But if not for LaDainian Tomlinson rising in a dead-silent locker room back on Nov. 30, maybe Sunday's game isn't such a big thing.

After the Chargers had lost their fifth of their last six games, they were all but out of the playoff chase. That's why the soft-spoken Tomlinson cleared his throat.

"It was something on my heart to say something to the team because at that time it looked like we were pretty much done," Tomlinson said. "When that happens, I've been on a team before where they have tanked. They'll say, 'The season is over and we don't really have anything to play for.'

"At that point, it was all about not quitting and staying with it, finishing strong and being prideful about finishing our work, finishing the season strong. That's basically what it was about."

Apparently the message got through. The Chargers won their next three games and shaved all but a game off the Broncos' three-game lead. A win Sunday will erase that deficit, with the Chargers going to the playoffs with an 8-8 record and a 5-1 divisional mark.

"I'm not going to get up in front of the team and talk a lot," Tomlinson said. "I don't want to do that, I don't want to be that way. Also I think it gets kind of fake when guys hear you saying something all the time. They kind of get tired of you talking all the time. I feel like when I really need to say something, then I'll really say something."

Linebacker Stephen Cooper said people perked up with Tomlinson spoke up.

"Whenever L.T. opens his mouth, it always gets our attention," Cooper said. "Because L.T. doesn't really open his mouth too much. He lets his play speak for itself.

"But when L.T. speaks, we have to listen, because he is the leader of our team."

--With a victory, the Chargers would match Denver's 8-8 record. The Chargers would advance as the AFC West champs, based on a 5-1 record in the division. The Chargers would be the first team since 1985 (Cleveland) to win the division at 8-8.

--QB Philip Rivers was asked why the Chargers-Broncos matchup always draws such interest. "It's exciting," he said. "First off, Chargers-Broncos (game) is exciting every year, especially the last couple. We've been battling for the division. You're always looking for matchups to throw things in the mix but I know one thing and I know Jay (Cutler) feels the same way: We're not playing one another out there. We've both got tough defenses to worry about and we're trying to help both of our teams advance into the playoffs."

--ILB Stephen Cooper said the rivalry with the Broncos is always intense -- but especially lately. "Yes, it has intensified but that's because they're an AFC West opponent," said the Chargers' leading tackler. "We've been battling the last couple years in who is going to win the AFC West and it's been a battle between us and Denver and that's why it's become a rivalry game. People build it up to be like that because they have a great quarterback (Jay Cutler) and we have a great quarterback. At the end of the day, it's 11 guys going out there trying to do a great job and win the AFC West."

--Coach Norv Turner admitted it was tough letting go of that controversial call in the teams' last meeting. "Yes, I mean, if you believed me when I said that I could, I could sell you some other things," he said. "You can't let it go, but you have to. You have to put it behind you and you can't let it affect what you're doing in the future."

--The Chargers have won three of the past four AFC West titles, with the crown they missed -- in 2005 -- going to the Broncos.

--Denver S Marlon McCree returns to Qualcomm Stadium, the site of a play that is entered in Chargers' lore. The Chargers had the Patriots beat late in a 2006 playoff game when McCree intercepted the ball. But instead of falling on it, he fumbled it on his return and the Patriots recovered and went on to win the game.

--Ex-Charger FB Andrew Pinnock is playing with the Broncos. Pinnock was in the Chargers' camp last summer, set to take the place of Lorenzo Neal. But Pinnock was slow to recover from a knee injury and cut.

--Sunday's game was recently moved into the prime-time slot because of its implications. The Chargers had been moved out of the prime-time position the previous week in Tampa Bay.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Consecutive AFC West titles the Chargers claim with a victory Sunday. It would also be their fourth in five years.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's exciting. That's why you coach, that's why you play, that's why you're involved in this, to be in a game that has great meaning. This game is as big as it gets for us at this point." -- Coach Norv Turner, on Sunday's winner-take-all game against the Broncos.