Rested Rams hope to keep up pace in NFC West race

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers found out they're not quite so invincible, after all.

Feeling they were one of the NFL's elite teams, the Chargers went into Kansas City and fell behind 20-3, thanks to three first-quarter turnovers. They rallied to tie the game, but lost 30-27 on a last-second field goal.

While they were flying home, news broke that star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman tested positive for steroids and was facing a four-game suspension.

So they'll be trying to rebound on two fronts when they host the St. Louis Rams today in a matchup of teams with 4-2 records. The Rams are coming off their bye.

If losing to the division rival Chiefs wasn't bad enough, Merriman's positive drug test adds another off-field issue to a team that's had plenty this season.

Merriman said the positive test stemmed from a tainted supplement. An appeal hearing is expected to be held Nov. 7, meaning he'll play the next two games.

Having Merriman at least for the next two games is good news to a defense that will be missing outside linebacker Shaun Phillips and end Igor Olshanksy due to injuries.

The game will feature two of the NFL's highest-rated quarterbacks. St. Louis' Marc Bulger is third in the NFL with a 99.8 rating and San Diego's Philip Rivers is sixth at 96.3.

Rivers, in his first season as starter, will be trying to forget the two turnovers he committed in the first quarter at Kansas City. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson had the other turnover.

Rivers said the Chargers are in a good frame of mind despite the loss.

"You had a tough loss, yeah, you wish you had got it, but you keep going," he said. "We are 4-2. There's a lot to be positive about and a lot of things we can still attain."

Bulger, meanwhile, is adjusting well to Linehan's offense. Bulger has thrown 10 touchdown passes and just one interception, with 1,619 yards. His favorite receiver is Torry Holt, who has 37 catches for 526 yards and seven touchdowns.