Titans get rematch they wanted with Chargers

"They could probably make the case that they did not play well here a few weeks ago, but we went toe-to-toe with them, and they're an elite team," Fisher said. "So we have familiarity. There is recall as far as the game plan, the players, the personnel and those sorts of things."

San Diego coach Norv Turner said the comeback showed the Chargers' mental toughness.

"I think our mental toughness has improved throughout the year, which allows you to handle a lot of things," Turner said.

The Titans prefer to remember something else.

Yes, the defense tired at the end and gave up some big plays. But they look to a key play on fourth-and-5 on the final drive of regulation. Rivers, under pressure from end Travis LaBoy, flung a pass downfield to Chris Chambers, who had to dive back for the ball.

Officials ruled it a catch.

It was replayed and CBS, which televised the game, had only one angle available not blocked by players. Chambers said later he made sure to keep his arms under the ball as he got up.

The ruling stood. The Chargers forced overtime with the tying TD 11 plays later.

"I don't think anybody's happy about the way that game ended," Pro Bowl defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said.

"We take a lead, we'd like to be able to finish a game. We give them credit. They made big plays when they had to to beat us. At the same time, there was definitely some unfinished business when they came to Nashville."

For its dominance, San Diego is 0-3 in the postseason against the former Houston Oilers, including a 17-14 loss in their last playoff meeting on Dec. 29, 1979.

For Bulluck, the recent games are more personal. He was on the teams blown out in San Diego by the Chargers in 2004 and 2006 by a combined score of 78-24, and said there is no love lost between teams who know what to expect in Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates.

"We love to get a chance to play against those guys," Bulluck said. "It's great for this team. We're one of the young teams in the NFL, but we're definitely the future -- for us to get in the playoffs and these young guys to get this taste of the playoffs and see how far we can go."