SAN DIEGO - Peyton Manning will always be linked to the San Diego Chargers. There was draft day in 1998 when he went to the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 1 overall pick and the Chargers were stuck with Ryan Leaf, one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Catch the game live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5 at 4pm et/1pm pt. The Chargers — and particularly their fans — got some measure of revenge when Philip Rivers and his mates eliminated Manning and the Colts from the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Then came Mannings Denver years, and the Chargers just cant get rid of Perfect Peyton, as Leaf once referred to him. There was Manning leading a 35-point, second-half comeback on a Monday night in 2012. He and the Broncos eliminated the Chargers from last seasons playoffs. Now Manning and the Broncos (10-3) can clinch their fourth straight AFC West title if they beat the Chargers (8-5) at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. These division games count double, so I think you do put special emphasis on division games and that is how were looking at it, Manning said. Its a lot on the line. Its tough playing there. Every time weve played this team, it seems like its been settled by a couple points here or there and that is what youd expect this time around. The Broncos are seeking their 12th straight division road win, which would tie San Franciscos NFL record set from 1987-90. The Chargers are trying to bounce back from being shut out in the second half of a 23-14 loss to New England. Here are some things to watch for when the Broncos visit the Chargers: WHATS THE MATTER WITH MANNING? Fantasy players are mad because Mannings touchdown streak came to a halt at 51 games, three shy of Drew Brees NFL record. Plus, he was picked off twice for the fourth time in the past six games. Plus, people wonder why the Broncos are running the ball more. I dont have a great answer for them, I guess, Manning said. Im always trying to play better, always watch the film of the games pretty critically with my coaches, trying to improve whether we won a game or lost a game, trying to see how I can do my job better in whatever phase that is. So I feel good physically and certainly Im always looking to play better. MORE MANNING: He hasnt gone back-to-back weeks without a touchdown toss since the Colts rested their starters for the playoffs at the end of the 2009 season. BOLTS BUSINESS: The Chargers are in control of their destiny, but will need to win two of their final three to have a realistic shot at the playoffs. Hey, were still in control, thats the positive, Rivers said. But thats going to change if we dont get it done on Sunday. The Chargers enter their home finale as the AFCs sixth and final playoff seed. Last year, the Bolts needed Baltimore and Miami to each lose their final two games in order to reach the post-season. We dont need any help, Rivers said. We need Chargers help. Its about what you think would be a divisional game in December with a lot riding on it. WILL RYAN RUN? Chargers running back Ryan Mathews didnt practice Wednesday or Thursday after injuring his right ankle when he was tripped against the Patriots. The Chargers were able to win at Denver last season in large part because Mathews big game on the ground helped keep Manning on the sideline. SAD-SACKS: The Chargers pass rush remains missing in action, with only seven sacks in the past eight games. Dwight Freeney has gone 10 games without dropping a quarterback, remaining stuck on two sacks for the season. REALLY, COACH? Chargers coach Mike McCoy refused to explain why he punted on fourth-and-4 from the 50 while trailing the Patriots by nine points with more than six minutes left Sunday, other than his usual explanation that I thought it was best for the football team. The next day, he urged Chargers fans not to sell their tickets to Broncos fans. Last Sunday night, there were thousands of Patriots fans at Qualcomm Stadium. Fans can make enough money scalping tickets to marquee games to put a big dent in the hefty cost of their season tickets. So there could be plenty of Broncos orange at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. ___ Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson ___ Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Authentic Jerseys . “Momentum is only as good as the next days starter,” the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famously quipped. MLB Jerseys .K. Subban has picked the right time of the year to go on an offensive tear. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ .com) - Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday that club has signed former on-loan midfielder Jimmy Medranda to a permanent contract from Colombian side Deportivo Pereira. Stitched Jerseys . - Vince Wilfork has played only two career games in Kansas City. Adidas Jerseys . Mauer struck out to end the inning, with a runner on third base in the seventh on Wednesday and the Twins trailing 1-0. Everybody does this, of course, in a sport with a 30 per cent success rate at the plate long proven to be a benchmark of excellence.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said Friday that he does not anticipate using the franchise tag on any free agents, something the team has done each of the past three seasons. The Chiefs are poised to lose several key players from last years 11-5 team, including Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert, Pro Bowl punt returner Dexter McCluster and starting defensive end Tyson Jackson, safety Kendrick Lewis and offensive guards Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz. The deadline to use the franchise tag is March 3. "Probably not," Dorsey said. "We probably wont use it." The Chiefs used the tag on Albert last season, paying him more than $9.8 million -- the average of the top five salaries at his position the previous year. They could franchise him again but would be on the hook for 120 per cent of Alberts salary, a massive financial commitment for a team that is already bumping along just below the salary cap. Kansas City used the franchise tag on linebacker Tamba Hali two years ago, eventually signing him to a long-term contract. The same story unfolded last year for wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed a $56 million, five-year contract one year after receiving the tag. Dorsey did say that hes having "ongoing conversations" with representatives of all of the Chiefs free agents, including Albert, but refused to get into the specifics. "We will continue to have ongoing discussions with his representatives here at the combine," Dorsey said. "Weve done is weve reached out to every representative for every unrestricted free agent that we have, and weve also talked to Alex Smiths representative as well." Smith wont become a free agent until after the 2014 season, but signing him to an extension would not only lock hiim up but also offer some salary cap relief.dddddddddddd Smiths number this is season is $8 million, but the Chiefs could trim that roughly in half with an extension. The Chiefs have already waived defensive back Dunta Robinson to free up salary, and its likely they will either restructure current contracts or part ways with some of their veterans in order to create more off-season flexibility. "I dont think its fair to talk about a players contract in a setting like this," Dorsey said. "I think thats not the proper business that you like to do." Dorsey did address several other issues at the combine, including his belief in building through the draft. Thats the same philosophy followed by his mentor, Ted Thompson of the Green Bay Packers, and one espoused by Chiefs coach Andy Reid. That means that the Chiefs are unlikely to be quite as active as they were in free agency last year, when they turned over roughly half of their roster. Free agency begins March 1. Still, there are plenty of holes to fill, especially along the offensive line. "We look at everybody right now and make sure that you cover all the positions," Reid said Thursday. "One of the tricks of the draft is that you take the best players available, if you can stay that disciplined to do so and make yourself a better football team." Other positions of need include free safety, where Lewis struggled much of the season, and wide receiver, where the Chiefs kept shuffling through options with little success. "We have a pretty good group of young players to form a nice nucleus," Reid said. "I look forward to adding guys too, and Im a big believer that you build your team through the draft. Free agency can be a bit of a tease at times, and I think you have to be real careful." ' ' ' forwards.What I said the Avalanche needed last year: One top pair defenceman, depth forwards, starting goaltender They added: Nathan MacKinnon, Alex Tanguay, Marc-Andre Cliche, Nick Holden, Andre Benoit, Cory Sarich, Nate Guenin. TRADE MARKETPA Parenteau, Jamie McGinn, Ryan Wilson. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '