(My Sportsbook) - Normally an ailing LaDainian Tomlinson would spell doom for the Chargers, but lately San Diego has been receiving strong efforts from players other than their superstar running back.

Tomlinson was bothered by a groin injury all day, but still rushed for 56 yards with a touchdown and added 78 receiving yards for the Chargers (3-2), who have won consecutive games for the first time since the 2002 season.

San Diego quarterback Drew Brees turned in a solid performance for the second straight week, leading the Chargers to a 32-21 victory over Jacksonville at Qualcomm Stadium. He completed 17-of-26 passes for 211 yards with two touchdowns.

Brees has been playing well in the face of some adversity. It has been no secret that San Diego is grooming first-round pick Phillip Rivers to take over the quarterbacking duties. To make matters worse, many people in San Diego have hoped that the switch would occur sooner rather than later.

Brees, who led the Chargers to a surprising 38-17 win over Tennessee last week, turned in his second straight game with a QB rating over 100.

Antonio Gates and Jesse Chatman also both had big games for San Diego. The tight end Gates caught eight passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns while Chatman, who got extended time because of Tomlinson's injury, ran for 103 yards and a score on 11 carries.

Chatman picked up the slack for the banged-up Tomlinson, who carried the ball 19 times. San Diego, the fifth best rushing team in the NFL this season, gained 176 yards on the ground.

The Chargers are now just one win shy of their total from all of last season when they went just 4-12. Yet, head coach Marty Schottenheimer realizes that the team needs to keep up the intensity if they want to continue winning.

"Our football (team) right now is getting ready to go on a difficult two-week swing," Schottenheimer said about his team's schedule in the upcoming weeks. The Chargers will play their next two games in Atlanta and Carolina.

INJURIES

Tomlinson rested his groin for most of the second half, but Schottenheimer insisted that the injury isn't serious.

"He's fine," Schottenheimer said of Tomlinson. "He could have gone back in the game, but given the circumstances right there, I felt like it didn't make sense to put him back in at that point. And of course you know the fact Jesse was performing like he was - it makes those decisions much easier."

Tomlinson should be available for full-time duty next Sunday in Atlanta

UP NEXT

The Chargers will travel to Atlanta next Sunday to battle the Falcons, who are now 4-1 after falling to the Detroit Lions this week. The Chargers are just 1-5 in six all-time meetings against the Falcons. This will be the first meeting between these teams since 1997.