Chargers Hold Off Raiders

San Diego’s slow, uninspired start nearly cost the Chargers a share of first place. And they knew it.

Antonio Gates had eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, LaDainian Tomlinson ran 37 times for 164 yards and a score, and the Chargers won their fourth straight game, 23-17, over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday in Oakland.

Drew Brees passed for 226 yards and ran for a touchdown to help the Chargers (7-3) beat the Raiders (3-7) for the second time in three weeks after their 42-14 win on Halloween.

San Diego swept the season series for the first time in 12 years and maintained a tie for first place in the AFC West with Denver, which won, 34-13, at New Orleans.

“Good teams don’t always play their best, but we found a way to win. That’s the bottom line,” Charger Coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

Raider quarterback Kerry Collins was 18 for 30 for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

Tennessee 18, Jacksonville 15 -- Steve McNair threw a touchdown pass and directed two other scoring drives, as the injury-plagued Titans beat the Jaguars in Jacksonville.

The Titans won without running back Chris Brown, who missed the game with a toe injury. Two rookies started at defensive tackle, and defensive back Justin Sandy was signed from the practice squad this week.

“This is one we snuck away with,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.

The Titans (4-6) won for only the second time in seven weeks, thanks mostly to McNair, who finished 18 for 30 for 209 yards.

The reigning league co-MVP was back in the starting lineup for the first time in a month. He bruised his chest Sept. 26 against Jacksonville (6-4) and re-aggravated the injury a month later against Minnesota. He missed the last two games.

McNair led a 59-yard touchdown drive in 37 seconds that put the Titans ahead, 16-15. He connected with Erron Kinney for 30 yards on fourth and one. Then Antowain Smith scored from one yard out.