Antonio Gates

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles, concussion Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers, left ankle Jon Ryan, P, Seahawks, ribs Kelly Jennings, CB, Seahawks, hamstring Malcolm Floyd, WR, Chargers, hamstring Brady Poppinga, LB, Packers, knee Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots, concussion Zack Follett, LB, Lions, neck and head Shaun Hill, QB, Lions, broken left arm DeMeco Ryans, LB, Texans, torn left Achillies' ...

  Line: Jets by 21/2. The skinny: The Ravens are a hot choice to go far this year. They have bulked up their offense by bringing in receivers Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, joining versatile running back Ray Rice, dependable wideout Derrick Mason, and healthy-at-last tight end Todd Heap. Their defense always is formidable. Some observers would say the Jets are doing everything the right way, adding stars such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie to their lineup.

Alex Smith will begin his first NFL season on the San Francisco bench. After struggling in both of his preseason starts, Smith was told yesterday by coach Mike Nolan that Tim Rattay will open the season at quarterback against St. Louis. "I know how this works," said Smith, the top overall pick in this year's draft. "This is a team game. This isn't all about me. I think the team wants to win now. We expect to win now, and as of right now, this looks like the right decision.

Donovan McNabb's 35 com- pletions tied his career high. His previous 35-completion game also came against the Chargers, in 2005. The Eagles have committed just one turnover in the first half all season. DeSean Jackson, who had a career-high eight receptions, had 16 passes targeted for him. He had had more than five passes thrown his way in just one of the Eagles' previous five games. The Eagles have scored on their first possession just four times in nine games.

Here are the top 100 fantasy draft picks (note: bye weeks are next to team names) 1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings, 4 2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints, 10 3. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans, 9 4. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts, 7 5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers, 10 6. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens, 8 7. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans, 7 8. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots, 5 9. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons, 8 10. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars, 9...

Chased from their homes and practice fields by deadly wildfires, the San Diego Chargers headed home last night and will play the Houston Texans at Qualcomm Stadium tomorrow as scheduled. "That's the best news I've heard since this happened," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "I never thought I'd feel so good just going home. " The team worked out for a final time at the Arizona Cardinals' facility in Tempe yesterday afternoon, then boarded buses to the airport for the flight to San Diego.

Tonight at 8 Television: Channel 6 Line: San Diego by 7 N.Y. JETS (10-6) AT SAN DIEGO (12-4) Prediction: Chargers 21, Jets 20 Over-under: 43 1/2 Coaches: For New York, Herman Edwards, 50 (fourth season, 64-35 overall, 1-2 postseason). For San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer, 61 (third season, also Cleveland, Kansas City and Washington, 177-117-1 overall, 5-11 postseason). Weather watch: Rain is forecast for the San Diego area. The day's high is expected to be 61 degrees.

The next time Chris Chambers steps into a huddle, his teammates will include LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers. "Oh man, it's a pleasure," Chambers said after he was traded from the winless Miami Dolphins to the defending AFC West champion San Diego Chargers just before yesterday's deadline. "It's going to be very interesting. I can't wait to get out there and help this team win and continue to be successful. " The wide receiver is expected to join the Chargers at practice today.

Antonio Gates hadn't even stepped on the field and he already was running some zigzag routes. San Diego's record-setting tight end said yesterday that travel problems kept him from reporting to training camp by Saturday afternoon, as mandated by the team. Missing the deadline had serious consequences. The All-Pro was placed on the Roster Exempt List yesterday, meaning he'll have to sit out the final two exhibition games and the season opener against Dallas on Sept. 11. He can be added to the activer roster on Sept.

SAN DIEGO - Tebow Time had just seconds to spare in overtime before the Denver Broncos beat the staggering San Diego Chargers. Matt Prater kicked a 37-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in overtime to lift Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos to a 16-13 victory Sunday over the Chargers, who've lost six straight games for the first time in 10 years. The Broncos narrowly avoided the first NFL tie since the Eagles and Cincinnati tied at 13-13 on Nov. 16, 2008. Tebow, now 5-1 as the Broncos' starter, led Denver from its 43 after San Diego's Nick Novak was wide right on a 53-yard field goal attempt with 2 minutes, 31 seconds left in overtime.

  Line: Chargers by 91/2. The skinny: The San Diego Chargers will continue to try to salvage their season when they host Denver. The Chargers are 4-5, even with a two-game winning streak. The Broncos are 3-6. "If you just look at divisions and records, it probably doesn't stack up as one of the toughest," said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who's on a pace to shatter Dan Marino's season record of 5,084 yards passing. "But you also could look at each game and how they've been won or lost.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles, concussion Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers, left ankle Jon Ryan, P, Seahawks, ribs Kelly Jennings, CB, Seahawks, hamstring Malcolm Floyd, WR, Chargers, hamstring Brady Poppinga, LB, Packers, knee Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots, concussion Zack Follett, LB, Lions, neck and head Shaun Hill, QB, Lions, broken left arm DeMeco Ryans, LB, Texans, torn left Achillies' ...

Here are the top 100 fantasy draft picks (note: bye weeks are next to team names) 1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings, 4 2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints, 10 3. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans, 9 4. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts, 7 5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers, 10 6. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens, 8 7. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans, 7 8. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots, 5 9. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons, 8 10. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars, 9...

COLTS 27, TITANS 17: At Indianapolis, the Colts (12-0) tied the NFL record for longest winning streak, beating Tennessee for its 21st consecutive regular-season victory. The only other team to win that many in a row: New England from 2006-08. Peyton Manning (24-for-37, 270 yards) threw one TD pass, Joseph Addai (79 yards, 21 carries) ran for two scores and the Colts spent the second half protecting the lead against the Titans (5-7). Tennessee's Chris Johnson (113 yards, 27 carries)

The injuries just keep on coming. Before the Eagles even took the field yesterday at Qualcomm Stadium, they learned that left tackle Jason Peters, their top off-season acquisition, would not play because of a sprained ankle. By the time they were finished with their 31-23 loss to the San Diego Chargers, two more prominent players were confined to the sideline. Cornerback Sheldon Brown left after one series in the third quarter because of a hamstring injury he suffered during a first-quarter punt, and running back Brian Westbrook left after suffering his second concussion in as many games during the third quarter.

Donovan McNabb's 35 com- pletions tied his career high. His previous 35-completion game also came against the Chargers, in 2005. The Eagles have committed just one turnover in the first half all season. DeSean Jackson, who had a career-high eight receptions, had 16 passes targeted for him. He had had more than five passes thrown his way in just one of the Eagles' previous five games. The Eagles have scored on their first possession just four times in nine games.

It was not Tom Brady's cleanest performance, but then again, for this team of the ages, the first to win 18 games in a season, it did not really matter. The thing about these New England Patriots is this: They are relentless, balanced and loaded with playmakers, guys who, as Junior Seau so elegantly put it, need to go to the Super Bowl, not ones who merely want to go. It had seemed destined for months, and the Patriots made it happen yesterday. New England is headed to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.