Philip Rivers

Rushing yards: Matt Forte, Bears, 166 Carries: Ray Rice, Ravens, 27 Passing yards: Philip Rivers, Chargers, 431 Pass completions: Tony Romo, Cowboys, 31 Pass attempts: Donovan McNabb, Redskins, 49 Receptions: Danny Amendola, Rams and Hakeem Nicks, Giants, 12 Receiving yards: Malcolm Floyd, Chargers, 213 Longest field goal: Mason Crosby, Packers and Rob Bironas, Titans, 52 Most field goals: Josh...

  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.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Philip Rivers threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, burning Jacksonville's depleted secondary early and often, and San Diego beat the Jaguars, 38-14, on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak. Rivers, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the NFL in interceptions (17) and turnovers (21), and was a key part of San Diego's disappointing 5-7 season. But he was nearly perfect against Jacksonville (3-9), adding to the Chargers' tumultuous week.

Doug Flutie lost his job yesterday, perhaps ending the career of the charismatic little signal caller who played in three professional leagues. Flutie, 42, was released by San Diego, which would have had to pay him a roster bonus of $350,000 on Tuesday. Flutie was best-known for the "Hail Mary" pass against Miami that helped him win the 1984 Heisman Trophy with Boston College. He had two years left on his contract but was effectively fourth on the Chargers' depth chart behind Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and second-year man Cleo Lemon.

Each week, Daily News football writer Paul Domowitch will tell you the things he will be keeping his eyes on during that week's game: 1. San Diego's redwoods: The Chargers have far and away the biggest wide-receiving corps in the league. Their top three wideouts all are at least 6-2 and 220. Two - Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd - are 6-5. The Eagles' undersized secondary doesn't match up well against them. Philip Rivers is going to be throwing a lot of balls up for grabs for them to make plays on. 2. Protecting McNabb: The Eagles already have given up 21 sacks, which is one more than they allowed all of last season.

LaDainian Tomlinson is about to become the highest-paid running back in the NFL. Tomlinson said after yesterday's practice he has agreed in principle to a deal with the San Diego Chargers that will eclipse the 8-year, $50.5 million contract signed by the Redskins' Clinton Portis in the offseason. Asked if his deal will be worth more than that given Portis, Tomlinson replied, "Absolutely. I don't think it will even be close. " Few players have matched Tomlinson's 3 years in the NFL, a span in which he's rushed for 4,564 yards and 37 touchdowns.

In an odd switch, the quarterback cut by the Dallas Cowboys signed yesterday with the New York Jets. Quincy Carter, released by Dallas on Aug. 4, will back up Chad Pennington with the Jets. Pennington's backup last season was 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who was released by the Jets in June and became the Cowboys' starter when Carter was let go. Carter, who started every game for the Cowboys last season, was released suddenly in the first week of training camp. Chargers.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Plaxico Burress had the breakout game the New York Jets have been waiting for. The veteran wide receiver caught three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score that was set up by another interception by Darrelle Revis, and the Jets stormed back in the second half to defeat the San Diego Chargers, 27-21, on Sunday. Leading by 21-17, the Chargers appeared to be driving for a possible game-sealing score when Philip Rivers threw to Vincent Jackson and the ball tipped off the receiver's hands and right to Revis, who returned the interception 64 yards to the Chargers 19. After a few runs by Shonn Greene and a defensive holding penalty - the Chargers' 11th penalty in the game - Mark Sanchez found Burress on a slant for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Jets (4-3)

SAN DIEGO - Carson Palmer looked like an NFL quarterback again, not like a guy who had settled into semi-retirement in Southern California. Philip Rivers looked, well, like the turnover-prone quarterback that he's been since Opening Day. Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Michael Bush ran 30 times for a season-high 157 yards and one touchdown to lead the Oakland Raiders to a 24-17 win over San Diego last night, the Chargers' fourth straight loss. The Raiders (5-4)

DETROIT - After a decade of losing, the Detroit Lions are in the playoffs. And they made sure the San Diego Chargers are out. With their fans chanting "PLAYOFFS" for the final minutes, Detroit got there for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the first half to beat the Chargers, 38-10, on Saturday. The only team to lose all 16 games in a season (2008), the Lions (10-5) have won three straight after a 2-5 slump to earn a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

DETROIT - After a decade of losing, the Detroit Lions are in the playoffs. And they made sure the San Diego Chargers are out. With their fans chanting "PLAYOFFS" for the final minutes, Detroit got there for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the first half to beat the Chargers, 38-10, on Saturday. The only team to lose all 16 games in a season (2008), the Lions (10-5) have won three straight after a 2-5 slump to earn a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Philip Rivers threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, burning Jacksonville's depleted secondary early and often, and San Diego beat the Jaguars, 38-14, on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak. Rivers, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the NFL in interceptions (17) and turnovers (21), and was a key part of San Diego's disappointing 5-7 season. But he was nearly perfect against Jacksonville (3-9), adding to the Chargers' tumultuous week.

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.

Wondering whether or not to start Drew Brees and Mike Wallace, or to bench Tyler Palko and Patrick Crayton? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you're looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on. Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 12 of the 2011 season.   Watch 'em roll Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons vs. Vikings. He's on a nice three-game roll, even without Julio Jones on the field for most of the last two weeks.

SAN DIEGO - Carson Palmer looked like an NFL quarterback again, not like a guy who had settled into semi-retirement in Southern California. Philip Rivers looked, well, like the turnover-prone quarterback that he's been since Opening Day. Palmer threw two touchdown passes and Michael Bush ran 30 times for a season-high 157 yards and one touchdown to lead the Oakland Raiders to a 24-17 win over San Diego last night, the Chargers' fourth straight loss. The Raiders (5-4)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Plaxico Burress had the breakout game the New York Jets have been waiting for. The veteran wide receiver caught three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score that was set up by another interception by Darrelle Revis, and the Jets stormed back in the second half to defeat the San Diego Chargers, 27-21, on Sunday. Leading by 21-17, the Chargers appeared to be driving for a possible game-sealing score when Philip Rivers threw to Vincent Jackson and the ball tipped off the receiver's hands and right to Revis, who returned the interception 64 yards to the Chargers 19. After a few runs by Shonn Greene and a defensive holding penalty - the Chargers' 11th penalty in the game - Mark Sanchez found Burress on a slant for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Jets (4-3)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Big-yardage games are becoming routine for Tom Brady. So is setting records. Brady threw for 423 yards yesterday - 6 days after setting a single-game team record of 517 - and led the New England Patriots to a 35-21 win over the San Diego Chargers. "It seems like he's always great," linebacker Rob Ninkovich said. "He's the best quarterback in the league. " The club record he shattered in the season opener at Miami had stood for 51 years. The NFL mark for most yards passing in the first two games of a season, 854, lasted about 3 hours.

Rushing yards: Matt Forte, Bears, 166 Carries: Ray Rice, Ravens, 27 Passing yards: Philip Rivers, Chargers, 431 Pass completions: Tony Romo, Cowboys, 31 Pass attempts: Donovan McNabb, Redskins, 49 Receptions: Danny Amendola, Rams and Hakeem Nicks, Giants, 12 Receiving yards: Malcolm Floyd, Chargers, 213 Longest field goal: Mason Crosby, Packers and Rob Bironas, Titans, 52 Most field goals: Josh...

  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.

It looks like an NFC East title and two convincing wins over the Eagles are enough to keep coach Wade Phillips in Dallas. ESPN, citing a "high-ranking team source," reported that owner Jerry Jones has decided that Phillips will return next season despite a 34-3 loss to Minnesota Sunday in the second round of the NFC playoffs. The Cowboys have an option on Phillips for next season. Meanwhile, Cowboys players said Jones and Phillips stood before them yesterday and gave them some encouraging words to take into the offseason.