It’s a Sweet Victory for Broncos’ Davis : AFC: Rookie running back for Denver who grew up in San Diego has big game against Chargers.

Growing up in San Diego, Terrell Davis used to fill his room with Charger souvenirs, and would cry when the team lost. He wasn’t crying on Sunday.

The Denver rookie ran for 176 yards--53 on the game-winning drive--and the Broncos defeated the Chargers, 30-27, on Jason Elam’s 32-yard field goal with two seconds left.

“I was a Charger fanatic,” said Davis, who had all 30 of Denver’s rushes. “I had all the paraphernalia in my room. But that was then; this is now.”

The future could be now for Davis, a sixth-round pick from Georgia and a strong candidate for rookie of the year. He posted the best first-year rushing performance in franchise history.

“I figured it was going to be a long day,” Davis said after running on nine of Denver’s first 15 plays. “Mike [Shanahan] even said, ‘Get some rest,’ so I knew I was going to get the ball today.”

Davis came through and boosted Denver’s playoff hopes while San Diego (4-7), playing for the second week in a row without running back Natrone Means, moved a step closer to playoff elimination.

“We’ve still got a little chance to make the playoffs,” said San Diego defensive end Leslie O’Neal. “I don’t know the numbers or any of that stuff. The only thing you can control is winning, and we haven’t been doing that.”

The Chargers had a chance before Davis took control with the Broncos (6-5) at their own 33 with 3:43 left. Davis carried six consecutive times and his nine-yard run on third and four set up Elam’s game-winner.

The winning kick atoned for a 46-yard miss earlier in the half that kept the Chargers in the game.

Trailing at halftime, 27-10, San Diego began its comeback with a 32-yard field goal by John Carney after Junior Seau intercepted a pass at the San Diego 41.

Elway moved the Broncos 43 yards only to see Elam miss, and the Chargers--losers of six of their last seven--took advantage three minutes later when Stan Humphries passed to Ronnie Harmon for a 12-yard touchdown.

San Diego used several short passes to set up Rodney Culver’s four-yard touchdown run to tie the game with 9:57 left.

“We’ve got to win. We’re not satisfied with just coming back,” said wide receiver/kick returner Andre Coleman, who returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in the first half.

Elway showed no ill effects from an injury suffered last week. He completed his first nine passes and finished 19 for 34 for 290 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was all right,” Elway said. “But I’m looking forward to another week of rest.”

Humphries was 17 for 28 for 206 yards and a touchdown, and Culver filled in for Means with 56 yards in 15 carries.

Glyn Milburn got the Broncos off to a quick start, taking the opening kick 86 yards to the San Diego 13 to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Davis.