Chargers 34, Ravens 14
The San Diego Chargers got two rushing touchdowns from Ryan Mathews and a slew of long completions by Philip Rivers on the way to a 34-14 win over the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
Given up for dead long ago after suffering through a six-game losing streak, the Chargers (7-7) and embattled coach Norv Turner won their third straight game and moved within a game of Denver for first place in the AFC West.
In snapping Baltimore’s four-game winning streak, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 109-38 in their last three.
The Ravens (10-4), who clinched a playoff berth earlier in the day, fell one-half game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North and one game behind New England for the best record in the conference.
San Diego took its opening possession 74 yards in a dozen plays for a touchdown and never trailed. Mike Tolbert capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown rush.
The Ravens tied it up on their next possession when Joe Flacco threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Ed Dickson early in the second quarter but their vaunted defense couldn’t stop the Chargers all night.
The Chargers, who had seven sacks, scored 27 unanswered points to put the game away. They took a 17-7 lead into the break when Mathews (26 carries, 90 yards) capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.
Rivers (17 for 23, 270 yards) then threw his lone touchdown pass of the game, a 28-yard connection to Malcom Floyd on their first possession in the third quarter.
Flacco hooked up with Torrey Smith on a 36-yard touchdown pass late in the game to wrap up of the scoring. Ray Rice gained 57 yards on 10 carries for Baltimore.