Chargers (OT)...23 Titans...17

NASHVILLE -- LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 16-yard run in overtime, and the Chargers rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Tennessee Titans, 23-17, for their third straight victory and seventh in nine games.

Tennessee (7-6) had a chance to run out the clock in a game it desperately needed to stay close to Cleveland and Jacksonville in the chase for the AFC’s two wild-card berths. But the Titans gave the ball back to San Diego with 2:24 left in regulation and went three-and-out in overtime.

The loss wasted a strong performance by the Titans defense. But they couldn’t get close enough to Philip Rivers, who overcame a sore left knee and two interceptions to throw two touchdown passes in the final 7:29 -- the last with nine seconds left in regulation.

Rivers started the rally by tossing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tomlinson, pulling San Diego (8-5) to within 17-10.

Quoteworthy: “He went out there and gave us everything he had. . . . He was limping around all the time, still went out and fought for us.” -- Shawne Merriman, Chargers linebacker, on Philip Rivers