SAN DIEGO – LaDainian Tomlinson was jogging toward the locker room while his backup was running the other way, into the end zone.

By the end of the game, the San Diego Chargers were all heading in the same direction – a little bit closer to the playoffs following a 34-10 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday night.

Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes for the Chargers (8-4), who won their fifth straight game to pull within one victory of the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos.

The Broncos lost 31-27 at Kansas City, which is tied for second place – as well as the last wild-card spot – with the Chargers. The defending division champion Chargers beat the Chiefs 28-20 on Oct. 30, and the teams will play again in Kansas City on Dec. 24. The Chargers will host Denver in the season finale on Dec. 31.

Of course, San Diego must still play at undefeated Indianapolis, on Dec. 18.

The Raiders (4-8) lost their fifth straight to the Chargers.

San Diego got a scare when Tomlinson came out with a rib injury late in the second quarter. After talking with the team’s medical staff on the sideline, he jogged to the locker room, accompanied by a doctor, with 22 seconds left before halftime.

A few seconds later, Michael Turner ran in from the 2 to put the Chargers ahead 17-10.

Tomlinson was back for the start of the second half, carrying on the Chargers’ first two plays. He finished with 86 yards on 25 carries.

San Diego safety Clinton Hart, subbing for the injured Terrence Kiel, put the game away when he intercepted Kerry Collins’ pass and returned it 70 yards for a score with 6:29 to play.

The Chargers had gone up 24-10 on Brees’ 1-yard throw to Eric Parker in the third quarter. Brees was 4-for-4 for 49 yards on the 13-play, 57-yard drive.

Nate Kaeding added a 32-yard field goal. He kicked a 41-yarder in the first quarter.

Brees was 17-of-22 for 160 yards with no interceptions. He was coming off one of the worst games of his career, when he threw three interceptions and was just 22-of-44 for 215 yards and no touchdowns in a 23-17 overtime win at Washington.

Keenan McCardell became the 13th player in NFL history with 800 catches, reaching the milestone with an 8-yard reception late in the second quarter.

The Chargers’ first touchdown came courtesy of instant replay.

Tight end Antonio Gates caught a 6-yard pass from a scrambling Brees before falling out of the back of the end zone early in the second quarter, but the nearest official ruled that he was juggling the ball.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer threw his red flag, and, after reviewing the play, referee Bill Vinovich ruled it a score, giving San Diego a 10-3 lead.

That drive was set up when Hart forced LaMont Jordan’s fumble, which was recovered by Randall Godfrey at the Oakland 34.

The Raiders came right back as Collins picked apart the Chargers’ defense on a crisp eight-play, 67-yard drive, capping it with a 16-yard TD throw to tight end Courtney Anderson to tie it at 10.

Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter.

AP-ES-12-04-05 2328EST

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