Print edition: 
DENVER — It didn't matter which quarterback the Denver Broncos threw out there Sunday. The surging San Diego Chargers bottled up both the rusty Chris Simms and the hobbled Kyle Orton.
Philip Rivers and a dominant defense led the Chargers into sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a 32-3 drubbing of the Denver Broncos, who couldn't move the ball effectively behind either QB Sunday.
"We were ready for Simms and Orton," Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman said.
The Chargers (7-3) have won five straight and the Broncos (6-4) have dropped four in a row, turning the division race upside-down. Just five weeks ago, the Chargers trailed the Broncos by 3 1/2 games.
The balance of power in the AFC West couldn't have shifted in a more dramatic fashion.
Rivers was a crisp 17 for 22 and he led San Diego to scores on seven of 10 drives. Nate Kaeding kicked four field goals and the Chargers also recovered an onside kick, recorded three sacks and forced three turnovers.
The Broncos? They were flagged nine times to San Diego's one.
This was nothing like the Broncos' 34-23 win in San Diego last month.
"These last four weeks the guys up front have been unbelievable and (Denver) didn't blitz near as much this game," Rivers said. "It kind of surprised us they didn't bring some of the stuff they did in that early game. And our guys handled good pass rushers. I was touched one time that I remember."
Simms' first start since nearly being killed in a game three years ago didn't last long. After getting sacked twice and losing a fumble as the Broncos fell behind early, he was replaced by Orton, who didn't take a single snap in practice last week because of a sprained ankle.
Simms was just 2 for 4 for 10 yards. When he dropped back for his first pass at the Chargers 17, he was sacked by linebacker Shaun Phillips, who raked the ball out of his left hand.
Safety Steve Gregory recovered and the Chargers drove downfield for a touchdown.
"That set the tone for the game," Merriman said. "We got pressure on him the first time he went back to pass and got a turnover out of it. They didn't score and we did."
SDDen
First downs2114
Total Net Yards348271
Rushes-yards43-20317-115
Passing145156
Punt Returns3-61-10
Kickoff Returns1-03-87
Interceptions Ret. 1-10-0
Comp-Att-Int17-22-017-33-1
Sacked-Yards Lost0-03-25
Punts3-44.03-48.0
Fumbles-Lost1-02-2
Penalties-Yards1-159-65
Time of Possession37:5222:08
San Diego76712—32 Denver0030—o 3
First Quarter
SD—Naanee 2 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick), 5:58.
Second Quarter
SD—FG Kaeding 28, 10:54.
SD—FG Kaeding 47, 4:19.
Third Quarter
Den—FG Prater 23, 9:56.
SD—Tomlinson 1 run (Kaeding kick), 6:47.
Fourth Quarter
SD—FG Kaeding 28, 14:06.
SD—FG Kaeding 19, 10:28.
SD—Tolbert 8 run (kick blocked), :34.
A—74,707.
Individual Statistics
Rushing—San Diego, Tomlinson 20-73, Tolbert 7-58, Hester 7-46, Sproles 9-26. Denver, Moreno 10-80, Buckhalter 7-35.
Passing—San Diego, Rivers 17-22-0-145. Denver, Orton 15-29-1-171, Simms 2-4-0-10.
Receiving—San Diego, Jackson 4-56, Floyd 4-38, Gates 3-41, Hester 3-0, Sproles 1-7, Naanee 1-2, Tolbert 1-1. Denver, Royal 4-29, Gaffney 3-55, Buckhalter 3-46, Marshall 3-26, Scheffler 1-12, Moreno 1-6, Graham 1-4, Hillis 1-3.
Missed Field Goals—None.
