The Chargers are working out a deal with free-agent tackle Jon Runyan, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Runyan, a longtime Eagle, hasn't played this season.

Antonio Cromartie, cornerback of the Chargers, is being investigated for assault with a deadly weapon over an incident in a San Diego bar on Sunday night. According to law enforcement sources, Cromartie was out celebrating the Chargers win at a local San Diego bar when somebody threw a champagne bottle which hit a bystander in the head. Witnesses claim there was champagne being sprayed back and forth between Cromartie's party and other bar patrons -- until the mood changed and someone threw a bottle.

Denver's head coach Josh McDaniels told San Diego's linebackers, "We own you." "I'm not surprised," Shaun Phillips said. "He's a little cocky (rear end). It's all good, all fun and games. We didn't look too much into it. As a coach, I hope he has that mind-set. But to say he owns us? I mean, you beat us one time. What has he really done in this league? He had a team 6-0 and now he's looking up at us from second place." McDaniels said after the game as he headed to his car that the Chargers "talked to me first." He then said, "I'm not making a story about this. If I did, I'd be able to tell you some things that aren't for papers."

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is looking to improve on his completion percentage. Rivers has 2,476 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and just six interceptions, but wasn't happy with his 60.6 completion percentage heading into last week's game against the Eagles. In that game, a San Diego win, Rivers went 20-for-25. "That's one area I felt I could be better in," Rivers said after Friday's practice. "I needed to throw more completions. The percentage has been a bit lower than it has in the past. I generally don't buy into all these stats, but a high completion percentage is important. That means you're moving the chains and making things happen. I'm not afraid to throw the ball away, but if you're connecting at a high rate it certainly helps establish a rhythm and helps the team get first downs."

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton's status for Sunday's game against the Chargers won't be determined until right before kickoff. Orton missed practice for the third straight day on Friday because of a sprained left ankle. "If Kyle is completely able to do what we're going to ask him to do in the game plan, and can do it at a level that allows us to be successful, then we could give him an opportunity to play," coach Josh McDaniels said. "If he's not capable of playing at that level, or doing some of the things that we need him to be able to do, then you go with the guy who practiced." If Orton can't play, Chris Simms will start for Denver.

$.01--For all the statements made on Sunday, and there were quite a few, the biggest one to me was the Packers emphatic victory over the Cowboys. Green Bay had surrendered 76 points and 13 sacks in their past two games, but they completely dominated the heretofore surging Cowboys. The Packers defense turned up the pressure, sacking Tony Romo five times and consistently getting great pressure. Green Bay created turnovers and had none of their own, and allowed just an after-the-fact TD in their 17-7 triumph. The Packers were in very real peril of having their playoff aspirations snuffed out after two humbling losses, but with this win they killed two birds with one stone. Not only did they vault themselves back into playoff relevance, they also earned a tiebreaker with Dallas, which could wind up fighting for the same Wild Card spot. Charles Woodson played a game reminiscent of his Michigan days versus Ohio State, forcing two fumbles while bagging a sack and providing blanketing physical coverage. $.02--San Diego also made a big statement, beating up the Eagles to pull to a 1st place tie in the AFC West with the faltering Broncos. LaDanian Tomlinson turned back the clock a little, showing much better burst and more ability to finish his runs with power. But the most impressive thing for San Diego is their performance in the red zone at both ends. The Chargers defense held Philly to three David Akers field goals when the Eagles had 1st and goal on three drives, while the offense went a perfect 5-for-5 with four TDs and a field goal in their red zone visits. That had been a recurring issue during the Bolts? early season struggles, and with those woes apparently remedied, San Diego is now looking like the team I thought they?d be when I forecast a 14-2 record. This victory sets up a winner-take-all AFC West matchup in Denver next Sunday, though even with a loss the Chargers schedule sets up very nicely for a near-certain playoff berth. $.03--Another statement was made by the downtrodden teams. Tampa Bay valiantly fought against Miami, losing on a last-second FG. St. Louis gave the undefeated Saints all they could handle, with Steven Jackson strapping the team on his wide shoulders and the Rams defense doing a relatively good job slowing down Drew Brees & Co. and having a shot at the win. Washington, losers of five of their last six, upended the Broncos thanks to a strange fake field goal and hard running by backup RB Ladell Betts. Tennessee annihilated Buffalo behind Chris Johnson and another solid game-manager performance from Vince Young, winning their third in a row while sending the Bills to a finger-pointing cellar. Even the Lions played reasonably well in their loss to Minnesota, keeping the game within reach most of the day despite having six defensive starters leave the game due to injuries. All season we?ve been talking about the stark dichotomy between the haves and have-nots, but for one weekend anyways, the gap closed considerably. Nobody is happier for that than the bookmakers, who have taken a beating this year thanks to predictable lopsided slaughterings. $.04--The Thursday night affair was an unmitigated disaster for the Bears, and there are plenty of fingers to point. I think one finger that isn?t getting enough wagging is the lack of veteran mentorship and leadership on the Chicago offense. This team is screaming for a savvy veteran backup QB, someone to serve as a sounding board and support system for Jay Cutler, similar to what Jon Kitna has done for Tony Romo. Cutler is not a great leader, and far too often he spends his sideline time either brooding alone or joking around with teammates, not focusing on how he could get better. He badly needs someone to push his buttons and keep his head right, showing him where he could improve. It?s an extra imperative when the head coach is focused almost completely on his defense and the offensive coordinator isn?t a great teacher. But it?s even more pronounced at wide receiver, where the Bears feature converted CB Devin Hester and two guys (Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett) with zero career catches entering the season. This group runs terrible routes and freelances too often, as well as failing to run hard all the time and being abysmal blockers. With no veteran to show them the ropes or tell them why they?re not getting open or how to plant and cut with sound footwork, there has been no visible improvement throughout the season. By comparison, look at the wonders Torry Holt has done in Jacksonville with Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas, two greenhorn wideouts that have become significantly better as the season progresses. Chicago screams out for a player like Holt or Amani Toomer or Laveraneus Coles, a beyond-his-prime vet that can still function as a secondary weapon but can also teach the young talent how to play in the NFL. All three of those guys were affordable free agents last summer, and the Bears are paying the price for not stepping to the table. $.05--Highlight of the day goes to Arizona safety Adrian Wilson for his impressive game-sealing INT of Matt Hasselbeck?s shovel pass near the goal line. It was a bit of a broken play, and Wilson correctly picked up on Hasselbeck?s intentions. His diving snare sealed the win and all but sealed the NFC West for the Cardinals, who now hold a two-game lead with a rediscovered running attack. Kurt Warner shook off a sluggish start, and the offensive line that helped Beanie Wells run so well also kept Warner?s uniform spotless. When that happens and the opportunistic, aggressive defense led by Wilson are playing well, this Arizona team is as good as any in the NFC. Gut-check comeback wins like this one have been few and far between for this franchise, and in winning five of their last six the Cardinals have announced their presence with authority. $.06--5 quickies: 1. There were audible screams at Buffalo Wild Wings when Mo Jones-Drew took a knee at the one instead of scoring the winning TD against the Jets. How big is fantasy football? I counted at least 15 patrons with laptops, constantly checking their fantasy teams, and the guy next to me at the bar borrowed my Droid phone three times to check his team. 2. After watching Bruce Gradkowski inject some life and potency to the Oakland offense, there is no valid reason why Coach Cable should reinsert JaMarcus Russell at QB. Gradkowski?s INTs were not his fault, though it?s hard to blame the Oakland wideouts for being surprised that the pass was actually where they wanted it. 3. I never thought I?d say this, but the Bengals were clearly the more physical team in their battle with the Steelers. It was an ugly game with no offensive TDs and many crushing hits and forced mistakes, i.e. Pittsburgh Steelers football. But once again the Bengals did it better. Trust me folks, they are not a fluke. 4. Matt Stafford won over a lot of Lions fans with his toughness and never-say-die spirit despite taking a major beating in the loss to Minnesota. In 54 dropbacks, Stafford got hit on 34 of them. He kept his chin up and never lost his poise, continuing to sling good throws despite the constant pounding. His leadership and tenacity scored major points in the locker room and the message boards, not to mention the Vikings locker room. 5. Brian Westbrook?s second concussion in three weeks is a real cause for concern. The Eagles have LeSean McCoy to fill in, and the rookie is proving capable, but he?s not the dynamic playmaker that Westbrook is. The greater concern is for Westbrook?s health, which has been an ongoing concern for years. $.07--The New England-Indianapolis game developed into an instant classic, with the Colts coming from behind for an amazingly improbable victory. The Indianapolis defense held tough despite being ravaged by injuries, and with Peyton Manning in charge they are never out of a game. His masterful performance changed my (non-existent) MVP vote, and Manning is having his best year ever, one of the greatest years by any pro athlete ever. If nothing else, Peyton put an end to all the asinine ?quienes mas macho?? debates with Tom Brady. Still, this was just one game in the standings, and if/when they meet again in January, this outcome will mean next to nothing. The sooner the talking heads realize this, the better off we?ll all be. There will be very little difference between the #1 seed and the #6 seed in the AFC playoffs this year. Of course no other team has a Peyton Manning... $.08-- Non-football thought of the week--I must have struck a chord with my whining about the ability to smoke in public places in Michigan, as I received several emails of empathetic disbelief from all over the country. My fair state is in a state of economic catastrophe, yet for thousands of us who revile secondhand smoke, we?re discouraged from spending money in restaurants and bars. I loathe coming home smelling like I just spent three hours inside a burning building, the food tastes worse, and my eyes take a day or two to recover from the haze. Michigan needs to step into the modern era and do what so many other states have done: ban smoking in all public places. For you Michigan smokers who protest, consider this: your health insurance costs will decrease, and you just might get a hook-up with a non-smoker that you never would have had before. $.09--6 college quickies: 1. Georgia Tech is the quietest 10-1 team ever. Consider that if Texas and Cincinnati each lose (which could happen), the Yellow Jackets might be playing for the national title despite almost zero national media coverage. They should beat Clemson for the ACC title and will not be an easy BCS opponent with their throwback offense and disciplined, talent-laden defense. 2. This USC team is the epitome of what happens when you recruit nothing but blue-chip athletes. They sorely lack anyone for whom football didn?t come easy, early. Those type of players are great when it?s going well, but tend to stumble badly when really tested--just as these Trojans have all year. 3. Much is being made of Charlie Weis having the same winning percentage as the ingloriously deposed Bob Davie and Ty Willingham at Notre Dame. What that says to me is that the coach really doesn?t matter anymore at Notre Dame; the program is simply no longer a national power, and not even Knute Rockne rising from the grave is going to change that. It?s an academically restrictive, low-enrollment school in an impoverished small city with poor weather, and the national reputation and NFL pipeline have both withered to insignificance. That is not just Charlie Weis? fault. 4. Maybe I?m just a bitter Lions fan, but if Matt Millen would have put half the acumen he shows as a college analyst into his drafting duties, the Detroit Lions would be a perennial playoff team and not the perennial doormat. 5. Daniel Passafiume of Hanover College caught 25 passes on Saturday, breaking an NCAA record held by Jerry Rice. I don?t know how impressive the feat is, considering he netted just 153 yards on those 25 catches, though he did score twice. Hanover lost the D-III game 42-28 to Franklin College, another Indiana school that happens to be where I lived from 1984-86. I?m writing this proudly wearing a Franklin College hat. Go Grizzlies! 6. TCU answered any lingering questions about their BCS legitimacy by walloping a very good Utah team 55-28. This is the same Utah team that spanked Georgia in a BCS bowl last year. The Horned Frogs? improved offense this year makes them the best non-BCS conference team of the BCS era...and that still isn?t good enough to earn a berth in the national title game. $.10: Scouting Report--Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. 6?6?, 284 pounds, 4.7ish 40. Positives: Tremendous size/speed/strength package and he?s comfortable with his body. Great base strength to hold at the point of attack, rarely gets moved backwards. Outstanding quickness for his size, consistently dictates the action by forcing the blocker to react to his movement. Good at using his hands and arms to shed blocks. Maintains excellent pad level and consistently gets strong leverage. Good tackler, wraps strong and keeps his head up. Shows good awareness and quick reaction to screens and cutbacks. Has a polished barrage of pass rush moves, can go inside or outside with speed or power. Fast in pursuit with decent closing speed, and he does a good job of staying in control while chasing. Good balance, great knees and feet to stay with plays even when blocked. Good football IQ. Solid locker room leader. Father was Craig ?Ironhead? Heyward, former NFL running back, and stepfather played at Wisconsin, so he?s been brought up around the game a la Larry Fitzgerald. Negatives: Strictly a 3-4 DE in the NFL; lacks burst around the edge and speed to play DE, too upright and not bulky enough to play full-time DT in 4-3 fronts. Can be too eager to just tie up blockers and let his mates make the plays--makes him a great teammate but could cause disappointment if drafted high (think Chris Long). Will get caught in the interior trash when the runner or QB bounces outside. Has had some issues with shorter, fireplug-type guards against the run. Has been surrounded by loads of talent that is often quite superior to the offense they are facing, has not been asked to do a lot by himself; that doesn?t mean he can?t, it means he hasn?t done it yet. NFL Comparison: A taller, quicker Tyson Jackson from last year?s draft, or a lighter Richard Seymour. Forecast: Just a junior, Heyward has continued to improve and impress scouts with his playmaking knack and rare physical attributes. Not as fast or explosive as the elite edge rushers, but much like Tyson Jackson last year, Heyward?s all-around play elevates his stock. He?s more highly regarded by scouts than most media pundits at this point, but that will change. Surefire 1st rounder, probably in the 10-20 overall range.

Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman insists that he'll be active against the Eagles on Sunday. San Diego officially listed Merriman as questionable. "I'll play, I'll play," Merriman said. "It's just the tendinitis that's flared up over the last three weeks, on and off, one of those things you have to deal with and work your way through. Not anything severe or anything like that." Merriman hasn't practiced since Wednesday because of a foot issue.

The Chargers defeated the Giants 21-20 on Sunday in a game that Philip Rivers admitted was special. San Diego traded Eli Manning, taken with the first pick, to New York in exchange for Philip Rivers, the fourth pick, and selections that were used to take linebacker Shawne Merriman and kicker Nate Kaeding. "The draft thing, it didn't weigh into my process going in, but it is there," Rivers said. "Anytime you're playing a team with a quarterback that's won a Super Bowl, that's the caliber of player Eli is, it's fun. Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, it's fun to play against those great players." After connecting with Vincent Jackson on an 18-yard, game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left in the game, Rivers sprinted down the field in celebration. "Those authentic spazz-outs are the most fun," Rivers said. "This ranks up there, the playoff win in Indy [in 2008] and this one. It is a little special because you know that link's always going to be there."

The Colts and Saints remained perfect on Sunday, while the Buccaneers became the last team to record a victory this season. We will calculate each team's Trench Counter*. Tampa Bay 38, Green Bay 28 Team Trench Counter: Buccaneers +0.7, Packers -0.7 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) stunned the Green Bay Packers (4-4) to record their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon. Josh Freeman threw for 205 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while also scrambling four times for 20 yards. Tampa Bay scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. Two of the touchdowns came via passes from Freeman and the final game-breaking score came on a 35-yard interception return by safety Tanard Jackson. Aaron Rodgers went 17-for-35 with 266 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Rodgers also rushed for a 12-yard score at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Ryan Grant had a good game, rushing 21 times for 96 yards and a score, while James Jones caught four passes for 103 yards and a score at Raymond James Stadium. New England 27, Miami 17 Team Trench Counter: Patriots +3.6, Dolphins -3.6 Stephen Gostkowski hit four field goals as the New England Patriots (6-2) edged past the Miami Dolphins (3-5) at Gillette Stadium. Tom Brady threw for 332 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Laurence Maroney tallied 82 yards and a score on 20 rushing attempts. Randy Moss led the Patriots in receiving with six grabs for 147 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 71-yard connection with Brady in the third quarter. Chad Henne had 219 passing yards, but Ronnie Brown tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Joey Haynos in the third period. Brown added 48 rushing yards, while Pat White (45 yards) and Ricky Williams (33 yards and a score) enjoyed good production on the ground well. The Dolphins will face consecutive NFC opponents (Tampa Bay and Carolina) in Weeks 10 and 11. Jacksonville 24, Kansas City 21 Team Trench Counter: Jaguars +2.6, Chiefs -2.6 The Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) attempted a furious comeback, but the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) held on to win. David Garrard had 264 yards and a touchdown, while handing the ball off to Maurice Jones-Drew 29 times. Jones-Drew totaled 97 yards and a score, while Rashard Jennings contributed 29 yards and a touchdown of his own on just two touches. Mike Sims-Walker was Garrard's top target, catching six passes fro 147 yards and a second-quarter score. The Chiefs scored 15 points to end the game, but simply didn't have enough time to complete their comeback. Matt Cassel went 23-for-39 with 262 yards and two scores, both to newly-acquired receiver Chris Chambers. Kansas City struggled on the ground, but Cassel was able to spread the ball around nicely. Dwayne Bowe (74 yards), Lance Long (74 yards) and Chambers (70 yards) each caught three or more passes. Indianapolis 20, Houston 17 Team Trench Counter: Colts +11.1, Texans -11.1 The Indianapolis Colts (8-0) remained perfect with a closer-than-expected win over the Houston Texans (5-4). Peyton Manning threw for 318 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while becoming the first player in NFL history to accumulate 40,000 yards in a decade. Joseph Addai, who caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown, scored the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. Matt Schaub struggled, throwing for 311 yards and a touchdown, but tossed two costly interceptions. Ryan Moats ran for 38 yards on 16 carries as he replaced Steve Slaton in the starting lineup, but the latter was more productive (six touches for 17 yards and a score). Andre Johnson led Houston in receiving with ten catches for 103 yards at Lucas Oil Stadium. Texans kicker Kris Brown missed a 42-yard field goal that could have forced overtime. Cincinnati 17, Baltimore 7 Team Trench Counter: Bengals +13.1, Ravens -13.1 The Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) put themselves in position for a playoff run with an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens (4-4). The Bengals jumped out to a 14-0 lead on Sunday and never looked back. Carson Palmer had 224 yards and a touchdown and Cedric Benson continued his resurrection with 117 yards and a score on 34 carries. Chad Ochocinco, who sent deodorant to Baltimore's secondary last week, had five catches for 66 yards. Joe Flacco tossed two interceptions to go with his 195 yards. Baltimore was held scoreless through three quarters. Ray Rice got his team on the board with a two-yard run at the 12:54 mark of the fourth period. Rice also led the Ravens in receiving with eight catches for 87 yards at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati sacked Flacco four times. Arizona 41, Chicago 21 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals +11.9, Bears -11.9 Kurt Warner tossed five touchdowns as the Arizona Cardinals (5-3) torched the Chicago Bears (4-4). Warner had 261 yards to go with the handful of scores, while Tim Hightower (77 yards) and Beanie Wells (72 yards) excelled on the ground. Larry Fitzgerald (123 yards and two scores), Steve Breaston (66 yards), Anthony Becht (15 yards) and Ben Patrick (15 yards) were on the receiving end of Warner's scores. Jay Cutler had 369 yards and three touchdowns, but Chicago's defense simply couldn't contain Arizona's high-powered offense. Matt Forte, on the other hand, was held to just 33 yards on five carries as the Bears looked to make up for an early deficit. Tight end Greg Olsen had 71 receiving yards and caught all three of Cutler's scoring strikes. Atlanta 31, Washington 17 Team Trench Counter: Falcons +6.1, Redskins ? 6.1 The Atlanta Falcons (5-3) got back on track with a win over the struggled Washington Redskins (2-6) on Sunday. Matt Ryan had a decent game, throwing for 135 yards, one touchdown and an interception. However, Michael Turner exploded for 166 yards and two scores against Washington's defense. Tony Gonzalez was Ryan's top target, catching five passes for 41 yards and a score. Jason Campbell had a good third quarter, but finished with just 196 yards, one touchdown and an interception. After Clinton Portis left with a concussion, Ladell Betts rushed for 70 yards and a score. The Redskins, who have lost four straight games, have games upcoming against the Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles and Saints. Seattle 32, Detroit 20 Team Trench Counter: Seahawks +14.5, Lions -14.5 The Seattle Seahawks (3-5) used a strong second half to erase an early deficit against the Detroit Lions (1-7). Matt Hasselbeck threw for 329 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Julius Jones totaled 36 yards and a score on the ground. Seattle trailed 17-0 after the first quarter. Jones (78 yards), Nate Burleson (75), and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (34 yards and a score) led Seattle in receiving. A 61-yard interception return by Josh Wilson late in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. Matt Stafford had 203 yards and two touchdowns, but he tossed five interceptions. Kevin Smith played through a shoulder injury to rush for 67 yards on 13 attempts. Rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew led the Lions in receiving with seven catches for 70 yards and a score. New Orleans 30, Carolina 20 Team Trench Counter: Saints +3.4, Panthers -3.4 The New Orleans Saints (8-0) scored 17 straight points to end the game against the Carolina Panthers (3-5) at the Louisiana Superdome. Drew Brees put up 330 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Pierre Thomas (50 yards and a score) helped keep the defense from zeroing in on Brees. Robert Meachem (98 yards and a touchdown) and Devery Henderson (93 yards on three catches) were targeted often by Brees. Jake Delhomme lost a fumble, but didn't throw an interception as he went 17-for-30 with 201 passing yards. DeAngelo Williams paced the Carolina offense with 149 yards and two touchdowns, with both coming in the first quarter. The Panthers led 14-0 after 15 minutes, but the Saints methodically worked their way back into the game. Tennessee 34, San Francisco 27 Team Trench Counter: Titans +4.6, 49ers -4.6 The Tennessee Titans (2-6) have now won two consecutive games with Vince Young as their starter following their victory over the San Francisco 49ers (3-5). Young went 12-for-19 with 172 yards, while rushing five times for 14 yards and a touchdown. Chris Johnson excelled on the ground yet again, gaining 135 yards and two scores against the San Francisco defense. The Titans scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to cement the win. Alex Smith went 29-for-45 with 286 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Frank Gore had 83 yards and a score on the ground, while Vernon Davis (ten catches for 102 yards) remained Smith's favorite target. Cortland Finnegan took a Smith pass back 39 yards for a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining at Candlestick Park. San Diego 21, N.Y. Giants 20 Team Trench Counter: Chargers +1.2, Giants -1.2 Philip Rivers led the San Diego Chargers (5-3) down the field for a game-winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining against the New York Giants (5-4). Rivers finished the game with 209 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. LaDainian Tomlinson had just 22 yards on 12 carries, but San Diego had just enough offense to record the road win. Vincent Jackson had five catches for 58 yards and two scores as San Diego had a number of uncharacteristic drops. Eli Manning went 25-for-33 with 215 yards and two touchdowns, but the Giants weren't able to stop the Chargers on their final drive of the game. Brandon Jacobs (67 yards on 11 touches) and Ahmad Bradshaw (14 carries for 39 yards) led New York's rushing attack, while Steve Smith (57 yards and a touchdown) and Mario Manningham (six catches for 52 yards) displayed good chemistry with Manning. The Giants have lost four straight games after opening the season with five consecutive wins. *Explaining The Trench Counter

Chris Chambers says that the Chargers didn't release him because of his play on the field. In a conversation with the San Diego Union-Tribune, said he believes that off-field issues led to the decision. "I thought the team gave up on me a little quick ? for factors that don't have to deal with football," Chambers said. "I guess it created a distraction upstairs. I kept my head on straight. We all go through things. I did my best to not have my personal life and football clash. They know a little too much of my life, and they used it against me." The wide receiver allegedly had a relationship with a woman that the team believed hampered his performance.