--It's amazing that the Chargers have lost three games by one point and one game by two points. "It seems like its Groundhog Day, where the same things keep on happening," OLB Shaun Phillips said.

--QB Philip Rivers (2,806) needs 194 passing yards to reach 3,000 for a third straight season and third time since taking over as a starter for Drew Brees.

--Rivers, on the team losing seven of 11 games but having the good fortune to play in the AFC West: "There isn't another 4-7 team in the league that still has a chance," he said.

--LT Marcus McNeill will have his hands full trying to slow DE John Abraham on Sunday. Abraham has 12 sacks, tied for second in the NFL. "I know he is a great player and I just look forward to the challenge," McNeill said. "That and trying to contain him."

--The Chargers' pass defense has ranked dead last going into eight of the past nine games. After Week 1, it was tied for No. 27. Since, it has been either No. 32 or 31.

--The Chargers' potent offense might not get much help from the return game this week. The Falcons are ranked No. 1 in covering punts and No. 7 covering kickoffs.

--Only three ACC quarterbacks have completed more than 300 passes in a season -- the Chargers' Rivers (North Carolina State) and the Falcons' Matt Ryan (Boston College).

--Of the Chargers' four wins, only two have come at the expense of winning teams: the Jets and Patriots.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 -- Sacks in the past two games since Ron Rivera took over as the defensive coordinator.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a little surprising. But who knows what the reason is? Sometimes, when it's happened to you over and over again, sometimes the lack of confidence in those situations gets to you. It's just human nature." -- RB LaDainian Tomlinson, when asked why the Chargers consistently lose games in the final 30 seconds.