PLAYER NOTES

--DE Luis Castillo signed a big contract extension earlier this year but has done little to justify it. Castillo, who is signed through 2014, has gone 10 straight games without a sack. He has but 1 1/2 on the year.

--DE Igor Olshansky, who is not expected to be brought back next season after gaining free agency, has gone nine straight games without a sack. He has two on the season.

--WR Chris Chambers' production continues to be inconsistent. He has three catches for 20 yards and no touchdowns in his past three games.

--CB Antonio Cromartie did a lot of yapping before the season regarding his goal to set an NFL record with 15 interceptions. Cromartie, who led the NFL with 10 picks, last year, has only two this season, both of which came on Sept. 22.

--QB Philip Rivers is five touchdown passes shy of tying Dan Fouts' team mark of 33 touchdown tosses in a season. Rivers, who was the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, is coming off his career-high fifth 300-yard passing game of the season.

--ILB Stephen Cooper, despite being suspended the first four games of the season, leads the team in tackles (117) and interceptions (three).

GAME PLAN: Look for the Chargers to lean on two old favorites, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, in attacking the Bucs defense.

The Tampa Bay run defense has shown some leaks of late and Tomlinson is primed for a big game on a fast field with no weather conditions holding him back.

Gates is looking to build on one of the better games of his season, while proving his Pro Bowl selection is no mistake.

Wide receiver Malcolm Floyd isn't going to play, and he's been among the most consistent of the Chargers' receivers. With him out, that will limit Rivers' options down field, which might make him play close to vest by giving the ball to Tomlinson or hitting Gates on the underneath routes.

With Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks' availability in question, Tomlinson could find the running room keener to racking up big yards.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Chargers passing game, with WRs Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers, vs. a Bucs secondary that features veteran CBs Philip Buchanon and Ronde Barber, plus rookie CB Aqib Talib. With the Chargers turning to a pass-first offense, they'll be looking to heave the ball outside the hash marks to the wide outs. Jackson and Floyd are having career years, but Floyd might not play after suffering a collapsed lung in Kansas City. It's time for Chambers to have a big game as he's been quiet of late. But the Bucs, with their vaunted Cover 2, won't be easy to pick on. Barber is tied with Talib for the team lead with four interceptions. Buchanon, who the Chargers know from facing him twice a year when he was with the Raiders, has two picks -- one he returned for a touchdown. He also leads the team with 12 passes defensed.

Chargers pass defense vs. a Bucs passing game featuring TEs Alex Smith, John Gilmore and Jerramy Stevens. The Chargers have been torched by tight ends all season and last week was no exception with the Chiefs' Tony Gonzalez caught six passes for 62 yards and a score. The Chargers will need some help from linebackers like Matt Wilhelm dropping into coverage and also help from the strong safety spot. Clinton Hart is the starter at strong safety, but he has missed the last couple of games with a neck injury. If he does go, he might be compromised. If he can't play, Steve Gregory would fit in and that's a big of a drop-off. The Bucs' tight ends have combined for 68 receptions for 745 yards and six touchdowns. Tampa Bay is 6-0 when one of its tight ends has a scoring reception.

Chargers running game, with LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles against a Bucs run defense that has been exposed of late. It'll be interesting to see which Bucs run defense shows up, particularly if LB Derrick Brooks can't play. Tomlinson needs 76 rushing yards to reach 1,000 in a season for the eighth straight year. But he only has two 100-yard rushing games this season. Sproles gets an occasional handoff, but most of his running plays are disguised as short passes in the flat where he can run in space. The Bucs' run defense has dived to No. 20 in the league with some shoddy play of late -- rivals are gaining an average of 115 yards per gain. The Chargers might find a soft spot here, if they take the effort to establish the run.

INJURY IMPACT:

--WR Malcolm Floyd (lung) is out this week and could miss the following game as well. Legedu Naanee and Kassim Osgood will see additional playing time.

--C Nick Hardwick (concussion) will start Sunday.

--FB Mike Tolbert (shoulder) could be active this week.

--DT Jamal Williams will start this week.

--S Clinton Hart (neck) practiced Thursday and will play Sunday.

--CB Quentin Jammer (ill) worked Thursday and will start Sunday.

--ILB Stephen Cooper (knee) worked Thursday and will start Sunday.

--LB Anthony Waters (hamstring) didn't work Thursday and he could be down this week.

--WR Vincent Jackson (concussion) worked Thursday and is fine.