Philip Rivers and a dominant defense led the Chargers into sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a 32-3 drubbing of the Denver Broncos, who couldn't move the ball effectively behind either QB Sunday.

"We were ready for Simms and Orton," Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman said.

The Chargers (7-3) have won five straight and the Broncos (6-4) have dropped four in a row, turning the division race upside-down. Just five weeks ago, the Chargers trailed the Broncos by 3 1/2 games. The balance of power in the AFC West couldn't have shifted in a more dramatic fashion.

Rivers was a crisp 17 for 22 and he led San Diego to scores on seven of 10 drives. Nate Kaeding kicked four field goals and the Chargers also recovered an onside kick, recorded three sacks and forced three turnovers.

The Broncos? They were flagged nine times to San Diego's one. And Marcus Thomas blocked an extra point in the final minute.

This was nothing like the Broncos' 34-23 win in San Diego last month.

"These last four weeks the guys up front have been unbelievable and (Denver) didn't blitz near as much this game," Rivers said. "It kind of surprised us they didn't bring some of the stuff they did in that early game. And our guys handled good pass rushers. I was touched one time that I remember."

Simms' first start since nearly being killed in a game three years ago didn't last long. After getting sacked twice and losing a fumble as the Broncos fell behind early, he was replaced by Orton, who didn't take a single snap in practice last week because of a sprained ankle.

Simms was just 2 for 4 for 10 yards. He handed the ball off the first half dozen times he took the snap but when he dropped back for his first pass at the Chargers 17, he was sacked by linebacker Shaun Phillips, who raked the ball out of his left hand.

Simms last started on Sept. 24, 2006, when he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was battered so badly by the Carolina Panthers that he needed emergency surgery to remove his spleen.

This one was painful in its own way.