Chargers rally for win, but Seahawks clinch division

Dec 25, 2006, 1:20 GMT

Seattle, WA - Philip Rivers did it again, rebounding from a horrid start to lead the Chargers to a comeback victory, 20-17, over Seattle.

Despite the defeat, the Seahawks clinched their third straight NFC West title by virtue of San Francisco's 26-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Rivers completed only 10-of-30 passes for 181 yards with two TDs, but he found Vincent Jackson for a 37-yard score with 29 seconds left that gave the Chargers the win, and kept San Diego (13-2) in line for home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their ninth straight win.

The Chargers are a game ahead of the 12-3 Ravens for the AFC's top seed, and can clinch home field with either a win next week against Arizona, or a Ravens loss to Buffalo. The Ravens hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers thanks to a 16-13 win in week four.

The AFC West champion Chargers earned a first-round bye for the playoffs after Houston beat Indianapolis earlier in the day.

Jackson inexplicably broke wide open down the deep middle in the game's final minute, and Rivers hit him in stride in the end zone for the game-winning score. The reception capped a five-catch, 97-yard game for Jackson, who also had a touchdown catch in the second quarter.

'As soon as the defense made the stop we came back on the field we just said let's go and score,' said Jackson.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson had another stellar game on the ground, gaining 123 yards on 22 carries, but failed to add to his NFL-record 31 touchdowns.

Matt Hasselbeck completed 17-of-37 passes for 189 yards, and threw two costly interceptions, both in San Diego territory. Shaun Alexander had 31 rushes for 140 yards and two scores, but Seattle (8-7) fell for the third straight week. Bobby Engram had four catches for 65 yards. and Deion Branch caught five balls for 61 yards in the loss for the Seahawks, who head to Tampa Bay next Sunday to conclude the regular season.

'They (the Chargers) were strong, fast, and big. They played with a lot of intensity,' said Alexander, who added, 'It's always nice to win your division.'

Jackson's game-winner capped a 59-yard drive that only took 1:31, and left Seattle with little time on offense. A Shawne Merriman sack and three Hasselbeck incompletions sealed the win for the Chargers.

Merriman had three sacks on the day, giving him 15 1/2 on the season.

Seattle moved the ball well on its second drive, driving to the San Diego 34- yard line. The Seahawks couldn't capitalize, though, as Hasselbeck was intercepted by Clinton Hart at the San Diego 23.

Neither team managed much on offense for the rest of the first half, until Tomlinson broke through to set up the game's first score. Taking over at the San Diego 14-yard line, the MVP-candidate burst through the right side and streaked 62 yards down the field to the Seattle 24-yard line. Five plays later Rivers found Jackson for a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving the Chargers a 7-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first half.

The Seahawks appeared poised to answer on the ensuing possession, again driving into San Diego territory, moving to the 26-yard line with just over one minute left in the first half. Hasselbeck overthrew Engram deep over the middle, though, and Engram deflected the ball, which Hart was able to dive and haul in at the six-yard line for his second interception of the game.

A Nate Kaeding 46-yard field goal put the Chargers up 10-0 with 12:12 left in the third quarter.

Nate Burleson electrified the crowd with a 96-yard return of the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown that could have made it 10-7 early in the third quarter, but the play was called back on a hold by Bennie Joppru.

Starting at their own 48-yard line after pinning the Chargers deep in their own territory, the Seahawks were able to move the ball to the San Diego 33- yard line. The left side of the Seattle line blew open a gaping hole on the next play, and Alexander sprinted 33-yards virtually untouched for the touchdown, pulling Seattle to within 10-7 with 6:10 left in the third quarter.

A 40-yard field goal by Kaeding padded San Diego's lead to 13-7 with 2:24 left in the third.

San Diego punter Mike Scifres shanked a 30-yard punt on the first play of the fourth quarter, setting the Seahawks up at their own 45. Alexander busted through the middle for a nine-yard score, giving the Seahawks their first lead of the game, 14-13, with 12:58 left in the game.

Seattle extended to a 17-13 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Josh Brown with 5:07 left, capping a 12-play, 47-yard drive that drained 6:09 off of the clock.

Game Notes

Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant was helped off of the field early in the third quarter with an injured right ankle. He was taken to the locker room for X-rays and did not return.

This was the first time that Tomlinson could not find the end zone since week five against Pittsburgh, a 10-game streak.

Hasselbeck was sacked six times.

© 2006 The Sports Network