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Chargers in the driver’s seat

San Diego's Eric Parker makes a catch over Denver's Champ Bailey. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
San Diego's Eric Parker makes a catch over Denver's Champ Bailey. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers’ long nightmare is coming to an end.

And if the Chargers do go on and break their eight-year playoff drought, they can thank their anonymous defense.

The Chargers — yes, the Chargers — took firm control of the AFC West by hanging on to beat the Denver Broncos 20-17 in a wild one on Sunday. San Diego’s defense saved the day by intercepting Jake Plummer four times, including in the end zone in the closing minutes, and LaDainian Tomlinson ran for two touchdowns.

“Our defense carried us today,” Tomlinson said. “They were the reason we won this game.”

On a rainy, cold and windy afternoon, the Chargers proved that water and electricity do mix, although it took them until the final play to do so.

Playing their biggest game in 10 years, the Chargers (9-3) clinched their first winning season since 1995 and took a two-game lead in the division over Denver (7-5).

Now all that’s left for Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Antonio Gates and the rest of the Chargers to do in this surprising season is to clinch a playoff berth, which the Bolts haven’t done since 1995.

San Diego is on a six-game winning streak for the first time since going 6-0 to open the 1994 season, when it made its only Super Bowl appearance. Overall, the Chargers have won eight of nine.

And to think they were an NFL-worst 4-12 last year.

Points were hard to come by in this game, but true to the teams’ AFL roots, it wasn’t boring.

The Chargers scored only three points in the second half, when they were bailed out by their defense.

The biggest play came with 3:39 left after the Broncos drove to the Chargers’ 7-yard line. Safety Jerry Wilson intercepted Plummer in the end zone after cornerback Drayton Florence — who intercepted Plummer in the game’s opening minutes — tipped a fade pass intended for Rod Smith.

One drive earlier, the Broncos drove to the Chargers’ 14 but had to settle for Jason Elam’s 31-yard field goal.

Tomlinson finished with 113 yards on 30 carries, pushing him past the 1,000 yard mark for the fourth straight season.