SAN DIEGO (AP) -The afterglow of a big prime-time win over the New England Patriots didn’t last very long for the San Diego Chargers.
That’s the way it had to be, or the Chargers might find themselves in the same funk they were in before routing their nemesis 30-10 on Sunday night.
“It was a good win,” quarterback Philip Rivers said Monday. “And then the dust settles and then we come in here today and we are 3-3. That’s still where we are. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Literally and figuratively.
s at Wembley Stadium.
They all know they need to figure out a way to keep from looking past the Bills (4-1), who are coming off their bye week.
“We can’t afford to be 3-4,” LaDainian Tomlinson said. “Everybody should be focused on this game.”
Although the Chargers will be packing for two games, coach Norv Turner isn’t looking beyond Sunday.
“We have one game coming up,” Turner said. “I have never had to play a doubleheader in this league. We go to Buffalo and play Buffalo.”
Rivers said the players need to take a similar approach.
“I don’t know exactly the way to do it. But as far as when you’re getting on the plane you’re thinking about a 10-day trip. You obviously have to separate the games and I don’t think it will be a problem doing that. I think whereas when Buffalo’s over and you get on a plane, rather than the four-hour flight back home you’re going on a four-hour flight to your new seven-day home or however long we’re going to be there. I think we’ll handle it just fine.”
Rivers said the real distraction could be this week.
“It’s getting packed and getting prepared to go and all that. This is the week of preparation that can get you, so it’s going to be key that we zero in.”
y predicted would make it to the Super Bowl.
Rivers threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense came up with a huge goal-line stand, stuffing Patriots QB Matt Cassel on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
Although the Chargers had several big plays, Rivers said the Chargers didn’t play as well as they can.
The win pulled the Chargers within one game of the Denver Broncos in the AFC West but Tomlinson cautioned against thinking the Chargers are right back in the race.
“I think it’s way too early to say that. We’re not back in it at all. We’ve still got to continue to win games. We can’t keep on going up and down, a win, a loss. We can’t do that. We’ve got to be able to put a streak together where we can feel good about ourselves, and then hope that Denver loses some games and some teams in the AFC help us out.”
Tomlinson didn’t score but he rushed for 74 yards on 20 caries and caught three passes for 44 yards.
He said his jammed right big toe is feeling much better. He hurt it late in a season-opening loss to Carolina and had been bothered by it in subsequent games.
nd yesterday it really was. It was the best my toe has felt since I hurt it and today it feels good. So I’m encouraged about going forward.”
Rivers said he thought L.T. made some nice runs, and was impressed with his 28-yard gain on a swing pass in the fourth quarter. “That was a big-time play,” Rivers said. “Only he knows, but from what I gather, he feels like he’s getting better every week.”
Turner said he’s seen signs of improvement, too.
“It wasn’t a 25-yard run but it was 10-, 12-, 15-yard runs and making people miss. From my standpoint, and I go by appearance, I think he was the best he’s been and I think he’s close to getting to where he can go longer periods of time without having pain.”
Turner said Tomlinson was still playing in the fourth quarter because backup Darren Sproles sprained his ankle and rookie fullback Jacob Hester fumbled on his first carry of the night.
“I wanted to finish the game off and he made the great play on the swing pass, then we took him out,” Turner said.
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