SAN DIEGO _ In most games, the Chargers hold a matchup advantage on offense.
Melvin Gordon was the No. 1 difference-maker Sunday. He ripped off a 47-yard run as part of a career-high 196-yards rushing, and also popped a 35-yard gain off a screen pass in San Diego's 43-35 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Qualcomm Stadium.
Bolts elders, though, did some heavy lifting, too.
Perhaps you've heard, Philip Rivers has been throwing to Antonio Gates since football was invented, or the Chargers adopted the lightning bolt, or maybe when electricity was discovered.
Call them old, call them seasoned _ but they're still causing problems for defenses, and did so again in Sunday.
Gates (5 catches, 75 yards) caught a touchdown pass to cap the first drive, putting ground-oriented Tennessee in a hole and leaving the eight-time Pro Bowler three TD receptions behind Tony Gonzalez for the most all-time by an NFL tight end.
The Chargers (4-5) received big plays from several other players.
Rivers completed 12 passes total to receivers Dontrelle Inman (6-56) and Tyrell Williams (6-65, touchdown). Center Center Matt Slauson was steady, it appeared, for an offensive line that lost guard Orlando Franklin (concussion) in the second half.
On defense, cornerback Brandon Flowers all but sealed the victory with a "pick-6" of Marcus Mariota to stretch the lead to 43-28.
Also, cornerback Casey Hayward's team-high fifth interception led to a Josh Lambo field goal; and when Melvin Ingram blasted Mariota on an option play, Dwight Lowery returned the fumble 36 yards for a touchdown.
Starting point for San Diego's offense, though, was once again the Rivers-Gates combination.
The Titans began the game knowing that Gates was San Diego's most capable Bolts catcher, in part due to injuries that waylaid or slowed others.
Gates nevertheless got open. And Rivers hit him.
Along with a 13-yard scoring catch to cap the 75-yard first drive, Gates converted on two third downs in the first half. He, after the Titans rallied to go ahead early in the second half, appeared to cause a third-down holding penalty that, in effect, became a four-point play for San Diego when Gordon plunged for a go-ahead touchdown on the next play.
Once again, the Chargers are trying to leverage Rivers, 34, and Gates, 36, into a playoff berth and, if you want to dream big, a Super Bowl trip that would be the first for the longtime teammates.
The Chargers matched their victory total from last year, while the Titans (4-5) remained winless in San Diego.
The Chargers probably will be favored on betting lines next Sunday, also at home, against the Dolphins (4-4).
