CHARGERS 17, LIONS 0

K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune Cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepts a pass in the fourth quarter, his 10th of the season, tops in the NFL.

Key plays: Passes of 10 and 20 yards from Philip Rivers to Chris Chambers on San Diego's first possession set up LaDainian Tomlinson's first TD, a 6-yard run. The Chargers settled for a short field goal on their next drive, but a Clinton Hart interception and return to the Detroit 17, plus a third-down pass-interference call against Dovonte Edwards set up Tomlinson for his second TD with 73 seconds left.

Key stats: By the time it was 17-0 San Diego, Detroit had run eight plays for no first downs and 13 total yards. The Chargers finished with a yardage advantage of 138-37.

Not in the box score: With his first TD, Tomlinson passed Walter Payton and tied Jim Brown for seventh place on the all-time NFL list. With his second TD, he took over seventh alone with 127.

SECOND QUARTER

CHARGERS 34, LIONS 7

Key plays: Two more interceptions resulted in 10 more Chargers points. The first, by Matt Wilhelm, led to a field goal. The second, a spectacular grab by Shaun Phillips, was returned 18 yards for a TD and a 27-0 lead. After a Detroit TD, a 49-yard run by Tomlinson set up San Diego's fourth score, a 1-yard TD pass from Rivers to Brandon Manumaleuna.

Key stats: At the time of Phillips' touchdown, the Lions had more turnovers (3) than first downs (2). San Diego finished with a yardage advantage of 264-186, although the Lions had just 103 yards before the final 21 seconds of the half.

Not in the box score: The effort by Eric Weddle, Clinton Hart and Stephen Cooper to keep Calvin Johnson out of the end zone after the Lions rookie caught a Hail Mary pass at the 1-yard line on the final play of the half.

THIRD QUARTER

CHARGERS 44, LIONS 14

Key plays: The Chargers began the half with an 85-yard touchdown drive that included three third-down completions by Rivers to three different receivers. The TD also came on third down – a 1-yard run by Darren Sproles, who carried seven times on the drive for 48 yards, including a 34-yarder on the first play. The Chargers added a field goal after Tim Dobbins forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Antonio Cromartie recovered.

Key stat: Mike Scifres' first punt of the game came with just more than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Not in the box score: Sproles played tailback because Tomlinson was on the sideline for reasons not disclosed immediately by the Chargers and Michael Turner was out with a shoulder injury. Rivers was rested after the first series of the quarter. Mike Goff and Jamal Williams were among the other starters resting.

FOURTH QUARTER

CHARGERS 51, LIONS 14

Key plays: On the first play of the quarter, Cromartie came up with an interception, his 10th of the season, establishing a club record. The team's fifth interception of the day came when Stephen Cooper grabbed a Kitna pass and returned it to the Lions' 27. Sproles scored on an 11-yard run to push the Chargers over 50 points for the first time since they had 54 on Dec. 8, 1985.

Key stats: Sproles rushed for 63 yards in the period to finish with 122, more than double his career total of 55. The Chargers had two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time in club history.

Not in the box score: With 6:40 remaining in the quarter and the score 44-14, the club felt safe enough to announce it had won the AFC West for the second consecutive year and the third time in four years.