Chargers Win the Hard Way Again : AFC: Trailing for second week in a row, Humphries rallies San Diego past Cincinnati, 27-10.

Even though the San Diego Chargers are breaking new ground, they are having trouble breaking bad habits.

The Chargers fell behind for the second week in a row before Stan Humphries shook off two interceptions by passing for the tying touchdown and running for the go-ahead score Sunday in a 27-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Chargers (9-5) haven’t won nine games since finishing 10-6 in 1981, the last time they had a winning record in a non-strike season.

“This is like two seasons in one for us,” said tackle Broderick Thompson, an eight-year veteran. “It used to take us that long to get nine wins.”

The Chargers have won five in a row and nine of their last 10 games to remain in a first-place tie with Kansas City in the AFC West.

Cincinnati (4-10) lost its fifth consecutive game.

The Chargers became the first NFL team to clinch a winning season after starting 0-4. They’re trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

“I feel like this team’s got everything to look forward to,” said Humphries, who was acquired from Washington after John Friesz suffered a knee injury in the first exhibition game. “Just look ahead to these next two and what’s after that. Just don’t ever look back to what it used to be or what it was like at 0-4.”

Humphries moved the Chargers early, but they found themselves trailing again.

San Diego trailed Phoenix by 11 points in the third quarter before winning, 27-21, last week.

“This team feels like it can win in a lot of different situations . . . that maybe it didn’t have earlier in the year,” Humphries said.

Humphries had a pass intercepted by Darryl Williams late in the first quarter and another by David Fulcher in the end zone midway through the second quarter.

The Bengals failed to capitalize on the first interception but used the second to set up Jim Breech’s 48-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 1:41 left in the half.

Humphries completed six of seven passes to move the Chargers 75 yards in 1:26, capping the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller for a 10-10 tie 15 seconds before halftime.

Humphries has directed successful two-minute drills before halftime in the last four games.

After Burt Grossman sacked rookie quarterback David Klingler to end the Bengals’ next possession, Humphries led the Chargers on a 66-yard drive that consumed 8:13 and broke the tie.

Rod Bernstine, returning from a seven-game injury layoff, was stopped on third-and-goal from the one. One fourth down, Humphries ran in a bootleg around the right side for a 17-10 lead.

San Diego added 10 points after Gary Plummer and Darren Carrington intercepted passes by Klingler. Humphries gained two yards on fourth down to set up Bernstine’s seven-yard scoring run to make it 24-10.

Later, John Carney kicked a 48-yard field goal.

Humphries completed 19 of 28 passes for 209 yards. Klingler was 13 of 24 for 195 yards, with two interceptions and three sacks.

On the Bengals’ first play from scrimmage, Klingler hooked up with Jeff Query on an 83-yard touchdown pass play.