In fact, the Chargers have won 13 consecutive December games - seven at home, six on the road - and the most recent team to beat them in the 12th month was the Broncos, in the 2005 regular- season finale.

"I think people can get too much into that stuff sometimes, look too close that this team does this at this time of year and all of that," Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley said Wednesday. "But that is a little impressive. We know what we're getting into and what it will take to win."

The Chargers' current three- game winning streak in the month, to go with Denver's recent stumbles against Carolina and Buffalo, has taken them from a 4- 8 record as November drew to a close, with virtually no hope of a postseason spot, to needing only a win against the Broncos to win a division title.

The Broncos had a three-game lead in the division race with three to play.

"Just one game, that's how we look at it, that we gave ourselves a chance with how we've done in December," Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson said. "It's hard to say what we envisioned earlier this season, we just know we put ourselves in a tough spot and we had to claw out."

December hasn't been kind to the Broncos in recent seasons. They are 1-2 this December, were 2-3 last December and were 2-3 in December 2006.

And with the loss to the Bills on Sunday, the Broncos are in a position where a loss keeps them out of the postseason after they led the division from the opening week of the regular season.

"We talk all the time about playing your best Football in December," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said.

"We need to do that."

Asked what has been the difference for his team in the final month of the season - the Chargers were only 6-5 when December began in the 2007 season until winning all five of their games that month to finish 11-5 as division champions - Chargers coach Norv Turner said: "(It's) something these guys have done in the past. We have good Football players and we try to gear things from a practice standpoint, from a preparation standpoint, to continue to keep getting better.

"Who you play and when you play them might have something to do with it. Don't know that you could pinpoint one thing."

The Broncos' previous win in Qualcomm Stadium is long enough ago that seven starters for the team that day now are retired, a total that includes Jake Plummer, who played only a half at quarterback because the Broncos had clinched their playoff position. John Lynch, Rod Smith, Matt Lepsis, Stephen Alexander, Ian Gold and Keith Burns - all of them are retired - also were in the Broncos' starting lineup.

Lynch had two sacks in the game - one resulted in a safety - and Burns now is an assistant special-teams coach for the team.

The Broncos are 4-3 on the road this season, including wins against the Jets and Atlanta.

"It's win or go home, there," running back Tatum Bell said. "I'm relaxed, excited to play. . . . I have a chance to get in the playoffs. That's what I want; that's what we all want."

Good guy award

The Denver chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America awarded its "Darrent Williams Good Guy" award Wednesday to Ekuban.

The award, named for the late Broncos cornerback who was murdered in the early-morning hours of New Year's Day in 2006, is given to the Broncos player who has exhibited the highest professional standards, in good times and bad, in dealing with the day-to-day responsibilities with the team's local media.

Lynch was the winner last season, the first year the award was given.

"I'm honored people would give this to me," Ekuban said. "I believe it's part of what we do, and as I get older, I understand what's expected and that everybody has a job to do, including me.

"I tell the younger guys, 'Just be yourself.' "

Stokley and defensive end Elvis Dumervil received the second- and third-highest vote totals.

Flashback

You can take the player out of the Patriots locker room, but you can't always take the Patriots out of him.

Tight end Daniel Graham spent five seasons with New England before signing with the Broncos in free agency before last season. So it's not surprising he still can channel Bill Belichick as he did Wednesday, when he was held out of practice.

The Patriots coach runs one of the most secretive teams in the league when it comes to injured players, often refusing to even acknowledge an injury has occurred or publicly discuss how it happened or what the ramifications might be.

Graham briefly left a loss to Buffalo on Sunday in the first quarter because of a sprained left ankle. He returned to play much of the game with the ankle heavily taped and finished with three receptions for 52 yards.

"I'm just in getting treatment, I'll be out there when I can," Graham said.

Asked to identify the injury, Graham said: "I don't talk about that stuff."

Asked its severity, Graham simply smiled. And asked if he expected to play Sunday, he simply nodded yes.

Etc.

* Left tackle Ryan Clady (ankle) was held out of practice Wednesday. Clady injured his ankle on the last play of the loss at Carolina, but he started and played the entire way against the Bills. "He'll be fine," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. " . . . Hopefully, he'll be able to practice (today)."

* Linebacker Niko Koutouvides (back), cornerback Josh Bell (knee), guard Chris Kuper (left hand), linebacker Spencer Larsen (groin), safety Marquand Manuel (ankle), tight end Chad Mustard (knee) and Stokley (foot) all were listed as having been limited in the workout.

* For the Chargers, defensive end Igor Olshansky (illness), nose tackle Jamal Williams (foot) and backup linebacker Brandon Siler (foot) were held out of practice.

* The Broncos re-signed running back Steve Baylark back to their practice squad and also added wide receiver Matt Rivers. Linebacker Tyson Smith was signed off the Broncos' practice squad to the Washington Redskins' active roster.

He said it

"We know them, they know us. There are no secrets."

Bell, on facing the Chargers.

Numbers game

1rushing touchdown needed by Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson to move out of a tie with Hall of Famer Marcus Allen for the No. 2 spot all time. Each has 123, well behind Emmitt Smith's record of 164.

INFOBOX

December heartburn

* In Mike Shanahan's tenure as coach, the Broncos are 1-5 vs. the Chargers in San Diego in December. The teams will meet there Sunday, a playoff spot on the line.

Date Result

Dec. 24, 2007 Chargers 23, Broncos 3

Dec. 10, 2006 Chargers 48, Broncos 20

Dec. 31, 2005 Broncos 23, Chargers 7

Dec. 5, 2004 Chargers 20, Broncos 17

Dec. 1, 2002 Chargers 30, Broncos 27

Dec. 22, 1996 Chargers 16, Broncos 10