The Chargers are back and so is coach Norv Turner.

Relieved their first victory finally came in Week 3, the Chargers face the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, looking for their initial AFC West victory.

"Well it's always a better feeling after you win a game," said Turner, who went 9-23 as the Raiders head coach from 2004-05. "We had two real tough, close games to start the season and I think we came out and played a little better on Monday night."

That they did in blasting the Jets, 48-29. The offense kept humming and the defense showed some life to breathe some life into what was to be a Super season.

But the Raiders -- as only the Raiders can -- are playing OK while their front-office implodes. The owner is mad at the coach, the coach is supposed to be fired, public relations executives are fighting with reporters -- good old Raiders football.

The Chargers, though, can't be distracted by the Raiders' distraction. Or the fact they have dominated this series to the tune of nine straight victories.

Among the challenges that comes with a 1-2 start is staying sharp for games you're supposed to win. Because in already trailing the division-leading Broncos by two games, the Chargers have left little wiggle room.

Few know as well as Turner of the obstacles of coaching the Raiders.

"I think you know that's a question I'm not going to answer," he said. "We're getting ready for this game.

"The biggest thing for us is we look at the film and we see a very, very outstanding running game, a talented offensive personnel group. Defensively, they're playing as good a defense as anyone in the league. Those are the things we're focusing on."

The Chargers are well-versed in slow starts and fast finishes. Last year, they stumbled to a 1-3 start and were no better than 5-5 with six games remaining.

Still, they ended up in the AFC Championship Game. And that history is the kind the team leans on, helping them stay while looking up in the standings.

"It definitely does," cornerback Antonio Cromartie said. "Every team goes through a time period where they start out slow or they go through, it may be the first part of the season or midseason, and then they pick things back up.

"We learned where things are, how things went last year, and that was last year. This year, we just have to play football how we want to play football."

Many Chargers mentioned after the win Monday that it was a display of Chargers football. Almost as if what they are presenting is a brand which they are proud of.

And they should be, with the explosive offense leading the way.

But the defense needs to keep improving, and it will be tested Sunday against a Raiders team that is thriving on the ground.

When you can run the football as well as they are, when you have a lot of people who have been there, it is extremely impressive," Turner said. "It says a lot about what their offensive line and tight ends and backs, the fullbacks are doing. And obviously it says a lot about those running backs."

The Chargers' play came through loud and clear on Monday. They hope it's the soundtrack of the 2008 season.

SERIES HISTORY
97th meeting. Raiders lead series, 54-40-2, but the Chargers have won nine straight -- their longest streak in this long series. In those nine wins, the Chargers' average margin of victory has been 15.4 points. The Chargers last lost to the Raiders in 2003 at Oakland, when falling 34-31 in overtime.

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