Can Rivers run through it?

Knee has QB's status up in air

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who hyperextended his left knee in the second quarter of Sunday's victory over the Colts and did not return, said yesterday an MRI revealed no further damage. Tomlinson thinks he'll play against the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

The news on quarterback Philip Rivers, on the other hand, was a bit less decisive.

Rivers sprained a ligament in his right knee during the third quarter and was replaced by Billy Volek for the remainder of the game.

Chargers coach Norv Turner likened Rivers's situation to that of tight end Antonio Gates, who did not practice last week because of a dislocated toe but played against the Colts.

"Right now it's probably questionable in terms of playing in the game, but he's got a chance," said Turner. "That will be a day-to-day thing and we'll monitor it as the week goes on."

Tomlinson hopes to practice throughout the week.

"I think I'll definitely be able to play," he said. "I think they've got me listed as questionable, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to play."

Tomlinson also explained why he didn't return to Sunday's game.

"At that point, you weren't sure how serious it was," he said. "Obviously you don't want to do anything to jeopardize the future, my career. At that point, the best thing to do since we didn't know was just to wait and see how things played out.

"It was nerve-wracking, just like it always is because you can't really control anything. At the same time, I was just able to appreciate being there, being in that situation where no one gave us a chance.

"Obviously having guys step up and no one gave us a chance and then getting it done, the appreciation for that happening the way it did, it was phenomenal. It was a great feeling to have, probably the best feeling I've had playing football so far."

Alumni associations

One story line sure to draw attention this week is a pair of longtime Chargers - Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison - going up against their former team.

Tomlinson was asked what it means to be playing for a Super Bowl berth against two players who, in many ways, served as faces of the San Diego franchise.

"Rodney, he's been there already so he really doesn't deserve it," Tomlinson said, smiling. "Junior, that's another question. Junior has been playing 18 seasons. He's got a chance to win his Super Bowl. The ironic thing is he's playing against the organization that he created a lot of what we are today. The passion that a lot of us play with is because of Junior.

"I really believe that he's happy for us because he taught myself, Jamal [Williams], [Quentin] Jammer, a lot of guys, he taught us a lot. I'm pretty sure either way it goes, he'll be happy with it."

Sore spots

Gates did not further injure his dislocated toe by playing on it Sunday.

"He's sore and it's swollen, but he's no worse than he was last week," Turner said. "We're on the same schedule, and I would think it would be late in the week or Sunday that he would go warm up, and if he feels he can go, I know he wants to go."

Elsewhere on the Chargers' injury front, fullback Lorenzo Neal, who fractured his fibula in an overtime win at Tennessee Dec. 9 and has been sidelined since, is expected to practice tomorrow. Turner said Neal is "real close" to a return to action.

Defensive lineman Luis Castillo was hit in the ribs during the Colts game and has been sore, but Turner was told he should be OK as the week progresses. Nose tackle Williams injured his ankle and is "day to day" according to Turner, while cornerback Antonio Cromartie "has a bit of soreness in the back of his knee but should be all right by the end of the week."

Extra points

This marks the Patriots' fifth appearance in a conference championship game this decade, more than any other NFL team. The Eagles are next, with four . . . New England is 5-2 under Bill Belichick in playoff games against teams they faced in the regular season . . . The Patriots are 5-1 in conference championship games since the 1970 merger, tying them with Washington for the best record (minimum four appearances) . . . Tom Brady's 16 straight completions to start Saturday's game against the Jaguars set an NFL record for most consecutive completions to begin a playoff game . . . Wes Welker's 112 regular-season receptions are the most in NFL history by a player in his first season with a team. Terance Mathis held the record after making 111 catches in 1994, the year he joined the Falcons as an unrestricted free agent . . . Over the final six games of the regular season, the Chargers led the league in scoring defense, allowing just 12.5 points per game. Offensively over that span, the Chargers ranked second in the NFL in points scored (30.5) . . .The long-range forecast indicates that temperatures could be as low as the teens for Sunday's game in Foxborough.