Chargers Rally for 37-34 Victory : AFC: Trailing, 24-6, three touchdown passes by Humphries and a 99-yard interception return by Richard leads San Diego over Denver.

Stan Humphries threw three touchdown passes and linebacker Junior Seau recovered a bizarre fumble by John Elway in the waning seconds, preserving the San Diego Chargers’ wild 37-34 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

The San Diego defense converted two interceptions into touchdowns, including safety Stanley Richard’s 99-yard return on the final play of the first half.

Finally, with Denver threatening at the Chargers’ three-yard line, Elway rolled to his right and attempted to pass. But the ball slipped out his grip and Seau plucked the fumble out of the air at the eight with 35 seconds to play.

A one-yard scoring run by Natrone Means, which capped a grueling 19-play, 89-yard drive that consumed more than 10 minutes of the final period, was the the clinching score. Humphries’ 25-yard pass to Alfred Pupunu was a key play on the drive, and Means scored with 4:01 left.

Elway, who had three touchdown passes, drove Denver into scoring position, helped by offside and personal-foul penalties against San Diego. But on second-and-goal from the 3, Seau iced the win.

Richard’s 99-yard return capped a 21-point San Diego flurry that lifted the Chargers to a 27-24 lead at halftime.

The Broncos appeared on the verge of a rout after Elway’s second touchdown pass had given them a 24-6 lead.

Denver capitalized on a shanked punt and a fumbled kickoff return en route to an early 17-0 lead. Elway’s 50-yard pass to Mike Pritchard produced a 7-0 lead, and Leonard Russell’s 22-yard run made it 14-0. After the fumbled kickoff return, Jason Elam kicked a 25-yard field goal.

San Diego responded with an 82-yard drive, capped by Humphries’ 22-yard touchdown pass play to Pupunu in the first period.

But Elway’s eight-yard scoring pass to Glyn Milburn gave Denver a 24-6 lead.

Two minutes later, the Chargers scored as Humphries connected with Shawn Jefferson on a 47-yard pass play. On the next play from scrimmage, Darren Carrington picked off Elway’s pass at the Denver 40, and Humphries hooked up with Mark Seay on a 29-yard touchdown pass play.

Denver was driving in the closing seconds of the half, reaching the Chargers’ 5 when Elway’s pass was picked off by Richard at the 1. Escorted by a phalanx of blockers, he scored easily as time expired in the half. Ronnie Harmon’s run on the two-point conversion gave San Diego a 27-24 lead.