

For the time being, the team and Jackson will play nice.

“I’m happy Vincent is here,” San Diego general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement released by the team. “I have no doubt he will go to work, work hard and quickly get into game-shape. Once he starts playing in games, I don’t think it will take him long for him to be a contributor and help us.”

In the same release, Jackson also appeared ready to move on.

“It feels good to be with my teammates. I’ve missed football more than you can imagine,” Jackson said. “Right now I’m just looking forward to being able to practice and get back on the field. My only concern is doing whatever I can to contribute and help the team win. The future will take care of itself.”

San Diego could use Jackson now. Starting receivers Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are both doubtful to play Sunday against Tennessee with hamstring injuries. Neither player played last week. Receiver Buster Davis, who is expected to start at receiver along with Patrick Crayton, is questionable with a rib injury. He was limited in practice Friday in his only work of the week.

Tight end Antonio Gates, Rivers' top target, practiced Friday fully for the first time in two weeks because of a toe injury. He played last week and he is expected to play Sunday, even though he is listed as questionable.

Kicker Kris Brown is questionable with an ankle injury. He is replacing Nate Kaeding, who is out for a couple of weeks with a groin issue.

» NFC Decisive Moments: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

After dominating on defense for three quarters, but undermining themselves with turnovers and special-teams gaffes, the San Diego Chargers caught fire in the fourth quarter Sunday against visiting New England.

The Chargers outscored the Patriots 17-3 in the first 10:59 of the quarter to cut the New England lead to 23-20. San Diego was, indeed, charging.

Then it gave itself real life when it stopped New England on its 47 with 1:55 remaining when the Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1 from their 49. The Chargers had everything going for themselves. They quickly got a first down at the 35, but two incompletions suddenly put the Chargers in a third-and-10 situation with 1:14 to go. Quarterback Philip Rivers hit tight end Antonio Gates --playing at about 65 percent with a toe injury that kept him out of practice all week -- for an 8-yard gain to make it fourth-and-2 from the 27.

It was time to kick a field goal. The Chargers felt good that new kicker Kris Brown -- who was playing for the injured Nate Kaeding -- was about to attempt a manageable 45-yarder to tie the score.

But it’s never that easy for San Diego, especially when it comes to special teams. Guard Louis Vasquez was called for a false start, adding to the Chargers’ maddening litany of special-teams issues.

Now, it was a 50-yarder. Tough; very tough.

And it was no good, as the ball bounced off the goal post, adding to the Chargers’ season-long misery. The Chargers did so much right in the sequence, but they made enough silly miscues to undo themselves again.

SAN DIEGO -- Just because the San Diego Chargers have been here before, it doesn’t mean they know the escape route or they are positive the usual late-season revival is in the works.

I heard the word “hope” a lot in the losing locker room Sunday. It’s getting to the point where it seems as if the Chargers are starting to wonder themselves if the Keystone Kops act is ever going to end. Doubt may be creeping in by the Pacific Ocean.

Asked when he thinks the Chargers will finally put their mistakes behind them, safety Eric Weddle replied: “I hope it’s next week against Tennessee. ... I hope it’s soon.”

The truth is the Chargers are one game from the halfway point of their season and they're 2-5. And they're 2-5 because they continue to make the same mistakes, loss after frustrating loss.

Sunday’s 23-20 loss to New England had a familiar look: turnovers, special-teams follies and a late rally that fell short. All the major ingredients of San Diego’s self-inflicted defeat cocktail.

“Until we stop making those same mistakes,” Weddle said, “we will not win. I hope it changes soon.”

The Chargers -- who have two tough games coming up against Tennessee and Houston before the bye -- and their fans would be fooling themselves if they were to think their fortunes will suddenly change just because they have in the past three seasons. In 2007, the Chargers were 5-5 and finished 11-5. In 2008, they were 4-8 and finished 8-8. Last season, they were 2-3 and finished 13-3.

There hasn’t been any sign from this team that it is ready to finish games. The hole is getting deep. If San Diego wins two-thirds of its remaining games, it will still only be 8-8. With Kansas City sitting at 4-2 (including a win over the Chargers), it is safe to say the Chargers' string of four straight AFC West championship is in jeopardy if the turnaround isn’t swift and emphatic.

The pall over the locker room Sunday seemed to suggest the team understands.

“It’s on us, the players,” Weddle said. “The coaches are doing a great job. It’s us who keep making the same mistakes.”

What is maddening to the Chargers is they know they are close to being a dominant team. The Chargers entered the game ranked No. 1 in the NFL on offense and on defense. Once again, they played well on both sides of the ball.

New England had only 179 total yards. San Diego harassed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady all game. He was never comfortable. The Chargers, who outgained their first six opponents by nearly 1,100 yards, had 363 yards of offense Sunday.

The problems? The same old things.

The Chargers committed four turnovers. Two of Sunday’s giveaways were head-scratchers. Rookie Richard Goodman made a nice 25-yard catch (his first in the NFL). However, after going down untouched, he simply left the ball on the field, thinking the play was over. New England recovered. Then, fullback Jacob Hester let a backfield pass from Philip Rivers bounce, thinking the play was dead. New England picked it up and returned it deep into San Diego territory.

Speaking of playing dead, the San Diego special teams had its usual assortment of disasters, including a failed onside kick and long punt return allowed. San Diego saved the worst special-teams mistake for last.

After the Chargers scrambled back into the game by outscoring New England 17-3 in the fourth quarter, they had a chance to tie the score with a 45-yard field goal in the final seconds. But they committed a false start, forcing new kicker Kris Brown -- the replacement for the injured Nate Kaeding -- to attempt a 50-yarder. He hit the upright.

And so continued the Chargers’ stunning self-destruction.

“I just don’t think we gave ourselves a chance,” San Diego coach Norv Turner said.

It’s starting to look like the Chargers are wondering when they’ll ever give themselves a chance to win a game.

The following are other key aspects of Sunday’s game:

Falling behind in the AFC West: The Chargers now have two teams to climb above in the AFC West if they want to win their fifth straight division championship.

While the Chargers are stumbling, the Chiefs continue to make strides. Kansas City, which has a very manageable remaining schedule, got back in the win column Sunday with a 22-point victory over the Jaguars. The Chargers also have to worry about catching Oakland. The Raiders had their best game in eight years, embarrassing the host Broncos 59-14. The Raiders, who beat San Diego two weeks ago, are 3-4.

“We know we dug a hole,” Weddle said. “We have to find a way to get out of it.”

Defense stars: Teams that hold New England to 179 yards of offense and Brady to 159 yards passing usually win. The Chargers were terrific on defense.

The defense was playing in stressful situations because of the fumbles and special-teams mistakes. But make no mistake, Ron Rivera’s crew played wining football Sunday. Brady was pressured all game. San Diego, which has 25 sacks, had four Sunday. Newcomer Antwan Barnes had two sacks and he is giving the team a pass-rushing burst at the position that soon-to-be former Charger Shawne Merriman once dominated from in San Diego.

Gates steps up: San Diego tight end Antonio Gates deserved to leave the stadium a winner Sunday.

Gates didn’t practice all week because of a toe injury. But with starting receivers Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee out with hamstring injuries, Gates willed himself onto the field.

Gates was clearly not himself. He was used mostly as a decoy in the first half when the Chargers were sputtering on offense. But he took over in the fourth quarter, when he had all four of his catches, including a touchdown.

Gates was limping noticeably in the locker room as he headed to the training room. This player is a superstar and his toughness can never be denied.

SAN DIEGO -– A look at a game that got interesting late:

What does it mean: The San Diego Chargers are 2-5 and have to be considered to be in trouble in the AFC West. They trail Kansas City (4-2) and Oakland (3-4) in the division and are tied with Denver for last place at 2-5.

Tomorrow’s talker: Antonio Gates is a warrior. He didn’t practice all week with a toe injury. Yet, he was a big part of San Diego’s fourth-quarter comeback when it outscored the Patriots 17-3. It was just another reminder of just how clutch and special Gates is.

Trending: Same old Chargers. They could have easily won this game. But turnovers and poor play on special teams did this team in once again. The Chargers had a false start on a last-second, 45-yard field goal attempt turning it into a 50-yard try. Kris Brown, who is filling in for an injured Nate Kaeding, missed it. The result: another close loss.

What’s next: San Diego plays host to Tennessee on Sunday and then goes to Houston. It doesn’t get any easier for a floundering team.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates is active and expected to start against New England. He missed the entire week of practice with a toe injury he suffered at St. Louis.

The Chargers will need Gates, even if he’s not at full strength.

San Diego starting receivers Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are inactive with hamstring injuries. Buster Davis and Patrick Crayton will start for the Chargers.

Naanee is listed as the third quarterback and he could only quarterback if starter Philip Rivers and backup Billy Volek were injured. The team cut No. 3 quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan to make room for kicker Kris Brown.

He will kick for a game or two while kicker Nate Kaeding is out with a groin injury.

In other AFC West related news and notes:

The Kansas City Chiefs promoted receiver Verran Tucker from the practice squad. He is a rookie free agent. To make room for Tucker, Kansas City cut undrafted rookie Jeremy Horne. He was a preseason star, who didn’t make an impact in the regular season. Horne could end up on the Chiefs’ practice squad.

The San Francisco Chronicle has an interesting look at the slow start by No. 8 overall pick Rolando McClain. It’s early, but McClain has not made many big plays.

Apparently, former Kansas City czar Carl Peterson does not have a future with the Dolphins. That marriage has been speculated about since Peterson was shown the door by the Chiefs nearly two years ago.

Notable players: QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, K Nate Kaeding, LB Shawne Merriman, DT Jamal Williams, C Nick Hardwick, FB Lorenzo Neal, ST Kassim Osgood, TE Antonio Gates, LT Marcus McNeill, CB Quentin Jammer.

Analysis: Unlike the other three teams in the AFC West, the memory of San Diego’s greatest team doesn’t bring back happy thoughts for Chargers fans.

The memories are tough and raw. Oh, what could have been.

San Diego has never won a Super Bowl. This team was its best chance. The 2006 San Diego Chargers were loaded.

Then they went out and blew it in the playoffs.

I was in San Diego for the team’s AFC divisional playoff game against New England and the town was buzzing all weekend. The Chargers were an NFL-best 14-2 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. San Diego was unbeaten at home in the regular season. Marty Schottenheimer’s team was expected to go to, and probably win, the Super Bowl.

Then came the fourth quarter of the New England game. The Patriots stunned San Diego by scoring 11 points in a little more than seven minutes to knock off the Chargers, 24-21.

The dream season was over and the Chargers were never the same again. Schottenheimer, who didn’t get along with general manager A.J. Smith anyway, was sent packing and was replaced by Norv Turner.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson was the NFL MVP after an incredible season in which he ran for 1,815 yards and scored an NFL-record 28 rushing touchdowns. Philip Rivers took over for the departed Drew Brees after sitting for two years and played well right away. The defense was suffocating and opportunistic.

The 2006 Chargers were good enough to win a Super Bowl. They just couldn’t get it done.

Most impressive win: A 23-13 victory over visiting Pittsburgh. The Chargers bounced back from a tough loss in Baltimore to handle the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 5. They made a statement in that game.

Rocky times: The Chargers had some off-field issues in 2006. Linebacker Steve Foley was shot after a confrontation with an off-duty police officer days before the start of the season, creating a major distraction. Shaun Phillips stepped in and played very well in Foley’s absence.

Safety Terrence Kiel was arrested at the team’s facility during the season for possession of controlled substances. Kiel, who didn’t play for San Diego after 2006, was killed in an auto accident in July 2008.

Honorable mention:

1963: The Chargers won the AFL title after an 11-3 season. They were dominant, fielding the best offense and defense in the league.

1980: They lost to the AFC championship game to Oakland. This was an offensive juggernaut (418 points, 26.1 ppg).

1994: This team has a special place in San Diego fans’ hearts. It’s the only time the Chargers made the Super Bowl.

Now that most of the signing, releasing and trading and all of the drafting is complete in the AFC West, we now have a better feel for the talent in the division.

Once again, there has been major change. Let's catch up with an early projection for our preseason all-AFC West team.

We have a few ground rules: Rookies are eligible. We’re using a 3-4 defense because three teams in the division use the 3-4 as its base and Oakland will use the 3-4 more this year. We took some liberties at some positions. For example, we aren’t taking a fullback but we are using the two best running backs.

Without further ado, here is our all-AFC West team as it stands now:

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Why: It wasn’t even close. Rivers is a premier player in the NFL. He’s the best player in the division, and, at 28, is getting better.

Running backs

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

Thomas Jones, Kansas City

Why: The Chiefs have the two best running backs in the division. It’s a strong division for running backs, but the Chiefs have something special. This is the strength of the team. Charles is a third-year game-breaker and Jones, who will be 32 this summer, is a savvy veteran who ran for more than 1,400 yards last season. This is a powerful combination.

Receivers

Vincent Jackson, San Diego

Malcom Floyd, San Diego

Why: With Brandon Marshall traded to Miami, Jackson is by far the best receiver in the division. He is big and fast and has great hands. He's a rising star. I had a difficult time deciding on my second receiver. The division has several intriguing receivers including Dwayne Bowe, Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy and Eddie Royal. But all of these other players are big question marks heading into the season. Floyd seems like the safest bet.

Tight end

Antonio Gates, San Diego

Why: This was another easy one. Gates is at the top of his game. He is coming off a season in which he had 79 catches and a career-high 1,157 yards. Gates turns 30 next month, but he is one of the best tight ends in the league.

Left tackle

Ryan Clady, Denver

Why: Clady is one of the best left tackles in the NFL as he enters his third season. Of course, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back from a partially torn patella tendon injury that required surgery. He was injured while playing basketball. The Broncos hope Clady can return by the start of the season.

Left guard

Kris Dielman, San Diego

Why: A strong, steady force. A quiet player who is one of the best in the business.

Center

Nick Hardwick, San Diego

Why: Hardwick had battled injuries, but he remains at the top of his game. He needs to stay healthy. The Chargers’ offense misses him when he is out. He is a stout anchor.

Right guard

Chris Kuper, Denver

Why: Kuper is an underrated player. He is a mauler who will help make Denver’s transition from a zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional unit easier.

Right tackle

Ryan Harris, Denver

Why: The Broncos’ offense went south when Harris suffered a toe injury last year. He’s big and athletic. He and Clady make great bookend tackles.

DEFENSE

Defensive end

Richard Seymour, Oakland

Why: Seymour can still be a top player. He is versatile and plays with a mean streak. When he’s on, he’s a terror.

Nose tackle

Jamal Williams, Denver

Why: This was a tough one, because there are few established nose tackles in the division. There is talk that Glenn Dorsey may play the position in Kansas City, but we’ll have to see how that works. Although Williams is declining and he missed all but one game last season, the first-year Bronco and former Charger All-Pro has to be considered the best nose tackle in the division at this point

Defensive end

Luis Castillo, San Diego

Why: Castillo is a good, steady player. He doesn’t get a lot of numbers. But he is a solid player.

Outside linebacker

Elvis Dumervil, Denver

Why: Dumervil is just scratching the surface of his ability. He led the NFL with 17 sacks last season. He’s a star.

Shawne Merriman, San Diego

Why: People get on Merriman because his sack numbers have dropped. But he is always around the play. Expect him to have a strong year in 2010 as he continues to improve from a 2008 knee injury.

Inside linebacker

D.J. Williams, Denver

Why: Williams is a very good player. He is smart and athletic. He makes a defense better.

Rolando McClain, Oakland

Why: I’m taking a shot here. I could go with San Diego’s Stephen Cooper or even young, exciting Charger Brandon Siler. But I just have a feeling McClain is going to be an instant star. He has all the intangibles. He had Oakland’s playbook sent to him the morning after he was drafted. I think he is going to be special.

Cornerback

Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland

Why: Best in the biz. Period.

Champ Bailey, Denver

Why: Hall of Famer. Period.

Safety

Brian Dawkins, Denver

Why: I was impressed with how well Dawkins played last year, his first in the division. Dawkins may be 36, but he is still a big-league playmaker.

Eric Berry, Kansas City

Why: Like McClain, I’m taking a flier here. But I expect Berry, the No.5 draft pick in the draft, to make an instant impact. The Chiefs are going to unleash him right away.

Special teams:

Punter

Shane Lechler, Oakland

Why: This was a tough call. San Diego’s Mike Scifres is an unbelievable punter just like Lechler. But a slight edge goes to Lechler because he is just so powerful.

Kicker

Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland

Why: Another tough, tough call. I gave Janikowski a slight edge over San Diego’s Nate Kaeding. Truthfully, I gave Janikowski the edge because Kaeding struggled in his last game. Janikowski seems to be getting better.

Returner

Darren Sproles, San Diego

Why: Not a tough call at all. Sproles is magic in the open field. He can return a kick for a touchdown any time he touches the ball.