After nearly giving away a late 10-point lead, the Chargers defense came up big when it was most needed.
Marcus Gilchrist intercepted a pass on the goal line as the St. Louis Rams were driving for a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute, sealing a 27-24 victory at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.
"The character of our football team is unbelievable," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "We just believe in each other."
For much of the day, the Chargers (7-4) looked like they wanted to give away the game. They committed three costly turnovers. They were flagged for eight penalties totalling 85 yards.
Fortunately, they forced the Rams (4-7) to commit three turnovers of their own, including a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
Philip Rivers led a 93-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter, hitting Keenan Allen on a 29-yard touchdown pass to put the Chargers up 10.
It was redemption for both of them. Rivers threw a first-half interception near the goal line that Janoris Jenkins returned for a 99-yard score.
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Allen muffed a punt in the third quarter that led to a St. Louis (4-7) touchdown. He also fumbled deep in Rams territory as the Chargers were driving to put the game away. Allen finished with six catches for a game-high 104 yards.
The Rams almost pulled off the miraulous comeback late in the game. Shaun Hill drove them 80 yards, hitting Stedman Bailey on a 12-yard touchdown pass to pull within 27-24.
After forcing a Chargers punt, Tavon Austin returned a kick inside the Chargers 5. But a penalty brought it back. They drove down all the way to the Bolts 4 before Gilchrist made the big pick.
Rivers completed 29 of 35 passes for 291 yards.
Ryan Mathews led the Bolts with 105 rushing yards. His 32-yard touchdown run put the Chargers up 13-10 on their first drive of the second half, but he injured his shoulder on the play and didn't play much of the second half.
Hill was 18-of-35 for 198 yards. Bailey finished with seven catches for 89 yards.
The win keeps the Chargers in the playoff hunt, tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for second place in the AFC West, just a game back of the Denver Broncos, and tied with a number of teams for the final playoff spot.
They now enter a daunting stretch of the schedule, starting with a trip to Baltimore to play the Ravens.
