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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Chargers in 2012.

Dream scenario (10-6): Although Philip Rivers had a very down 2011 by his fantastic track record, the Chargers still threw the ball effectively and should once again in 2012. Even though Vincent Jackson is in Tampa Bay, Antonio Gates is healthy and San Diego has enough at the wide receiver, including better slot options, to allow for Rivers to do what Rivers does best: sling it all over the field, especially deep. San Diego does look to be noticeably improved in the front seven. That could pay off huge in terms of improvement against the run and pass as well as generating more big plays. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Melvin Ingram ends up being the defensive rookie of the year as a versatile and explosive difference-maker. I am still a huge fan of Rivers and I believe that Ryan Mathews can be an elite running back to mix in with a noticeably improved defense. But what is the ceiling if all of this comes together? A divisional crown certainly is a possibility, but I still think San Diego -- even if everything goes right -- would still be a step below the very top teams in the NFL.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): What if Mathews gets hurt? In a dream scenario, Mathews could have as strong of a season as any running back in the NFL. But his injury history is very troubling, the Chargers have very little behind him and their offensive line ranks among the worst in the league right now. The offensive line could be the downfall of the entire team and could easily lead to injuries to the Chargers’ most important players, Rivers and Mathews. And Rivers must cut down on the interceptions. Also, how much do we really trust Gates to return to his previously amazing form for an entire season? And remember, the defense did take a big step backward last year and it wasn’t all that long ago that the Chargers were unbelievably awful on special teams. What if glimmers of that ineptitude resurface? The worst-case scenario of 6-10 wouldn’t bode well for Norv Turner’s job.

Let’s look at one player on every AFC West roster who should be paying close attention when the draft begins Thursday:

Denver running back Willis McGahee: He will likely get a backfield partner early in the draft. McGahee is 30 and was nicked up a lot last season. He was fantastic, but will be best served if the Broncos get him some help.

Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel: The Chiefs have spent this offseason building around Cassel. Still, there is a chance Kansas City could take a quarterback early. If the Chiefs take Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill in the first round, Cassel’s future is Kansas City will be short. If the Chiefs bypass a quarterback in the early rounds, it’s a strong statement that Cassel is in the team’s long-term plans.

Oakland tight end David Ausberry: The Raiders like Ausberry, a second-year player, but they have also been scouting tight ends. Oakland not drafting one would be a clear sign that Ausberry will get every opportunity to play in 2012.

San Diego running back Ryan Mathews: He has seen Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert leave via free agency in the past nine months; Mathews needs a quality backup and I think he will get one. Mathews is making great strides, but he has some durability issues -- making a strong backup a must.

The AFC West was the tightest division in the NFL in 2011.

The Broncos, Raiders and Chargers finished 8-8 with Denver prevailing as division winner via a tiebreaker. Kansas City was a game behind at 7-9. The Chiefs were a blocked field goal attempt against Oakland in Week 16 away from winning the division.

Each team marches toward 2012 with hopes of winning the division. While there is still some work to do in terms of the draft, let’s play the “what if” game. Below is five ways each team in the division could win the AFC West in 2012 if certain things occur. Hat tip to the reader who suggested the idea:

Denver

If Peyton Manning is fully recovered from a neck injury that kept him out of the entire 2011 season: Manning’s health is the key to Denver’s entire season. The team and Manning think he will be fine. If he is, the Broncos will be in great shape.

If Demaryius Thomas develops into a true No. 1 receiver: The third-year player has great potential and he showed great flashes last season. Playing with Manning should spark his career.

If Denver gets a running mate for Willis McGahee: McGahee had a great season in 2011, but he was dinged up a lot and he needs some help. If Denver can draft a player such as Miami’s Lamar Miller, Boise State’s Doug Martin or Virginia Tech’s David Wilson in the second round, they should be in great shape.

If Denver improves at defensive tackle: The Broncos need some help at the position and it is their most pressing need. Watch for Denver to take a defensive tackle at No. 25 in the first round and that player needs to contribute right away.

If the change at defensive coordinator is smooth: With Dennis Allen now the head coach in Oakland, former Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio is Denver’s seventh defensive coordinator in the past seven seasons. This change could be seamless, though, because Del Rio has previously been a coordinator on John Fox’s staff, and Fox plays a major role as a defensive coach.

Kansas City

If quarterback Matt Cassel plays better than he did in 2011: Cassel took a step back last season after a strong 2010 season. Instead of replacing him, though, the Chiefs gave Cassel more weapons. He has everything a quarterback needs to succeed. Now, he has to be a success.

If the Chiefs’ injured stars are recovered from serious knee injuries: Running back Jamaal Charles, safety Eric Berry and tight end Tony Moeaki all suffered torn ACL’s in their knees in September. All are expected back. If they are all fully recovered, the Chiefs should be fine.

If the Chiefs get an impact defender in the first round: The Chiefs have a strong defense, but they can use another stud. Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe or Boston College inside linebacker Luke Kuechly would both be solid fits.

If Stanford Routt fits in the defense: The Chiefs opted to sign former Oakland cornerback Stanford Routt and let Brandon Carr walk. Kansas City thinks Routt will flourish as the No. 2 cornerback next to Brandon Flowers. If Routt struggles, the defense will suffer.

If Romeo Crennel’s late influence is intact: Crennel went from the interim coach to the permanent coach because he sparked the Chiefs in the final three weeks of last season. His team played very hard for him and went 2-1. Let’s see if the good vibes continue.

Oakland

If quarterback Carson Palmer adjusts well to the West Coast offense: Palmer is both trying to re-energize his career and adjust to playing in a West Coast offense. The Raiders and Palmer believe it is a good fit.

If receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford continue to develop: I think these three players have showed flashes. If they continue to develop well, the Raiders will have a lot of firepower.

If running back Darren McFadden can stay healthy: McFadden has missed a total of 19 games in four NFL season and he has missed, at least, three games in all four seasons. He missed the final nine games of last season with a foot injury. With backup Michael Bush now in Chicago and Oakland having young backups, it is imperative the special McFadden stays healthy as much as possible in 2012.

If the defensive front can stay healthy: The Raiders’ defensive line is their best aspect of a defense in transition. It must stay healthy and be an anchor to the unit.

If rookie coach Dennis Allen can have fast success: At 39, Allen, who has just one year of experience as a defensive coordinator, is the youngest head coach in the NFL. He must prove quickly that he is up to the task.

San Diego

If quarterback Philip Rivers can avoid the interception bug: He threw a career-high 20 interception in 2011. Rivers threw a total of 22 interceptions in the previous two seasons combined.

If running back Ryan Mathews can take the next step: San Diego coach Norv Turner recently said he expects Mathews to have a breakout season in 2012, his third in the NFL. He has shown flashes, but he needs to be more consistent.

If the receivers, as a unit, can make up for Vincent Jackson loss: The Chargers like their receiving crew even after Jackson signed with Tampa Bay. San Diego added Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal and already has Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown. Jackson is a star and he will be missed, but the Chargers think they have made up for his loss by having a deeper rotation.

If the Chargers' defense can be better on third down: San Diego had the worst third-down defense in the NFL last season. Improving in that area is a point of emphasis for new defensive coordinator John Pagano.

If the Chargers can add an impact pass-rusher in the first round: The Chargers need a young pass-rusher to emerge. It will be their top priority with the No. 18 pick.

The San Diego Chargers may say goodbye to another running back.

Mike Tolbert is a free agent and there is a solid chance he could leave San Diego. The Chargers may make a play to keep him because he is so versatile. However, San Diego has other needs, and it could have trouble keeping Tolbert because several other teams may show interest and make it difficult for San Diego to keep the role player.

Denver could be one of several teams to make a play for Tolbert. I know Ryan Mathews is the Chargers’ starter and he has showed great signs of coming on, but I don’t think the Chargers can let Tolbert walk.

He is a threat as a runner, blocker, receiver and on special teams. He is one of the team’s toughest players and he is adored in the locker room.

It may not be prudent to lose a player like Tolbert a year after Darren Sproles left in free agency to New Orleans. The Chargers regretted letting Sproles go to New Orleans. He was sorely missed. Tolbert would be, too.

While Sproles was a threat to score every time he touched the ball as a runner and as a receiver, Tolbert brings a different element as Mathews’ backup. He’s a punishing runner and he’s solid in short-yardage situations. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry last season and had eight rushing touchdowns, while adding 54 catches.

The Chargers would have to go out and find a replacement for Tolbert if he walks. After seeing Michael Turner leave after the 2007 season and Sproles go last season, I think it’s time for the Chargers to do what it takes to keep a running back from running away in free agency.

Philip Rivers will have two more familiar weapons at his disposal in the Pro Bowl on Sunday.

San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Ryan Mathews have been named to the AFC Pro Bowl team. Jackson replaces New England’s Wes Welker and Mathews is subbing for Baltimore’s Ray Rice.

Jackson had 60 catches for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns. Mathews had 1,091 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

San Diego safety Eric Weddle and tight end Antonio Gates are also on the team. It will be interesting to see how many times Rivers, Mathews, Jackson and Gates will be on the field at the same.

Don’t expect any timing problems for the AFC Pro Bowl team in the kicking game.

This group will have plenty of chemistry.

The Raiders announced that long snapper Jon Condo made the AFC Pro Bowl team. The game will be played in Hawaii on Jan. 29.

Condo was added as a “need” player. Condo will be joined by Oakland punter Shane Lechler and Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski. This is Janikowski's first Pro Bowl and Condo’s second. Condo is very reliable, and Lechler’s and Janikowski’s success is in part sparked by Condo. Condo is a fitting addition to the roster, and it shows what a special group of specialists Oakland has. Congratulations to all of them. They will be joined in Hawaii by Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

In other AFC West news:

The Arizona Republic is reporting that former Kansas City coach Todd Haley likely will not join the Cardinals’ staff. He has also talked to the Jets this offseason, but he is not expected to join the New York staff, either.

An Insider piece says AFC West receiver Jonathan Baldwin and Jacoby Ford could be in for good things in 2012.

Either Ryan Mathews or Vincent Jackson will be guaranteed a Pro Bowl spot based on the results of the AFC title game.

Four of the 13 players with at least 1,000 yards rushing this season call the NFC West home.

All four run with power.

Two in particular -- Arizona's Beanie Wells and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch -- have racked up yardage after contact. Both rank among the NFL's top four in total yards after contact. And among those players with at least 1,000 yards, Wells and Lynch rank high in percentage of yards gained after contact (see chart, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information).

Week 17 gives us one last chance to see Wells, Lynch and St. Louis' Steven Jackson in action this season. Along with San Francisco's Frank Gore, they give the NFC West more 1,000-yard rushers than any division. The AFC North, AFC South and AFC West have two apiece. The AFC East, NFC East and NFC South have one apiece. The NFC North has none after injuries sidelined Matt Forte (997 yards) and Adrian Peterson (970).

Six other backs are within 150 yards of 1,000 this season: Shonn Greene (999), Chris Johnson (986), Fred Jackson (934), Michael Bush (911), DeMarco Murray (897) and Rashard Mendenhall (890). Murray is sidelined by injury.
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» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:

Best quarterback on third downs wins title? The Denver Broncos can win the AFC West title with a win over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, or if the Oakland Raiders lose at home against the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders can win the division if they beat the Chargers, and the Chiefs beat the Broncos. It could come down to the third-down efforts of Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tebow and Palmer have been the worst quarterbacks in the NFL on third-down conversions this season. Palmer is achieving first downs on 28.6 percent of his third-down passes and Tebow has been picking up first downs on 23.1 percent of his third-down passes.

Raiders poised to be penalty kings: The Raiders are close to becoming the NFL record-holders for penalties. Oakland has committed 155 penalties for 1,294 yards, just four penalties and 11 yards from setting the record. The current record-holder in both categories is the 1998 Chiefs, who went 7-9. Oakland coach Hue Jackson has been focusing on cutting down penalties since training camp. This has to kill him, but if the Raiders win the division while setting the new penalty records, the pain will be lessened some.

Will trends continue? There are some interesting trends going into this pivotal weekend. The Chiefs -- who will be trying to help interim coach Romeo Crennel become the full-time coach -- are 1-9 in their last 10 trips to Denver. Oakland has won three straight games against San Diego after losing 13 in a row to the Chargers. San Diego, which is likely playing its final game under coach Norv Turner, has won its final game of the past five seasons.

Toss it Mathews’ way: According to ESPN Stats & Information, San Diego running back Ryan Mathews is averaging a league-high 8.9 yards per rush on toss plays to the outside in the past five games. It is a major improvement from earlier in the season. Mathews averaged only 3.2 yards per rush on those attempts in his first nine games this season.

Could be swan-song time: Several key players in the AFC West are set to be free agents and could be about to play their final game with their teams. Among those players are Kansas City receiver Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City cornerback Brandon Carr, San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson, San Diego center Nick Hardwick, San Diego running back Mike Tolbert and Oakland running back Michael Bush.

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: Kansas City may be in last place but linebacker Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are top-level players. They both deserve this honor. They are building-block players on a young defense. Johnson is a tackling machine and Hali, who has 12 sacks, is one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL. Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski made his first Pro Bowl in his 12-year career. It is past due and it's well deserving. Janikowski, who tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal at Denver in Week 1, is a great weapon. Oakland punter Shane Lechler is one of the game’s all-time best punters. He always deserves to go to the Pro Bowl. San Diego safety Eric Weddle is tied for the league lead with seven interceptions. He is earning his $40-million deal he signed this year. Denver linebacker Von Miller deserved being a Pro Bowler. He has 11.5 sacks and he’s been a complete player. The No. 2 overall draft pick has made a bigger impact as a run stopper and he has been a catalyst to a much improved defense. Kudos to Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, who is still playing at a high level. He is one of five players ever to be named to 11 Pro Bowls and he is the only cornerback with 10 or more Pro Bowls. Can you say “first-ballot Hall of Famer?”

Made it on rep: A few AFC West stars made the Pro Bowl in injury-filled years. Oakland defensive tackle Richard Seymour was banged up and he had some games where he didn’t make a big impact. Still, he also had some moments of greatness. He blocked two field goals in an Oakland overtime win at Kansas City on Saturday. San Diego tight end Antonio Gates dealt with a lot of injuries this season and he didn’t take many games over, but he had 59 catches and he is still a premier player despite the injuries. Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil, the first Denver defensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl in nine years, had a great season, but he didn’t enjoy a full season. He has 9.5 sacks, all in the past eight games. He was slowed by injuries early in the season. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers had big yardage numbers (he became the third player in history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in four straight years). But he has thrown 19 interceptions and he was out of sync for much of the season.

Get robbed: Denver running back Willis McGahee has been the lynchpin to the NFL’s best running offense. A big reason why the Tim Tebow offense has worked is because McGahee –- one of the best free-agent signings in the NFL this year -- ran so well. He is enjoying resurgence at the age of 30. McGahee, who has 1,054 yards rushing and averaged 4.8 yards per carry, is reportedly a first alternate. San Diego running back Ryan Mathews also had a strong season and he had a case to make the team. He is a second alternate. Kansas City receiver Dwayne Bowe had 75 catches and he had a nice season. Oakland safety Tyvon Branch and fullback Marcel Reece each had big years and could have earned spots on the team. Perhaps each player will get their due next year. By the way, Tebow is reportedly a second alternate. Because quarterbacks often bow out, there is a strong chance Tebow will be eating pineapple in Hawaii next month.

Click here for the complete 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

A look at a dominant victory for the surging San Diego Chargers:

What it means: The Chargers are not dead yet. They have now won three straight games and are in the midst of yet another late-season charge. This was impressive because the Chargers knocked around an elite AFC team. This is the Chargers’ team we’ve been waiting to see. San Diego has outscored its last three opponents by a combined score of 109-38. San Diego is now 7-7. It trails Denver by a game and the Broncos own tiebreakers over the Chargers, but the Chargers are alive in the division and wild card race. The Chargers are now 20-2 in December and January games under Norv Turner since 2007.

Barnes storms: San Diego pass-rusher Antwan Barnes had himself a night. He had four sacks and the Chargers dropped Ravens’ quarterback seven times.

Rivers stars again: After struggling for the first 10 games, Rivers has been outstanding for the past month. He hasn’t thrown an interception in his past four games after throwing 17 in the first 10 games. Rivers he was 17 of 23 for 270 yards and a touchdown Sunday.

Mathews misses 100: San Diego running back Ryan Mathews had 90 yards on 26 carries. It broke a streak of three straight games of him rushing for 100-plus yards.

What’s next: The Chargers play at Detroit on Saturday in the final AFC West-NFC North making of the season. Both teams have playoff hopes.

A look at night of revival for the San Diego Chargers:

What it means: The streak is over. The Chargers slapped around the Jaguars to end a six-game losing streak, the team’s longest losing in 10 years. San Diego is now 5-7 and tied with Kansas City in the AFC West. Both teams are two games behind Denver and Oakland, both 7-5.

The difference: The Chargers could have easily won all seven of their losses. But they made crucial mistakes late in games to blow it. San Diego coach Norv Turner told ESPN his team hadn’t been a “well-oiled machine.” Monday, the Chargers were the team we’ve been expecting to see all season. This was perhaps San Diego’s best overall game of the season.

Welcome back, Philip: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers had his best game of the season. He was the typically aggressive Rivers who excelled with the deep pass. Rivers completed 22 of 28 passes for 294 yards with three touchdown passes. Most importantly, Rivers was not intercepted. Three days before his 30th birthday, Rivers showed he is still an upper-echelon quarterback.

Healthy weapons: It helped that he had healthy receiving weapons. Malcom Floyd was back after missing a month with a hip injury. Rivers hit Floyd, receiver Vincent Jackson and tight end Antonio Gates a combined 14 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Injuries mount: The banged-up Chargers did not leave Florida without adding to their long injury list. Standout center Nick Hardwick and young linebacker Donald Butler both left the game for periods of time.

Is it enough to save jobs? Did the Chargers’ strong effort help coach Norv Turner save his job? No. The only way Turner likely stays is if the Chargers somehow make the playoffs — and their road is still very difficult with just a quarter of the season remaining. General manager A.J. Smith is also reportedly on the hot seat.

Gaither starts: Because of major issues on San Diego’s offensive line, newly claimed left tackle Jared Gaither started. He was waived by Kansas City last week. Rivers was not sacked — a great effort by a makeshift line.

Mathews looks good: San Diego second-year running back Ryan Mathews showed his great ability as he ran for 112 yards on 13 carries. He had a 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Defense withstands pressure: The Jaguars took a 14-10 lead in the second quarter with touchdowns on consecutive drives. But San Diego’s defense buckled down and took the Jacksonville offense out of the game.

What’s next: The Chargers will try to keep the momentum going at home against the struggling Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Some random halftime thoughts:

The Chargers took over late in the first half with two touchdowns.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers hit rookie Vincent Brown -- who has been impressive in recent weeks -- for a touchdown pass with 1:33 to go in the half to give the Chargers the lead. Then after an interception, Rivers hit Vincent Jackson for a 35-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds to go. San Diego took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before Jacksonville reeled off 14 straight points.

Rivers had a good half. He was 16-of-21 for 202 yards.

The banged-up Chargers suffered more injuries in the first half. Standout center Nick Hardwick is out with a neck injury. The San Diego offensive line has been decimated by injuries. They are playing without three starters.

Linebacker Donald Butler is also out with an injury. Jacksonville had much of its running success with Butler out.

San Diego ran the ball early with Ryan Mathews getting 56 yards on six carries.

The championship window has closed in San Diego.

Once considered the best roster in the league, the San Diego Chargers have seen impressive depth dwindle, they’ve gotten old in key spots and they have lacked toughness. The result has been a steady decline in the last two years.

“They are one of the most confusing teams I’ve ever seen,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said. “You expect so much from them and then they don’t deliver … They should be so much better, but then you watch them and they can’t do it. I just don’t get them.”

The Chargers -- widely considered as a Super Bowl contender going into this season -- stagger into a Monday night game at Jacksonville on a six-game losing skid. It is the Chargers’ longest such streak in 10 years.

After starting 4-1 and looking like a playoff team, San Diego is now 4-7 and apparently on course to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. After owning the AFC West for four years, the Chargers are 13-14 since the start of the 2010 season.

When a rift developed between general manager A.J. Smith and coach Marty Schottenheimer after the Chargers went 14-2 in 2006, Smith hired Norv Turner to take a stacked roster to the Super Bowl. That probably won’t happen. Turner, who is 45-30 as Chargers coach, is expected to be fired unless the Chargers, who are three games behind in both the AFC West and the AFC wild-card races with five games to go, make a miraculous playoff run. Smith's job could also be in danger, particularly if San Diego ownership wants to break the bank and make a run at someone like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. There have also been indications that the team is open to continuing with Smith as the top football decision-maker.

However, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the team may be leaning toward firing Smith.

The Chargers have long been lauded for their roster of big-name talent. In the past decade, they drafted potential Hall of Famers in LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers and signed potential Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates. They also drafted Shawne Merriman, who had a strong first three years as a premier pass-rusher before disappearing because of injuries.

All the Chargers have remaining from that group is Rivers, who turns 30 this month, and Gates, who is 31 and who has been dealing with serious foot injuries for three years.

Whoever coaches the Chargers in 2012 – Cowher and Jeff Fisher are already being mentioned as potential candidates – will have some work to do. Some solid core players remain, starting with Rivers, who is struggling through his worst NFL season. Still, the Chargers probably will have to be rebuilt in several areas.

“They aren’t as deep as we always thought they were,” Horton said. “They have problems on the offensive line, their receivers aren’t that strong and the defense doesn’t pass rush anymore."

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks San Diego has some core players -- but not a ton of them, and some of them have question marks. Williamson says Rivers, receiver Vincent Jackson, Gates, guard Kris Dielman, defensive tackle Antonio Garay, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Quentin Jammer and safety Eric Weddle are all players who can help the team in the future. Williamson also thinks the team’s last two first-round picks, running back Ryan Mathews and defensive lineman Corey Liuget, have a chance to be core players.

Jackson, who has been inconsistent this year, is a free agent after the season. The Chargers may place the franchise tag on him. Rivers, Gates, Dielman (out for the season with a concussion), Garay, Phillips and Jammer will be 30 or older next season. Still, Williamson believes a coaching change could help provide a spark.

“It’s not all Norv’s fault, but he is not maximizing his team’s potential, which is obviously a key component to his job,” Williamson said.

Horton said he believes that if the Chargers do make a coaching change, they need to bring in a taskmaster. There have been whispers among scouts the past couple of years that the Chargers get outmuscled too often. There have been times when San Diego has been manhandled on both lines, including a few instances against the more physical Raiders.

“I like Norv, but I get the feeling they are not playing hard for him,” Horton said. “They always look soft to me, and they often don’t play with a sense of urgency.”

Still, the Chargers have not been blown out this season and they could have won all seven of their losses; indeed, they have made crucial fourth-quarter (or overtime) mistakes in each of their losses. Turner said this week that effort is not a problem.

“Go through the tapes and there’s great effort,” Turner said. “These guys play hard.”

The players I have talked to in San Diego’s locker room know that change is likely to come, and they say they feel bad that Turner is probably going to be the person to pay for the team’s failures. But it is clear that the Chargers’ time as elite playoff contenders is over. If they are going to re-open their Super Bowl window, it will probably be with new leadership.

SAN DIEGO -- A look at an overtime thriller on an 80-plus degree day by the sea, where the Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers 16-13:

What it means: Denver is now 6-5 and has won five of Tim Tebow's six starts. It trails Oakland by one game. San Diego has lost six straight games and is 4-7. Cue the Norv Turner-gets-fired talk. It will probably happen at the end of the season.

Tomorrow’s talker: What do you think? Tebow’s second NFL overtime game ends in victory. The kid got better as the game went on and once again he proved he gives this team a chance to win. The NFL’s wildest, unlikeliest story continues.

Miller (and Doom) time: Denver pass-rushers Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller are continuing to be a nasty duo now that Dumervil is healthy. Dumervil had two sacks and Miller had one Sunday. Dumervil has all 5.5 of his sacks in the past four games. Miller now has 10.5 sacks this season. He is four sacks off of Jevon Kearse's NFL rookie sack record.

Philip Rivers' protection caves in: The Chargers are playing without six offensive linemen. Think about that. That’s mind-boggling. They did a solid job last week at Chicago and for parts of Sunday’s game, but the protection did collapse late.

Third-down conversion: Denver football leader John Elway said he wants to see Tebow improve on third down. Denver improved some, but it wasn’t great. It was 5-of-16.

Mathews comes on strong: San Diego running back Ryan Mathews played well -- and he didn’t fumble, which was has been a problem. He had 137 yards on 22 carries. He played winning football Sunday.

What’s next: San Diego plays at Jacksonville on “Monday Night Football” and Denver plays at Minnesota. Both are very winnable roadies.

The major injury issues for the San Diego Chargers along the offensive line are continuing. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that key backup Scott Mruczkowski will be placed on the injured reserve after he suffered a concussion on Sunday at Chicago — the Chargers' fifth consecutive loss.

Standout guard Kris Dielman was put on the injured reserve last week with a concussion; Mruczkowski was playing for Dielman. The Chargers are also playing without starting offensive linemen Marcus McNeill and Louis Vasquez — and Vasquez's backup, Tyronne Green, is dealing with an injury, too.

San Diego signed three offensive linemen last week. It could now sign another one to replace Mruczkowski.

Receiver Malcom Floyd (hip) and linebacker Shaun Phillips (foot) remained out of practice. They’ve both missed several weeks. Running back Ryan Mathews (knee) was limited in practice Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Union-Tribune adds, quarterback Philip Rivers convened a short players-only talk on the field after Wednesday's practice.