Chargers wallop Broncos

Associated Press

SAN DIEGO

Patrick Crayton and Darren Sproles turned short passes from Philip Rivers into long touchdowns through the Denver defense, and the surging San Diego Chargers rolled to a 35-14 win over the Broncos Monday night.

Malcom Floyd caught an early 6-yard TD pass from Rivers, who passed for 220 yards while reclaiming the overall NFL lead in yards passing from Peyton Manning.

Chargers fullback Mike Tolbert also rushed for a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter after making a 28-yard catch on a trick pass by punter Mike Scifres in the first.

After Crayton turned a screen pass into a 40-yard score with 2:05 left in the second quarter, Sproles romped through the Denver secondary for a 57-yard score less than 21/2 minutes into the third, putting the 4-5 Chargers on course for their third straight victory and a return to .500 in yet another late-season surge under coach Norv Turner.

Rivers had the early advantage in his much-anticipated duel with Denver’s Kyle Orton, who went 16 for 27 for 150 yards in the first three quarters of the meeting between the NFL’s most prolific passers entering this weekend’s games.

Denver lost two key players to injury in the third quarter: receiver Demaryius Thomas hurt his left ankle, and linebacker D.J. Williams — the Broncos’ leading tackler — was sidelined by a concussion.