That's the plan anyway.

After returning from an 11,000-mile, two-loss road trip, firing a coach and inserting their third defensive coordinator in 2 1/2 seasons they return to a game.

"I think our guys are looking forward to playing at home," coach Norv Turner said. "We haven't been in our stadium in a month. It'll be good to be in our stadium with the energy level, the fans, everything involved with it."

It's hard to forget everything from the Chiefs' last visit. Kansas City slapped a 30-16 loss on the Chargers, rallying from 10 points down. Turner was serenaded with "Marr-ty, Marr-ty" chants with the Chargers officially hitting rock bottom.

The Chargers' hope is they've already reaching this year's version of the deep valley. After losing three of their past four games, the Chargers need to get back on a playoff path.

That the last-place Chiefs are the opponent is great. But really, this isn't about the 1-7 Chiefs but more about a team which was advertised as elite. Instead, only three AFC teams have fewer wins.

The Chiefs are a dismal, but that doesn't concern the Chargers.

"I think we're facing our own problems, too," Rivers said.

The Chargers' spin is that the Chiefs are dangerous in being such a familiar opponent and having played two straight close games -- even if they lost them.

"Any time you pay in a team in the division you throw out the records," Rivers said. "They came in here last year and beat us -- it's always a tough game."

Tough sledding is what the Chargers have been facing. But a win over the Chiefs can serve as a springboard to the type of second half 2007 brought.

The Chargers went 7-1 down the stretch and advanced to their fourth AFC championship game in their history.

But this year's edition has shown little signs it's up to a similar sprint with its choppy play. The defense was so bad Ted Cottrell was fired, replaced by Ron Rivera.

Turner is appreciative the Chargers are but one game behind the fading Denver Broncos for the AFC West lead. But he knows the Chargers have underachieved.

"We are not playing at a level we need to be playing and that is our main objective and my main objective," he said.

An objective observer of the Chargers' season can see how bad they have been. That observer would also note -- thanks to playing in the passive AFC West -- a hot run could get the Chargers where they want to go.

"We are still right in the thick of division," said Rivers, who have the NFL's top passing rating at 107.8. "Obviously that is the goal is to win the AFC West.

"We certainly have every capability of getting that done. But obviously we know it's going to be a long, hard fight. But we are up for it."

If so, it would turn an upside-down season around. The Chargers have tools to do it. But they also can't afford to overlook anyone, and that includes Sunday's guest, the Kansas City Chiefs.

SERIES HISTORY: 96th regular-season meeting. The Chiefs lead the series, 50-44-1, with the Chargers winning the only team they have faced each other in the playoffs. The Chargers have won two of the past three games against the Chiefs.