Chargers crush Jaguars to boost playoff hopes

The San Diego Chargers provided a glimmer of hope to their slim playoff chances by pounding the Jacksonville Jaguars 38-14 on Monday to end a six -game losing streak. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers returned to his Pro Bowl form with 294 yards passing and a trio of touchdown throws that helped San Diego (5-7) snap out of their funk and move two games off the lead in the AFC West with four to play. Rivers found Vincent Brown on a 22-yard strike that gave San Diego a 17-14 lead with 1:33 left in the first half, then capitalized on a Jacksonville turnover to find Vincent Jackson with a 35-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. He kept his passing touch going at the start of the second half to land a 52-yard bomb to Malcom Floyd for another touchdown as the Chargers soared ahead 31-14 before Ryan Mathews ran in a late score in the fourth quarter. It was a third consecutive loss for the Jaguars (3-9) and first under coach Mel Tucker who took over after Jack Del Rio was fired last week. Despite falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert led two scoring drives to put Jacksonville on top 14-10 with just under three minutes left in the second. But after the Chargers regained the lead on a quick drive, Gabbert threw a costly interception that allowed the visitors to add another score before halftime and seize control for good. Eagles QB Vick expects to return Sunday Meantime, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick practiced on Monday and said he expects to play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins after missing three games with broken ribs. Vick fractured two ribs last month and the Eagles (4-8) have gone 1-2 during his absence, slipping further out of the National Football League’s playoff picture. “This Sunday I’ll definitely be out there. I feel like I’ve got to be accountable for my team. I want to be there,” Vick told reporters. “I just wish I could have been out there the last three weeks, but it just hasn’t panned out that way. We’ve got to keep our heads up and keep moving in the right direction.” While Vick has shown glimpses of his top form this year, he has battled injuries during the 2011 campaign and been a shadow of the most valuable player candidate and Pro Bowl starter of last season. In nine games, Vick has thrown for 2,193 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Eagles entered the season saddled with Super Bowl expectations after adding six former Pro Bowlers to a roster that already included Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. The team’s disappointing NFL season has put the spotlight on longtime Eagles coach Andy Reid and whether he would return for a 14th season, but Vick said the coach was not to blame. “We all have watched the games, we’ve all seen it, we were all a part of it, we know the reasons why we didn’t pull them out and it wasn’t coach’s fault,” said Vick. “To hear that, it kind of upsets me, but I’m in such a good mood right now, I really won’t get in to the logistics of everything. I just know everything is going to be fine.”