By the time San Diego was able to breathe, they had clinched the AFC West title for the fourth year in a row and pulled a dramatic win out over a grieving Bengals team.

Late Sunday afternoon at Qualcomm, it was crazy there for several minutes.

With three seconds remaining Nate Kaeding booted a field goal of 52 yards, and San Diego rallied to defeat the Bengals 27-24, who just 51 seconds earlier had gotten a field goal from 34 yards from Shayne Graham to tie the game.

After the Chargers (11-3) won their game, a few minutes later with thousands of fans still inside the stadium, San Diego clinched their division title when the Broncos lost to the Raiders.

Kaeding said, it’s all a blur. Dean Spanos, team president, walked by and gave the kicker his division championship cap as he talked to reporters.

Some of the Charger players were watching the television as Denver, who on October 19 led San Diego by a margin of 3 ½ games, lost to Oakland 20-19.

Shawne Merriman, outside linebacker said, this feels incredible.

San Diego improved their December record since 2006 to 17-0.

The winning kick from Kaeding came after Rivers had led San Diego down field 46 yards in just 51 seconds without having any timeouts and after Dennis Norman, the backup center came into snap after starter Scott Mruckzkowski sprained his ankle.

Rivers said, we did what we need to do to get things done. For the game Rivers had three touchdown passes, with two of them going to Vincent Jackson.

Kaeding said, Philip is the man, adding that had been one of the biggest kicks for him. I wouldn’t want anyone else in there under center for us.

In that type of situation, there was lots of adrenaline with everything coming right down to the last minute to go for the win. Once it went off my foot, then I knew it would be good. From there the mayhem ensued.

Due to other results, before halftime the Chargers had a playoff spot clinched already.

The Bengals (9-5) for the second week in a row failed to clinch the title for the AFC North. They were playing just three days following the death of Chris Henry, their receiver. He died on Thursday, the day after he fell from the back of a truck in Charlotte, N.C. while in the middle of what was described by police as a domestic dispute between him and his finance. Henry had been on the injured reserve list for the season.

Andre Whitworth, Bengals tackle said, the main thing that we’d people to understand is Chris is someone who was able to turn his life around. Our football team did the same thing. He is a symbol of what we after.

Early third quarter after Chad Ochocinco scored a touchdown on a pass of 49 yards from Carson Palmer giving Cincinnati a lead of 10-7, Ochocinco got down on his knees and with his right hand touched his heart.

Ochocinco said, it was an empty feeling. Without him it was more than football. I was playing today with an extra heart, extra pair of legs, and extra two hands.

The Bengals wore No. 15 decals, Henry’s number, on their helmets. Bengals fans had signs to remember Henry, including one that said RIP 15.

Carson Palmer, Bengals quarterback, said he had never experienced a stretch of four days like that before. He said that having Henry die and then having to play was surreal. He said until the team attended the funeral for Henry on Tuesday that it wouldn’t sink in.

It appeared that the Bengals were driving to get the go-ahead touchdown. However they ended up being lucky just to get a field goal to tie the game.

On first down and 16 from San Diego’s 25 yard line, Palmer connected on a pass with Andrew Caldwell. Eric Weddle hit Caldwell then Tim Dobbins, linebacker, knocked the ball out with his helmet. The football sailed backwards to the 45 yard line. Palmer recovered the ball and then with two completions got Cincinnati to within field goal range.

Mid third quarter, with the Bengals trailing 14-13, Palmer missed on a pass intended for Ochocinco with the ball going straight to Quentin Jammer, Chargers cornerback. Jackson two plays later was able to get behind Leon Hall, cornerback, and caught a touchdown pass of 34 yards to give San Diego a lead of 21-13.

A field goal of 33 yards was added by Kaeding to increase the Chargers lead to 11 points.

Early fourth quarter Philip Rivers was intercepted by Keith Rivers, setting up a touchdown pass of 2 yards from Palmer to Laveranues Coles. Palmer than ran the ball in for the two point conversion to make the score 24-21.

At halftime, the Chargers had a 14-13 lead. Rivers had touchdown passes to Antonio Gates for 3 yards and Jackson for 21 yards.

Ochocinco had his 49 yard touchdown catch. Twice the Bengals were forced to settle for Graham field goals after having drives get bottled up while inside the 10 yard line of the Chargers.