Verve Records artist and actress Katharine McPhee will perform at the Chargers official tailgate, the Bud Light Power Party, before singing the National Anthem to kickoff the Chargers AFC Divisional playoff game against the New York Jets.

Fans first met McPhee on Season Five of American Idol. The runner-up could seemingly sing any style of music, but especially mesmerized millions with her heart-stirring rendition of "Over the Rainbow."  Her first solo album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 in early 2007. In her recently released album, Unbroken, the extent of her talent becomes apparent-not only as a singer but as a songwriter. The performer's new single, "Had it all" is currently available for purchase on iTunes.

McPhee's acting credits include an appearance on "CSI: New York," where she premiered "Say Goodbye," a heartbreaking ballad from Unbroken, as well as a co-starring role in the 2008 hit, "The House Bunny."  As a recording artist, Katharine found early success with her debut album, Katharine McPhee and her first single "Over the Rainbow"/"My Destiny" which both debuted at number two on Billboard's 200 and Hot Singles Sales Charts, respectively.

The Bud Light Power Party is free and located in Lot E2/F2. The party opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 12:30 p.m.

For more information about McPhee, visit her official MySpace page, www.myspace.com/katharinemcphee, or Kim Jakwerth at kim@marleahleslie.com or 323-464-9669.

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Head Coach Norv Turner

How challenging is it designing plays against New York's defense?
"They're playing great on defense. When you can defend the run the way they are, and then they're first in the league in scoring defense, you're doing a lot of things real well. Everyone talks a lot about the blitz but they're doing a great job of playing defense when they're not blitzing. Their coverage is outstanding. They're a press, tight, cover-type team. You have to work to get open and you have to protect."

Did practice have a different feeling today knowing who you're going to face?
"It helps to get into more detail in terms of who you're playing. I thought we had great work last week. We need to work on things that have given us problems, things that we thought we could do better. We got work on that last week. Now you zero in on a team."

Given how many injuries you had this season, can you talk about A.J. Smith's role in building depth and getting players to fill in?
"I've talked about it all year: adding players as we've gone along, having depth in our lineup. I always go back to first of all getting those guys here. Obviously we've done a great job of that. Then the position coaches getting those guys ready to play. Then those players stepping up and doing what they've had to do."

How do you prepare for an attack like Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene?
"They only play one of them at a time, so that's a good thing. They're a good running football team. That's the way they've been built. They do mix in the pass. Obviously they got big plays in the passing game last week against Cincinnati. Those were the two big plays late in the game and the bootleg for the touchdown early. You have to play it honest. You have to play the run but you know that at the right moments they're going to come up with those play-action passes that can hurt you."

Do you approach things any different defensively when facing a rookie quarterback in the playoffs?
"We really have to prepare for what they do. Then if we have opportunities, the way you get after young guys is if you have opportunities to get them in those longer down and distances, get them backed up, get them in some situations that are tough for all guys, then you try to get in those situations."

What do you see from Darrelle Revis?
"I'm really impressed. We played them here last year. I thought he was outstanding. This system really fits what he does. They do put him on an island and he handles it extremely well."

How does he compare with Champ Bailey and some of the other great cornerbacks in the NFL?
"He's playing at a real high level. He's probably more physical than the other guys we've seen and still does a great job with the coverage."

QB Philip Rivers

What did you think of the Jets' performance this weekend?
"They're a good team. Anybody you face, we said last week, is going to be a really good team. I think they're just that. They played really good football down the stretch, which is what you want to do: be playing your best ball at playoff time. As far as their defense is concerned, it's going to be a challenge. They'll be as good as any we've played so far and again, that's what you expect. You get to this point in the season - the playoffs - and it's going to be a lot of good versus good out there."

What is the biggest challenge with playing the Jets' 46 defense?
"I think that's probably a term that you guys keep using more than it actually is. This defense is a multiple-look defense. They line up every way you can possibly line up. As you see and as you watch on TV, and obviously we watched the tape, they're fundamentally sound. Defensive football, when it's played the right way, there's a soundness to it. You can line up as many ways as you want, guys still have their gaps and the coverage schemes can only be so drastic. They give you multiple looks, they try to create confusion and obviously they've had a great deal of success doing it."

Do you try to force them out of their formations?
"I think as an offense you always want to go out and dictate to the defense, but at the same time, this defense, you've still got to be smart. It's a cat and mouse game, as it is in every game. You can try to line up and try to do whatever you want to do and they're going to have a response to it. We'll put together a plan that fits our personnel that gives ourselves the best chance to succeed and they'll do the same."

Is Darrelle Revis as good as you've seen?
"As far as we've played this year and I've seen, he stacks right up there with the best of them. He's just very patient, for as much press as he plays he's a very patient corner. Obviously you see when he gets his hands on the ball he catches it. That's not always the case for those defensive backs, but if he gets his hands on it he usually come out with it."

It doesn't appear necessarily that you will stay away from a guy?
"Again, you're smart. You know where they're best, and they know where we're at our best and you're smart with those guys and who you attack. We're pretty confident with the guys we have sideline to sideline that we can go out and execute."

What do you think of Mark Sanchez' performance and what he's going through right now?
"Just watching him back in his USC days, he plays the game with a lot of passion and excitement, and at the same time has a calmness about him that you need this time of year. I thought he played really well the other day, had a few big time throws that obviously kept drive alive and got points on the board. Like it is for any quarterback in any game you play, it's about winning, but in the playoffs nobody cares how or how you do it, it's just about winning. Obviously they went out and got a win last week."

Do you see any similarities with the way New York is handling him and the way the Chargers handled you in 2006 in your first season as a starter?
"A little bit. I think it was more early on. It was more the first couple weeks of the season, but you think back to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver, we threw 30 plus passes. I don't know if there is a real valid comparison there."

In terms of atmosphere, how important is it for the crowd to be loud?
"Our fans have been awesome all year. Unfortunately we lost two home games early, but since then we've won six. We're going to need those fans to be at their best. I think they were unreal at the Cincinnati game. You think back to the past playoff games we've had here; Indianapolis last year, Tennessee the year before that; it's been some pretty amazing atmospheres. We're going to need the same on Sunday to get the true home field advantage."

Is there a warm weather advantage?
"I think certainly, depending on what the temperature is, heat can certainly be a factor. We're a little more used to it. But when you get out there in a playoff game for four quarters, I think unless there are some key elements - snow, wind, rain - you get out there and it's going to be two good teams playing to their fullest for 60 minutes to see who moves on."

How is this team growing with the playoff experience the last few seasons?
"We've certainly grown each year. We've got a lot of guys who have played in playoff games, multiple playoff games, in every different situation. So certainly we do have some experience. Once the ball is kicked off it's a football game, in between the lines it will be played the same as it's played any other time. We need to be at our best. Obviously the Jets have some momentum and are playing really good football and we need to be at our best on Sunday, I'm sure they'll be. That's all you can ask for in a playoff game."

LB Shawne Merriman

What are your thoughts on this week's opponent?
"They are a physical bunch of guys. We've seen that in their last few games. We saw it again in their last playoff game. We have to come out and be physical. That's where the game will start and finish at."

The defense has made a lot of strides throughout the year by improving against the run. Is this going to be the ultimate test?
"I think so because they are pretty good at running the ball and that is something that they lean heavily on. They've been pretty good at it and it's going to be a big test for us to be able to come out there and stop it early."

Their rookie quarterback had an efficient game this past weekend but is him being a rookie something you think that you guys can exploit?
"He makes pretty smart decisions. I think he was 12 for 15 in the game. In some of those cases, he didn't have to do much but just make a good decision and I think he's been able to do that for them. He's probably part of the reason why they are in the position that they are in now."

What is it about their running game that makes them dangerous?
"They are very physical. I just heard something recently that their offensive line has started 32 straight games together as a group. The continuity is there for sure. It's a big reason why they have had success running the ball. They've been able to be physical against guys up front. They have a few first rounder's that they rely heavily on to go and make some plays for them and be good blockers."

How do you step it up now with this new season of playoffs?
"When you play in the playoffs, everything is faster. Just when you think that you are running as fast as you possibly can, you have to pick it up. Dive for the extra inches and finish every tackle. That's what it's been about for us. We got a chance this weekend to sit back and watch and get the feel of other guys playing to get a feel for the tempo out there. The bye week has helped us a little bit with that."

How do feel physically?
"I feel pretty good. The last four or five games I was pushing through so we could get in the position that we are in right now where not only myself, but some of the other guys were able to get some rest. I feel good and I'm ready for a great week of practice."

Do you feel 100%?
"I really don't put a percentage on it because I can go out there and say that I'm 100% but you just never know. But I feel pretty good though."

When's the last time you've felt this good?
"When did the football season start? (Laughs) No, probably four or five weeks ago. Right before I had the foot injury and then the groin earlier in the season for two games so this is probably the best I've felt in a while."

How excited are you to play in a playoff game again? It's been a while for you.
"I'm excited because it's a long season. And to start the way we did and to have this winning streak and go on that run like we did and to even win against Washington to keep our momentum going like we did makes it great. I'm excited to go out and play some football."

Personally, are you at all concerned about reps just because you haven't been involved in the atmosphere for a while, especially in the playoffs where you said it's a whole different speed?
"Well I just missed Washington. I played in the game before that and in other games this season. I didn't sit out the whole year and am getting ready to play my first game of the season this week. It's more like I got some rest that was well needed. I think we needed it as a team to go out there and perform in this tough physical battle. We're getting ready for a fight period. We know what kind of guys are coming to our house and we have to be ready. And we will be."

Did you see any one common trait in this past weekend's game?
"Games coming down to three or four plays. That Green Bay game, both teams scored a combined 90 something points scored. But there was three to five really big plays where they put up points that you can't let happen in this league, especially in the playoffs because in the playoffs it gets that much more important. So when it comes down to three or four big plays that can change the result of the game, you have to be more conscience of every play and not take one too lightly than the next."

How important is a fan atmosphere like it was during the Bengals game?
"Very important. Our fans have been great and specially down the stretch. In the Bengals game they had Bengals had three or four penalties just because of the loudness of our fans. It's going to help at the end of the day and hopefully they keep getting louder out there for us."

How important is it to get pressure on Mark Sanchez early on?
"It's important because we expect them to run the ball first because they are one of the best teams in doing so. But when it's time for them to throw the ball, it's time to get after him and make him make some decisions that he doesn't want to make. Going 12 for 15 last week means he can be pretty accurate so we have to change that up a bit."

Do they use him pretty smartly?
"Yes because he's athletic and can move and get out of the pocket. They are using his skills to their advantage rather than having him sit back there like a sitting duck and then take a big hit. He's able to move and get out of the pocket a little bit."

Yesterday we saw a team come back from three touchdowns. How important is it as a defense to keep that pressure on in the playoffs no matter how big of a lead you might have?
"It's very important because you were watching that game and you thought that Arizona was going to win that game by a landslide. But it was a fight all the way down to the end of the game and situations like that happen in the playoffs where things become that much more important. Because there's no quitting in the playoffs; because everyone on the team knows if you lose, you go home. There's no getting ready for the next week if you don't win. Every play counts at this point."

RB LaDainian Tomlinson

What are your thoughts on the Jets defense?
"I think they're the best defense we're going to play. They do a lot of things well, but they've got the winning formula. They run the ball well. They play good defense. You look at teams throughout history who have done well, the ones that have that winning formula are the ones who have been successful."

Why are they so good against the run in particular?
"They know what they want to do. They know their assignments. They don't mess up. They're not out of position a lot of times and they play hard."

How important will it be to get the run going this week?
"I think it will be big for us to play ball control and keep the ball moving down the field. I'm sure they're not going to give up a lot of big plays in the passing game, so it's going to be up to us to grind out yards, get the tough yards and put points on the board."

Can you talk about the dance video that's making the rounds on the internet?
"It was something that Nike wanted to do showing a different side of me. It happened a couple years ago. We came up with it. Nike put it together and I went in and did it and had a great time."

Were you happy with your dancing?
"Oh yeah. That wasn't a question. I knew I could pop a couple of moves."

Is this an internet only release?
"Yeah, right now. They can do other things with it. Nike has the rights to it, so they have the option to do whatever they want."

You did catch some grief?
"Oh yeah. Guys were repeating the song. I was surprised that guys remember the song. They were repeating the words, the dance moves. Kris Dielman was out on the field showing me all the dance moves from the video. I was surprised they remembered it."

WR Vincent Jackson

What do you see in Darrelle Revis?
"I see a talented young football player. He's had some success against some of the best receivers in the league. I think part of that comes from teams try to say, 'Hey, if you're going to try to take this away, that's fine because we should be able to beat you in other areas.' I would love to have a great game against him, but if I don't have 100 yards or something, I might only get the ball thrown to me twice, but that's okay. We've got Malcom, LA, Buster, Sproles, LT, Antonio. I'm not really focused on the 1-on-1 matchups."

Is his physicality unique?
"He is a more physical corner. I think he likes to get up and touch you, feel you as you're running around and get some contact at the line of scrimmage. I'd expect that, but I think with our size and our speed that it's not going to be any different from what we faced with other defensive backs."

How hard is it to get off that press coverage?
"That's part of the game. I've been facing all kinds of corners. There are a lot of good football players in this league. Obviously he's getting more of the attention right now, but I think press coverage is something I can split."

How do the Jets use Revis in their defense?
"He's pretty much just on their best receiver, pressing him. In a few situations, I notice where they move receivers around and he actually doesn't go with them. For the most part they say, 'Hey, it's you one on one.'"

Are you looking forward to facing him?
"Absolutely. That's why you play. You train to be the best; you play to be the best. Obviously right now he's considered one of the top guys in the league. I'm looking forward to it."

This offense isn't one that stays away from one side of the field if there's a player of Revis' caliber over there. Would you expect to see that?
"I hope not. I don't want to. I would love to just go out there and do what we've been doing, play to our strengths and go after it."

Do you expect to see Revis across from you the whole game?
"Who knows what they're going to do. I would assume that's what they're going to do with me, but we've got weapons all over the field so they may just play him on the side that he likes to play on. That is the strength of our team though. We can beat you with anybody."

What do you like about playing with Philip Rivers?
"He's a big, strong athletic guy and he plays with a lot of fierceness. He has a little swagger to him. That's one of the things I love about him. When you get in that huddle, he believes each and every time that we're going to score on the drive. To have somebody with that confidence and that desire to be successful, he wants to be good individually as well as help us win games. It's fun playing with a guy like that.

Does Rivers act like a coach on the field a lot of times?
"I'm pretty sure his dad is a big-time high school football coach and you see a lot of that in him. He can call back plays. We'll be doing something on the field or in the meeting room and he'll say, 'Remember that third quarter in 2006?' He can tell you everything. The way he can recall plays like that is amazing to me. He's definitely a football junkie."

Was there a point in the last couple of years where the light just came on for you?
"There was no light. I've always had the belief that if I work hard I can be successful at this game and I've developed more with opportunity. My third year, Norv came here and started using me more in the passing game was well as a vertical threat mentality and my numbers started to go up."

What's impressed you about the job Norv Turner has done leading this team?
"Norv has done a great job. He's provided the same message for us and that's key. Especially dealing with young players, you need consistency in your coach. That's what he's been. He's said, 'We can't worry about anything outside of this locker room, outside of this building. All we can do is focus on us.' Denver was 6-0 but we couldn't sit there and worry about what Denver was doing. He brought everybody together and said, 'We're going to focus on us. We're going to win the games we need to win and the rest will take care of itself.' Since everyone has kept that same belief and mentality each and every week we've come out and worked, it's no looking back."

How nice was it for you to get a chance to rest last week?
"I did get some rest. We're still working on it. I'm hoping to be closer to 100 percent by Sunday but obviously it's hard for anybody at this point in the season to be 100 percent. That's not what I'm focused on. I'm trying to be as prepared and as healthy as I can be to help this team. The bye helped a lot of guys on our team."

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Former San Diego Chargers Head Coach Don Coryell is among the 15 modern-era finalists for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the Hall’s Selection Committee meets in South Florida on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.  

Three first-year eligible players - Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith - also are among the 15 modern-era finalists.
 
Joining Coryell and the three first-year eligible players are 10 other modern-era players.  The 15 modern-era finalists, along with the two senior nominees announced in August 2009 (former Detroit Lions cornerback Dick LeBeau and former Denver Broncos running back Floyd Little) will be the only candidates considered for Hall of Fame election when the 44-member Selection Committee meets. To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent.

Also, for the first time fans are invited to vote for their choice for the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Van Heusen Pro Football Hall of Fame Fan’s Choice at www.fanschoice.com.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation and JC Penney Company have teamed to provide the first-ever dedicated forum for fans to debate, discuss and voice their choice by voting for the Hall of Fame Enshrinee Class of 2010. The robust forum also includes stats on all candidates and opinions from football experts, Hall of Fame players and fans around the country.
 
The official Hall of Fame Selection Committee’s 17 finalists (15 Modern-Era and two Senior Nominees*) with their positions, teams, and years active follow:

• Tim Brown – Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
• Don Coryell – Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
• Roger Craig – Running Back – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
• Dermonti Dawson – Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
• Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
• Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
• Charles Haley – Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
• Rickey Jackson – Linebacker – 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers
• Cortez Kennedy – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
• Dick LeBeau* – Cornerback – 1959-1972 Detroit Lions
• Floyd Little* – Running Back – 1967-1975 Denver Broncos
• John Randle – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks
• Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
• Jerry Rice – Wide Receiver – 1985-2000 San Francisco 49ers, 2001-04 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Seattle Seahawks
• Shannon Sharpe – Tight End – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
• Emmitt Smith – Running Back – 1990-2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2003-04 Arizona Cardinals

            
Carter, Dawson, Dent, Grimm, Kennedy, Randle, Reed, and Sharpe have all been finalists in previous years.  Although they were eligible in previous years, this is the first time Coryell, Craig, Haley, Jackson, Little, and LeBeau have been finalists.
 
From this year’s list, five players – Dawson, Grimm, Kennedy, LeBeau, and Little – spent their entire NFL career with just one team.  
 
LeBeau and Little were selected as senior candidates by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee at their August 2009 meeting.  The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players whose careers took place more than 25 years ago.  The remaining 15 modern-era finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall’s 44-member Selection Committee from a list of 131 preliminary nominees that earlier was reduced to a list of 25 semifinalists.  To be eligible for election, modern-era players and coaches must be retired at least five years (prior to 2007 coaches were eligible immediately after retiring).

Since Coryell retired prior to the 2007 change in coach’s eligibility, he has been eligible the longest of the modern-era nominees, 23 years.  Grimm has been eligible 14 years, while Craig has been eligible 12 years.  Jackson has been eligible for 10 years, Dent eight years, Haley six years, Reed, Dawson and Kennedy five years, Carter three years, Randle and Sharpe two years. Brown, Rice and Smith are in their first year of eligibility.  Senior nominees LeBeau and Little have been eligible 33 years and 30 years respectively.

The Selection Committee will meet in South Florida, on Saturday, February 6, 2010, to elect the Hall of Fame Class of 2010. The election results will be announced at 5 p.m. ET during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Broward County Convention Center.
 
At the 2010 selection meeting, the selectors will thoroughly discuss the careers of each finalist.  Although there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year.  No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected. Representatives of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche will tabulate all votes during the meeting.

At the announcement, Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry will be presented with an envelope containing the names of the nominees elected.  Each newly elected member will be contacted immediately by the Hall of Fame.  Members of the Class of 2010 in South Florida for the Super Bowl will be asked to join the live announcement show.  Those not able to attend will be asked to join via teleconference.

The Van Heusen Fan’s Choice campaign which launched in September, mirrors the Hall of Fame’s selection process and will name the first-ever Fan’s Choice Class live on NFL Network just prior to the official announcement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 
The Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 15 list includes seven candidates who also appear on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee list including: Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Richard Dent, Charles Haley, Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe and Emmitt Smith.
 
Others who made the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 15 list who didn’t make the official Hall of Fame Selection Committee list include an athletic trainer, Otho Davis; a coach, Tom Flores; as well as former players, Cliff Branch, Todd Christensen, Ray Guy, Lester Hayes, Ed “Too Tall” Jones , and Jim Plunkett.
 
The Final Round of fan voting begins today and the top 15 Fan’s choices will be combined with the Hall of Fame Selection Committee choices for one powerhouse list of candidates looking for fans’ votes to become a part of the inaugural Fan’s Choice class.
 
Fans are encouraged to visit www.fanschoice.com to vote for their favorites before the Fan’s Choice Class is revealed on February 6.

Head Coach Norv Turner

Did everybody practice today?
“The guys we expected that would practice practiced and we had some guys that are limited right now. I’m excited that we will have all our guys when we get going next week when we prepare for who we are going to play next week.”

What did you sense about the team by the way they practiced today?
“They seemed really focused. We cut back in terms on the number of plays, but the plays we ran, I thought we executed extremely well. We started introducing different things that we have to handle in the game and the guys realize that if we use this time properly, we can get a jump start on some things that we have to be able to defend and there are some things that we have to be able to attack that we can have a better understanding of.”

Your last loss came out of the bye week. Is that at all irrelevant here or is there anything you can take from that and apply it to your preparations for next week?
“This is a different type of bye week. I don’t see a comparison between the two of them because when you are in the middle of the year and you’ve played some games, the bye is about getting away and getting some rest because you know you’ve got a long haul after that. It’s more mentally getting away from it. I think our guys understand that we are going to give them some rest, but this bye week is about doing some extra work in terms of preparation.”

If you were asked to identify an unsung here or two this year, is that impossible with all the guys that you’ve had?
“It’s a long list. It’s a real long list. As I’ve said, if in August  you were talking about (Brandon) Siler starting the number of games at inside linebacker that he has or Brandyn Dombrowski starting at right guard and at right tackle over a considerable amount of time, I don’t know that you would be sitting here thinking that this would’ve turned out the way it did.”

Stephen Cooper is one guy that has gone under the radar. He’s just been going out there and doing his job quietly. Has this year been one of his best years as a pro?
“Because he’s done the football things that you are talking about, and he’s stepped up another level in terms of being a leader and the quarterback of the defense. He makes things go by getting people lined up and runs the show when they get out on the field. Stephen (Cooper) is a very smart player who doesn’t make mistakes. He’s always been a real good tackler and has a good year in that area.”

Given that he’s healthy, can you see an expansion of L.T’s role or is going to be the same thing that he’s been doing?
“I saw it happen when we played Cincinnati, and that was the most production that L.T. has had in terms of the run and the pass mixed. I’m excited to have him fresh and healthy and we will still lean on Darren (Sproles) for the things he does well. I like the mix we have there.”

Looking back on the season are there any games that you look back on and say, ‘that’s how we need to play in the playoffs?
“I’ve gone back through a lot of our games because I know whoever we play is going to be doing that, particularly the teams that we play who are similar to whoever it is. It’s not one game, it’s in a lot of games when the most critical situation came, that we made the stop or we made the great play, made the great punt, or we covered the kick well. That’s what we have to do. Our games come down to the last two minutes and you make a lot of plays up to that point so you have a chance to win. You have to make plays in those situations to win and that’s what our guys have done in all three phases.”

Is that because of the focus the guys have had throughout the week? How do you prepare for a play when you don’t know when it will happen?
“That’s the key. There are four or five plays that will decide the game. You don’t know which ones they are until you play the game.  Our guys have done a great job with that but I really believe the experience that we have and the experience our players have had in those situations that have made the difference.”

When you have such a high-powered offense, how critical is that left tackle with Marcus and what he’s able to do?
“Particularly when you have a young right tackle where you don’t have to, but we are prepared to help out a lot. Marcus is out there by himself. I look at what he did out there in that Dallas game and he had a great game. He’s had a lot of great games this year but to go on the road and go up against what many believe to be the best pass rusher in the league and to play at the level he did, it says a lot about what he’s done for us all year.”

He’s pretty loose all the time, have you ever seen him tight in games?
”I’ve seen him uptight. This game will humble everybody. We went to Tennessee a couple of years ago and it was long afternoon for him. Everyone in this league gets humbled at some time but it’s how you respond. He always responds great.”

If Don Coryell is amongst one of the 15 finalist for the Hall of Fame what would that mean to you?
“If that’s the case, that’s exciting because he means so much to so many different people that have been in this game. This system and this style started with him and it’s gone around to so many different players and coaches that you can’t name them all. Certainly Ernie (Zampese) coming to the Rams and me being involved with him for three or four years and getting to be around this offense was special. I’ve never had a close association with coach Coryell but I’ve got the utmost respect for him. When we used to come down with the Rams and practice the Chargers, I used to go and stand and watch him because it was so much fun to watch him coach and to see the energy he brought to practice.”

RB LaDainian Tomlinson

What do you take away from past playoff experiences?
“I think just the way you lost the game and the way you won the game. I think that’s what you take away from it. Some things you can do better, maybe starting the game or finishing the game. That’s pretty much it because it’s going to be a different team. The team we played a couple years ago, three years ago in New England, it’s not the same team. Obviously, the Colts team we beat last year isn’t the same team. It’s different, but the experience factor is something you take away from it.”

Are you guys the same team?
“No, we’re not the same team. Obviously, we got a lot of the same guys on the team, but it’s not the same team. I remember a long time ago one of our coaches saying, we had a team meeting and one of our coaches told us, ‘you know guys we need to get off the stuff we did last year. This is not last year’s team. This is a totally different team. We may have a lot of the guys that were on the team, but it’s a totally different team. We’re a totally different team and that’s the way we’ll approach it.’”

Do past seasons predict anything?
“No. Absolutely not. “

Can you point out one or two unsung heroes who have stepped up this season?
“You’re putting me on the spot. I don’t know about just one or two guys. You look at what our fullbacks have done, Salt and Pepper is what we call them. You look at them guys and you look at (Brandyn) Dombrowski coming in and doing what he’s done for us. You look at Mooch (Scott Mruczkowski) who came in for Nick (Hardwick) and then Nick coming back. You look at couple guys across the defensive line, the guys that filled in. You can’t really point to one or two guys. It’s a lot of guys that helped us.”

What does that mean to you?
“It’s a total team game. We’ve proved it by the way we’ve had to play filling in different guys. “

What do you say about the way your defense is performing?
“They have done a great job with their preparation. We’ve seen them put extra time in the classroom. When we’re playing certain teams, to know exactly what they’re doing out there and it’s helped them. We have the upmost confidence in them guys that they’re going to get the stops that we need to get when we need to get them. That is something we talk about a lot between each other.  We say, ‘hey guys, you need to get the stops and we’re going to put points on the board and make it easy on you. You guys are making it easy for us and we’ll do the same.’ It works hand in hand.”

How great is it for Philip (Rivers) to have the three big targets?
“I think if you ask any quarterback in the league they would love to have the size of those guys; big guys that can run.  Any quarterback would love that. I think it works well with Philip. His strengths throwing the ball down the field and putting the ball in areas where only they can get it, I think has been great for him.”

Is the ability for Gates and Vincent to be so athletic at 6’5” impressive?
“Yes, it’s pretty impressive. It really is. To see those guys move, jump, spin and all of the things you’re use to seeing smaller guys do; but big guys are doing it.”

Do you notice a difference playing teams with playoff experience like the Patriots?
“I’m sure there is a bit of difference from the experience factor just by how they have different situations throughout the game. Experience a lot of times they don’t make the mistakes that some of the teams that haven’t been in the playoffs have. That’s the biggest difference, but at the end of the day it’s still football. You have to execute the plays that are called.

On Marcus McNeill’s emergence and being a character:
“Mac came in right away as a rookie, if you remember and did well. He’s been playing well for a long time. I think the difference this year is the mind set he has. He’s healthy again, but he has that mind set of I can be dominate. He plays like it. Commenting on him being a little different is not such a bad thing. I like a crazy lineman. I really do. I think they’re the best guys to have on the team. They keep it loose. Those are the guys you want out there. “

QB Philip Rivers

Was there a different feel today?
“It was a little different feel. Obviously with the game 10 or 12 days away, I don’t know if relaxed is the word, but there’s a little different feel to practice, but it was good. It was focused and we got done what we needed to get done. There’s certainly something about the feel of playoff time. There’s 20 teams that are done and to be one of the teams again that has a chance, it feels good. The way our schedule sets up and everybody’s mindset, this will be a really good week for us before we get into a regular game-week next week.”

Are there a couple of unsung heroes from this team that stand out to you?
“It’s hard. For me to single a few out, I’ll leave some out but just coming to my mind offensively you’ve got Brandyn Dombrowski who fought like crazy to make this team and then all of a sudden in week one he’s thrown in there at right guard for a couple weeks and then all of a sudden he’s thrown in there at right tackle, and he also played almost a whole game at left tackle last week. He’s a guy that has been huge and what he’s been asked to do is very demanding and he’s risen to the occasion. That’s one guy that stands out on the offensive side of the ball. I could single out others that have been. I know there’s been a lot made of Brandon Siler and his play. His will and eagerness to be in the lineup on defense has never stopped. Every day he’s been here, he’s wanted to be out there on the defensive side of the ball and at the same time appreciating and taking advantage of his role on special teams. Those are two guys that just come to mind and again I’m leaving some out. There’s been so many guys that have contributed this year and in some way or fashion and I think it’s been the most complete team effort for a season that we’ve had since I’ve been here and to have won those last 11 straight and have that many guys contribute even makes it that much more of a special regular season. Obviously we want a special postseason ahead, but it’s a heck of a run we’ve had thru 16 games.”

Can you talk about the fullbacks, Jacob Hester and Mike Tolbert?
“Those guys are super unselfish guys. Everybody would love to take every snap at fullback but they’re really super unselfish guys that really compliment each other well. You won’t find any that are any tougher or that likes football any more than those two guys. Both of them have played at a really high level. They do different things and give us another dimension too, catching the football out of the backfield. Both of them have done that well. They’re also two young guys that also contribute on special teams as well, really good special teams players, and it’s been real nice to keep them both fresh and healthy and mix them both in there.”

Talk about how the team stayed together after losing Nick Hardwick and Jamal Williams early in the season?
“I think it had an effect and there were other guys that were beat up as well. As healthy as we were thru training camp, it went away after week one and we also had as tough as an opening schedule as we’ve probably had against some of the best run defenses and some of the best defenses in the league. We came out of that first five-game stretch 2-3 and things weren’t looking so good. I remember standing right here and saying ‘we’ve got to keep playing one game at a time, there’s 11 games left.’ I remember saying ‘there’s a whole college season left,’ and I remember saying that and we won the rest of them, so that one game-at-a-time very zeroed-in approach worked well for us. And it’ll take just that now. When you get in the postseason there are only 12 teams and there’ll be eight left after this week. It’s very easy to fall into or get caught up in who’s left and what scenarios there are and I think it’s key for us to stay as focused as we have all year in the one game at a time and don’t get caught up in it so we can go out and play our best.”

Is there a difference between playing a team with a lot of playoff experience like the Patriots and a team like Cincinnati or New York that hasn’t been in it as much recently?
“Whoever it is, you’re going to get a solid football team. They all bring different challenges, different experience and different schemes, so whoever you get there’s obviously some similarities in some of them and there are some differences. Whoever it is, you get down to this time of the year they’re going to be a challenge and a good team and we’ll be enjoying but watching those games with high interest this weekend to see who it ends up being.”

Are you able to anticipate the plays that Norv calls coming in from the sidelines?
“In many cases, I am able to anticipate what’s coming in and if not, within the first few words I kind of know where he’s headed with the play. That’s a good sign. For one, that’s doing it each game, each time we’re around one another and when our offense is around one another you get that rhythm and that feel and understanding. And the way we practice and prepare, you should know or have an idea that when it’s 3rd-and-2 what’s coming in, or in a two-minute drive, what are we going to do. Our preparation and the experience that we’ve been through together allows for that to happen.”

Can you talk about Marcus McNeill at left tackle?
“Marcus is playing at a really high level and this year, like usual, you see (the opponent’s) best pass rusher on him every week. We went thru a span there in the NFC where you had (DeMarcus) Ware and Trent Cole and Osi Umenyiora in New York, and then Elvis Dumervil in our division and some of those guys and the list just goes on and on. But you usually get the best pass rusher and Marcus enjoys that challenge and kind of thrives in it. He’s had a heck of a year and we’ll need him to have him continue to play at a high level.

“We understand not only his importance, but the whole line play, including the tight ends and the backs. It allows us to push it down the field and do a lot of the things that we do. There’s no doubt that they’ve played a huge part, as they always have in our success.”

Can you talk about Marcus’ personality?
“He has a little bit of that out-on-an-island mentality. At some point you’re going to give up a sack but he has the mentality like he’s never given up one and he’s never going to give up one and that’s the only way to do it when you’re out there by yourself when you’re getting in some cases, the best athlete on the field. He enjoys those challenges and brings it each and every week.”

LB Stephen Cooper

How much has it helped you guys that you’ve avoided costly penalties and mental errors this season?
“That’s so big.  Whenever you give up penalties and give offenses a chance to get more yards and make more first downs, it keeps us on the field longer and keeps our offense on the sidelines.  Our whole mentality is getting three-and-outs and turnovers because whenever Philip gets the ball, they’re going to put points on the board.  That’s what we prey on.”

Who are a couple of the “unsung heroes” on this team that have stood out to you?
“I would definitely say guys like Steve Gregory, Paul Oliver, Brandon Siler and Tim Dobbins.  Those are the kind of guys that go under the radar because they haven’t been doing stuff in the past but this year they’ve been making big plays.  Brandon Siler is playing great inside linebacker.  Tim Dobbins is doing a great job.  So are Steve Gregory and Paul Oliver on the back end.  If we can keep playing at our level, those guys are going to show that they’re stars.”

How much has that meant to you to have so many guys step up?
“It’s big.  Our defense, due to a lot of injuries this year, it showed how much depth we have.  Our coaches are doing a great job of putting us in position to make plays and putting us in positions where our strengths are and not our weaknesses.”

How do you make sure that you guys are ready for those four or five plays that can decide a game?
“The biggest thing is we’re trying to make the big plays minimal.  We gave up one big play last week that was very disappointing.  I think this season we haven’t really given up too many big plays.  We make teams grind it out, run the ball, pass the ball.  If we keep doing that, we’ll have a successful year.”

Have you spent any time looking at the Patriots yet as a possible opponent?
“We haven’t really looked too much at them.  We played Denver twice this year and they pretty much are similar to New England.  Josh McDaniels was a great offensive coordinator there (in New England) and I think he carried the New England offense to Denver so we’re real familiar with that.  The Jets, we know they run a two-back offense.  They like to run the ball so we know we have to be ready for that.”

What did you learn from the Bengals game last month?
“We know that we’ve got to shut down Chad (Ochocinco).  We’ve got to keep Cedric Benson at a minimal and not let him get any big runs.  We’ve got to stay physical up front and get after the quarterback.”

How different would it be to play a team with so much playoff experience like New England versus one like Cincinnati without a lot of postseason experience?
“It really isn’t about what team we play.  It’s about us going out there and doing our job.  We’re real hungry right now.  That’s why we’re on an 11-game win streak.  We just want to make sure we get a first-round bye and have a home game.  Guys were banged up but now we’re healthy.  We’re going to go out and get these next two days of practice and look forward to next week, whoever we’re playing.”

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The Chargers announced today that their AFC Divisional Playoff Game scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 17 is sold out.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from our season ticket holders as well as fans interested in becoming new season ticket holders,” said Jim Steeg, the Chargers’ executive vice president and chief operating officer.  “Nearly all of our current season ticket holders bought their seats for the game.  And we’ve also sold a lot of new season seats for 2010.  Finally, we gave our season ticket holders the opportunity to purchase additional playoff tickets and they scooped up the remaining seats in less than 48 hours. 

“This is a great indicator of the excitement surrounding the team and the upcoming playoffs.” 

The team has held back a very limited number of playoff tickets that are available only to fans purchasing season tickets.  And there is a very limited number of suite and other premium-seating opportunities available.  Season tickets for the 2010 season may be purchased at the Chargers’ ticket office at Gate C at Qualcomm Stadium, calling 877-CHARGERS or going to www.CHARGERS.com.

The Chargers will play New England, Cincinnati or the New York Jets on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 1:40 pm PT. 

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The San Diego Chargers have placed linebacker James Holt on “Reserve-Injured” and signed veteran linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to take his place on the active roster.
 
Thomas (6-2, 241), in his sixth NFL season, originally entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2004. He has appeared in 63 games, including 10 starts, and has 47 career special teams tackles. Thomas spent four seasons in Minnesota before signing with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in 2008. He was released at the conclusion of training camp and later returned to Minnesota for the final 10 games of the season.
 
This fall, Thomas played for the United Football League’s California Redwoods. He was the team’s leading tackler and finished third in the UFL in stops. Thomas has been a special teams contributor throughout his professional career. He will wear No. 57 for the Chargers.
 
Holt will undergo surgery on his shoulder after injuring it Sunday in San Diego’s regular-season finale. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in May, Holt spent the first seven weeks of the ’09 season on the team’s practice squad.  He was promoted to the active roster prior to the Chargers’ Week 9 victory over the Giants and had nine special teams tackles in nine games.
 
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Injury Update:
"From an injury standpoint, I'll give you an update.  The guys that were inactive or the guys that have missed - Jacques Cesaire, Jacob Hester, Vincent Jackson, Shawne Merriman, Legedu Naanee, Eric Weddle - those guys I would expect to be able to participate at some level during this week.  Again, I'm going to generalize, but I think all of them will be able to participate at some level this week.  Then all of them without having a setback would be full go next week.  Obviously the more they can do this week, the better I believe it is for them.  "From a standpoint of injuries in the game, James Holt has a shoulder injury and he will have surgery and he will be out.  He's had a remarkable season for a young guy that came in here and just jumped out very early.  He's really become a big part of our special teams.  We'll have to replace him there.  (Antonio) Garay strained his hamstring, but I think he'll be alright."

Opening statement:
"From the standpoint of the game, as I said yesterday, it was good for us to get our starters out.  Most of them got about 20 plays.  I thought they got good work and accomplished what we wanted to get done.  Then our young guys, I think it's great for them to get a chance to play. The game was fast for them early.  I think as they settled in to what we were doing and playing in a real game in terms of being a starter-like mentality, I thought we handled things extremely well and obviously I thought it was good for Billy to be in the situation he was in.  To put that drive together at the end says a lot about those young guys and their abilities to play.  It's nice to get Billy the reps; get him the opportunities.  I hope he doesn't play over the next month, but I believe he'll be ready if he needs to be."

Is the bye week more important physically or mentally?
"I honestly believe it's both.  First of all, physically it is a long season and you do get rest (with the bye).  Everyone is in there lifting.  They'll get a lift and a run in today and then tomorrow we'll be off.  We'll get three good days of practice but the rest will come on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday.  We'll play the following Sunday at 1:40 so we'll come in and do something on Monday, then Tuesday off and have a normal week after that.  When you look at it you go Saturday, Sunday, Monday it'll be a light work and then Tuesday (off), they'll be rested physically.  That's critical.  Then the mental part of it is not only stepping back away from it for a second but we can really get into some detail in terms of preparation for this game and be real exact in what we want to do where sometimes during the season, and like we had for Tennessee you get into short weeks, you get into different types of game-plan situations where you have people injured and they don't get a lot of reps in practice.  Sometimes you wish you had a little more time to prepare.  That won't be the case here."

In late fourth-quarter drives, can you give us some insight into how you call plays?
"My intention is always to get first downs on first and second down.  That makes it much smoother.  Third downs are obviously critical any time of the game to keeping the drive alive.  We spend a lot of time talking, whether it be a four-minute situation like we were in yesterday, the two-minute situation getting the ball with 50 seconds like we have.  I think those things come from the preparation we've had all through the year.  We had a major emphasis this year in training camp and our offseason work on the two-minute situation.  We took it a step further and tried to come up with every possible scenario we could come up with.  I think all of that has paid off for us."

In the playoffs is it even more critical?
"When you get in the playoffs, and it sounds very obvious, you're going to play a very good team.  Obviously you're playing one of the best teams in the league.  That's why they're in there.  The one thing that Coach (Jimmy) Johnson used to always talk about is that it's the team that plays the best when you get to that point.  In other games you are better than someone.  In these games, it is the team that plays the best and the team that plays the best handles all those different situations.  Obviously those are game-changing situations."

Do you feel you guys are the team playing the best right now?
"We're playing at a real high level.  I think there are a number of teams that are playing extremely well. We had an outstanding game with Dallas in early December and they've really taken off.  You look at the teams in the AFC and they're going that way (up).  To me it's not what you've done or how well you've played.  You get a three-and-a-half hour game and you need to play better than the team you're playing against."

Can you talk about the job Hal Hunter and Don Johnson have done?
"We did have some changes on the staff and one of the things I always talk to coaches about, and I probably got this from John Robinson, there are two things when you talk to your team.  We've got a lot of marquee, big-time players.   In the spring we talked about, 'Hey, let's see how many guys can go out and have their best season of their career.'  We had a lot of guys that did that.  I talked to the coaches the same way. 'Lets see how many guys on this staff can have their best year ever coaching.'  To do what we did on the offensive and defensive lines, you say that Don Johnson I think has had an outstanding year and worked with a lot of different people.  Hal Hunter and Mike Sullivan together with the offensive line, they've done a great job, particularly when you look at the center position and the changes we had there and Mooch playing as many games as he did.  Then starting the last 11 games a rookie at right guard and right tackle, that's hard to do."

How do you avoid coming out rusty after the bye?
"I think it's something this team has done a good job.we practice fast.  This week we can reduce the reps just a little bit, but when we go, you just have to go fast and you have to maintain that type of mentality.  I think that's the strength of this team.  Even when we were struggling, I know I commented on it and it doesn't help when you say it but you're not playing as well as you'd like, but we have practiced well and I believe we will continue to."

How do you prepare when you don't know who you are going to play?
"It's the position you're put in and we will prepare for the situations that are going to come up in this game.  We just talked about it - whether it be red zone; whether it be backed up; whether it be goal line; whether it be two minute - we will get those situations handled and we will work hard on them.  We will look at different things that teams do and do a little bit of each, but in those situations, things tend to be a little more standard.  There are a lot of similarities between all the teams you play.  Obviously we have to wait until this weekend is over to find out exactly who we're playing.  Then we'll get into the specifics of that team."

What did you think of Malcom Floyd's performance?
"Malcom and Buster Davis will end up getting game balls offensively.  I thought Malcom would have that kind of game.  I thought based on the way Washington played, the things Billy does well and the way Malcom is playing.  He hasn't been that guy, and obviously we've spread the ball around to a lot of people, but when Gates went out and Vincent Jackson wasn't playing, there were some opportunities to really zero in and get him involved and get him part of it.  He really responded.  He's an outstanding player who has really gotten a lot better over the last year."

Is this the most rewarding season of your career as a head coach?
"It is.  I'm not very good at comparing those things, but the biggest thing for me is the job the assistant coaches have done and the number of people we have that have contributed to this team.  That part of it is impressive.  Somebody had the number, I don't know exactly what it was, but they said 60 different guys have played in games for us.  That's a lot of guys, but I know that on Sundays we play a lot of people.  When we win a game, I think everyone feels that they were part of it and that's a great team feeling."

Is it even more important this time of year to have a guy like Malcom step up when you're playing good teams that can take other guys away?
"There is another guy that's in the mix and I think Malcom has been that guy and people know that getting ready for us, that we do have balance.  I think when you visually see it on tape and you say, 'Wow, here are the things they do with this guy,' it's something else you have to prepare for it."

What are the expectations within the organization?
"I think everyone knows what we want to accomplish.  That's been from the start, but I'm not going to get ahead of myself and I'm not going to let my guys get ahead of themselves.  We talked about it last night in the locker room: in this league, if you want to do something, you have to go earn it.  That's been a great lesson learned by a lot of people in our organization.  There have been times obviously in the past where people pick you and it's a foregone conclusion in someone's mind.  It is not a foregone conclusion in anyone's mind.  We know that we're going to play an awfully good football team and we're going to have to play at our best to move to the next round of the playoffs."

But do you feel confident in the next round considering who you might play?
"As I said, we're going to play a real good team and teams have different scenarios that affect them.  If someone told me that we were going to go through the season with Mruczkowski at center and Vasquez at right guard and Dombrowski at right tackle and we're going to win a number of games in a row with those guys, I might have been a little skeptical.  I don't think because someone is hurt or someone has had a change based on injury that you expect to get anything different."

How do you explain playoff football to your young players?
"That's one thing this team has.  Our guys, our core guys and they'll help the young guys in the preparation, but we have a lot of guys who have not only played in the playoffs but have won games and won close games.  We won the overtime game last year in the playoffs.  We had a great win in Indy two years ago in the playoffs.  They've experience that and they've experienced the other side of it.  I do know that our guys understand that it can end real fast if you don't go out and do the things you're capable of doing."

What did you take away from your Super Bowl experiences with Dallas that you might be applying right now?
"It's so different and it was a long time ago.  I went to two (Super Bowls with the Cowboys).  With the Rams we went to two championship games.  I've been to a championship game here two years ago.  To me, what I just said, you've got high expectations and you want to go out and be the best team but you've got to go out and earn it.  It's a one-game-at-a-time deal and as I said it can end fast."

How much of an edge over the other teams is your team's playoff experience?
"I don't know that it's an edge over the other teams, but certainly it's a great feeling to know that you've got guys who have been in the playoffs, have experienced the playoffs and had success in the playoffs."

Do you deserve to be in the Coach of the Year conversation, as a reflection of the team as much as you?
"Those things.it's not a big issue for me.  I'm glad that Philip's name has been brought up over the last two or three weeks regarding MVP, but I don't think that's an issue for him.  I know that we've put ourselves in this position and we want to go make the most of it."

Will Dombrowski remain your starting right tackle?
"Dombrowski is the starting right tackle and I'm very impressed with the way he's played.  I'm glad that Jon Runyan got to play.  He played about 40 snaps yesterday.  Dombrowski went over and played left tackle those 40 snaps and I was impressed with the way he made the adjustment to left tackle.  It just gives you a good feeling to know that if we had an issue that we are in good shape in all our positions.  If we had someone have to come out of a game, I'm confident that we could go in at any of the five offensive line positions and handle anything that might come up."

How has Runyan handled not moving into the starting lineup?
"Jon has been great.  Jon is a pro and I think he's enjoying being part of this team.  Playing yesterday, playing the week before gets you to feel more of a part of it.  He's fit in great with our offensive line and he's helped Dombrowski a great deal."

Who replaces Holt on special teams?
"We've got a number of guys and we've had some guys who have not been able to be up, whether it be at different times Marques Harris, who was not active a couple weeks. C.J. Spillman was not active for a number of games but played yesterday and was outstanding on special teams.  We'll make that decision as we go through."

You mentioned maybe shortening practice to keep guys sharp.  How do you do that?
"It's really not significant.  It is to them because it's numbers of reps where in a drill we normally do 12 plays but we might cut it to nine.  If you do that in five different periods, you take out 15 plays of a normal practice.  Again, it's about what we talked about earlier: mentally being sharp and physically making sure we take advantage of this week."

Has your heightened execution in practice translated to games?
"Absolutely.  It's just the confidence you have.  Games are different.  You've got to go beat someone who is talented and you've got to block them and do whatever those things are.  There's no question if you practice fast and that's your normal tempo then you make that adjustment to games on Sundays much easier."

Do you expect Shawne Merriman to be 100 percent?
"I don't know that he'll be 100 percent, but I know that this week will help him greatly and I hope there are some things he can do (in practice) if we're working a pass-rush period, if we're working a third-down period. I hope he's able to get some reps, but I would expect him to be the healthiest he's been in quite a while."

What were your impressions of the Jets last night?
"When you play defense and run the ball and give a lot of different looks like they do.  Obviously they were impressive in the game and it'll be a real good game next week."

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SAN DIEGO CHARGERS vs. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Qualcomm Stadium (70,000) – San Diego, California
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 – 1:15 pm PST

• Malcom Floyd had a career-high 140 yards receiving today. His previous high was 109 yards, set in Cincinnati in 2006. Floyd led the team with nine catches.
• Antonio Gates caught his 59th career touchdown pass today, taking over sole possession of No. 2 all-time on the franchise’s career touchdown receptions list. He also takes over sole possession of third place for total touchdowns (59). He previously was tied with Gary Garrison.
• Gates finishes the season with a career-high 1,157 yards. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson also had a career-high with 1,167. Their 2,324 combined yards is the most by a Chargers duo since Kellen Winslow and John Jefferson totaled 2,630 in 1980.
• Philip Rivers passed for 99 yards today and finishes the season with a career-high 4,254 yards, third-most for a season in team history. Rivers threw his 28th touchdown pass of the season today to Gates for the fourth-most single season TD passes in team history.
• Kicker Nate Kaeding was a perfect 3-for-3 today on field goals and he finishes the season 32-of-35 (.914), a new franchise single-season high for field goal percentage. Kaeding hit a 24-yarder today in addition to kicks of 45 and 47 yards to extend his NFL-record streak of field goals 40-yards-or-less to 69.
• Kaeding also finished the season with 146 points, a new franchise kick-scoring record. He has made a personal-best 20 field goals in a row.
• The Chargers reported only two injuries today: linebacker James Holt (shoulder) and defensive tackle Antonio Garay (hamstring).

TODAY’S INACTIVES
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS vs. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Qualcomm Stadium (70,000) – San Diego, California
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 – 1:15 pm PST

San Diego Chargers Inactives
6                  QB               Charlie Whitehurst (3rd Quarterback)
11               WR              Legedu Naanee
22               FB                Jacob Hester
32               FS                Eric Weddle
56               LB                Shawne Merriman
74               DE               Jacques Cesaire
77               C                  Eric Ghiaciuc
83               WR              Vincent Jackson
                                                  
Chargers Starting Lineup Changes from the Flip Card
#84 Buster Davis will start at WR for #83 Vincent Jackson
#70 Alfonso Boone will start at DE for #74 Jacques Cesaire
#52 Larry English will start at OLB for #56 Shawne Merriman
#28 Steve Gregory will start at FS for #32 Eric Weddle
 
San Diego Chargers Roster Changes from the Flip Card
None
 
Washington Redskins Inactives
10               QB               Richard Bartel (third quarterback)
11               WR              Devin Thomas
24               RB               P.J. Hill
30               S                  LaRon Landry
40               CB               Marcus McCauley
55               LB                Alvin Bowen
56               LB                Curtis Gatewood
92               DT               Albert Haynesworth
 
Washington Redskins Starting Lineup Changes from the Flip Card
#64 Kedric Golston starts at DT for #92 Albert Haynesworth
#27 Fred Smooth starts at SS for #30 LaRon Landry
#50 Edwin Williams starts at RG for #63 Will Montgomery
#12 Malcolm Kelly starts at WR for #11 Devin Thomas
 
Washington Redskins Roster Changes from the Flip Card
None