For the Chargers, their motivation came in several different forms on Sunday, everything from Denver losing to the surprise that LaDainian Tomlinson found in his locker from his wife. The career of Tomlinson definitely isn’t over and the race in the AFC west isn’t either. Tomlinson rushed for 96 yards, his season high, and also scored two touchdown while continuing to add to his career scoring and rushing totals, as the Chargers defeated the Eagles 31-23 to tie a slumping Denver team for the AFC West lead.

Philip Rivers, five years after he was traded away during a swap on draft day for Eli Manning, came back to stick it to New York. Rivers connected on a pass of 18 yards to Vincent Jackson, capping off a drive of 80 yards with 21 seconds remaining in the game, as the Chargers shocked the Giants on Sunday with their 21-20 victory. For San Diego it was their third win in a row, while New York lost its fourth consecutive game.

All the talk over the Chargers getting better might not be just talk after all. Just six days after their disappointing loss on Monday night to the Broncos, where they insisted that they had made progress, San Diego swatted the flu bug away and stomped Kansas City on Sunday 37-7, while dominating practically every aspect in the game.

Eddie Royal ran so fast even his white and brown striped socks were blurry. On Monday night, Royal became the Broncos’ first player in franchise history to return both a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in a single game, as undefeated Denver defeated San Diego 34-23.

Up until this point, Pittsburgh hadn’t be able to get their running back Rashard Mendenhall going. San Diego wasn’t able to stop him. Mendenhall helped Pittsburgh run a big lead up, then made sure they didn’t give another lead up due to a bad fourth quarter. With his 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Mendenhall exceeded his previous career numbers. Ben Roethlisberger got the quick starting Steelers off with his passing as Pittsburgh opened a lead of 28 points up and then held on to defeat San Diego on Sunday night 38-28.

After Philip Rivers put his right throwing arm to some good use, he also proved he has wheels. During the week while watching film Rivers had picked up on something and was able to score on a scramble from five yards late third quarter, as the Chargers defeated the Dolphins 23-13 on Sunday. Early second half Miami also lost their quarterback Chad Pennington when he injured his shoulder.

Ray Lewis decided to take a chance. It was a very big chance. On fourth down and 2, the star linebacker for the Ravens shot the gap, meeting Darren Sproles of the Chargers head on during the closing seconds of the game. Brute strength beat out shiftiness and speed. In a game that appeared it would be decided by the Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, it instead got sealed by the Ravens’ Lewis. On Sunday his big play preserved Baltimore’s 31-26 victory over San Diego.

Philip Rivers was unfazed by yet another deficit in the fourth quarter as he entered the huddle. Instead he was poised and ready to prove why San Diego chose him as the team’s $93 million man. On Monday night, Rivers was able to answer Oakland’s two go-ahead scores with two touchdown drives. With 18 seconds remaining, Darren Sproles ran the ball in from 5 yards out to score the game winning touchdown to give San Diego a 24-20 victory and their 12 consecutive win in a row over Oakland.

Record 13-3