The team completed one of the more improbable late-season swoons in NFL history, suffering a 52-21 loss at San Diego in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC West Division crown. Denver became the first team in league history to lead its division throughout the entire regular season before losing a playoff spot in the final week.

Denver's defense failed to stop the Chargers' attack, which rolled up almost 300 yards rushing en route to the team's third consecutive division championship. The Broncos' season ends with an 8-8 record, only one win more than during the 2007 season, and Denver no doubt will rue the opportunities it wasted during a season-ending three-game losing streak.

San Diego wastes little time in striking first. Colorado Springs native Vincent Jackson carries the ball 17 yards on the Chargers' first play and draws a costly pass-interference penalty against Broncos linebacker Nate Webster two plays later, helping to set up a 28-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding that gives San Diego a 3-0 lead.

The Broncos answer immediately, with quarterback Jay Cutler hitting Tony Scheffler for 16 yards and connecting with Brandon Stokley for a key third-down conversion. Running back Tatum Bell caps the march with a 26-yard touchdown run, but after a false-start penalty, Matt Prater misses the extra-point attempt, leaving Denver's lead at 6-3.

Jackson continues to torment Denver on San Diego's next possession with a 37-yard reception, and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson gets on track, carrying the ball three times for 16 yards, regaining the lead for San Diego with a 1-yard plunge.

San Diego turns in the first defensive stop of the game and gets a 34-yard pass from Philip Rivers to Antonio Gates to move into scoring position again as the quarter ends.

Rivers continues the Chargers' hot start with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, extending the lead to 17-6. Cutler throws two incomplete passes, and Bell is flagged for an illegal chop block. After another punt, San Diego continues to shred through the Broncos defense.

Rivers begins spreading the ball around, hitting Chris Chambers with two passes for 32 yards and fullback Jacob Hester for 16 yards. Jackson carries another reverse for 13 yards, setting up a 4-yard touchdown run by Tomlinson that helps extend the Chargers' lead to 24-6.

Cutler tries to keep the Broncos in the game by putting together a strong two-minute drive, completing consecutive passes to Brandon Marshall and Stokley. But a potential touchdown pass to Tony Scheffler is ruled out-of-bounds, and Denver's scoring opportunity ends when Cutler is intercepted in the end zone by San Diego cornerback Paul Oliver.

The Broncos get exactly what they need after halftime -a quick score. Cutler goes 4-for-4 on the opening drive and Bell scores his second touchdown, on a 37-yard run, helping trim San Diego's lead to 24-13.

The Chargers, though, continue to move the ball at will, getting a 45-yard run from Tomlinson before Rivers extends the lead, hitting running back Darren Sproles with a 13-yard touchdown pass that features several missed tackles.

Things begin to get out of hand when Cutler's next pass is deflected and intercepted by defensive end Luis Castillo. Tomlinson takes advantage of the turnover on the next play, scoring his third touchdown, on a 14-yard run, to give San Diego two touchdowns in 18 seconds and a 38-13 lead.

Denver forces a punt, and consecutive passes from Cutler to Marshall and Eddie Royal move the Broncos to midfield as the quarter expires.

Cutler attempts to spark a remarkable rally, going 6-for-7 on a drive that ends with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Scheffler. Cutler converts the two-point conversion on a quarterback draw, cutting San Diego's lead to 38-21 with 13:09 remaining.

But Denver's defense, even with Tomlinson sidelined because of an injury, remains unable to slow San Diego. After Rivers finds Chambers for an 18-yard gain on third down, Sproles breaks through for a 37-yard run and extends the Chargers' lead to 45-21 with a two-yard touchdown run.

A pass-interference penalty moves Denver into scoring position, but hopes of a miracle comeback are dashed when a wide-open Marshall loses his footing in the end zone on a fourth-down throw. The Chargers milk the clock and ice the division crown on a 4-yard touchdown run by Hester before time runs out on the Broncos' season.