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--> --> Chargers try to rally for rematch with Raiders SAN DIEGO (AP) - The strain of the San Diego Chargers' six-game, season-wrecking losing streak is showing. Doug Flutie gets defensive when talking about his performance during the collapse, which has dropped the Chargers to 5-8. He's had two 300-yard games, but also 10 interceptions, two lost fumbles and just five touchdown passes. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't smile as much these days, even though he's just the second Chargers rookie to crack the 1,000-yard mark. He hasn't rushed for 100 yards in nine games and is wearying of talk about hitting the so-called rookie wall. The Chargers once had playoff hopes, but now need to win their final three games just to finish at .500. The Chargers play host Saturday to the Oakland Raiders (9-3), a grudge match that's sometimes more violent in the stands than on the field. The Raiders, despite struggling defensively, can clinch their second straight AFC West title with a win. "They love the fact the Raiders are coming to town," Oakland receiver Tim Brown said. "It can be a season-saver for them. If they can't make the playoffs, then maybe they can derail us." That - and coach Mike Riley's job - is all the Chargers have to play for now. They'll miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. "We all are very frustrated and disappointed, but its our job to rebound," said Riley, who is 14-31 in three seasons and could be fired even if the Chargers finish 8-8. While everyone else has been running on the Raiders - they rank 29th in the NFL - the Chargers didn't when they lost 34-24 at Oakland four weeks ago. Tomlinson had just 68 yards. "We have to prove that we can," Riley said. "It's a different game, it seems like, when they play us," Tomlinson said. "We don't look at it like they're struggling. They're going to play hard against us and they're going to play good against the run against us." Tomlinson has heard talk he's running out of gas. He says he's fine. "How can you hit a wall when it's football and you've been playing it all your life?" said Tomlinson. , the former TCU star taken with the fifth pick overall in April's draft. "You go from high school to college, and there's no wall there. College to pros, I mean, it's the same game." He could back his viewpoint by having a big game against the Raiders, if the struggling line can open holes for him. "Every opportunity you get to put points on the board, you have to, because they've got a real explosive offensive," Tomlinson said. The Raiders have given up an average of 182 yards rushing in their last six games, including Shaun Alexander's team-record 266 in a loss at Seattle. Kansas City's Priest Holmes, who ripped the Chargers for 181 in the first game of their losing streak, had 168 on Sunday. Oakland barely held on to win, 28-26. Flutie, meanwhile, defended his recent play. On Monday, Riley hinted the coaching staff would consider taking a look at rookie Drew Brees. By Wednesday, Riley said the Chargers still felt Flutie gave them the best chance to win. "I feel like I played some of my best football the last two weeks, no doubt about it," Flutie said. "If you want to look at numbers, go look at numbers, but that's got nothing to do with what's been going on the field. I just want to win football games." The Chargers have another concern: their young, banged up secondary against Jerry Rice and Brown. "Both of them will be in the Hall of Fame," Riley said. "If you blitz, you better get there. They look for matchups, and when they get them, you've got to be sharp." Rice caught three TD passes from Rich Gannon against the Chargers had Brown had one. Last Sunday, Brown's 88-yard touchdown on his first punt return in three years helped the otherwise sluggish Raiders hold off the Chiefs. Thousands of Raiders fans, many of whom developed an allegiance during the team's 13 years in Los Angeles, turn out for this game. Last year, a Raiders fan stabbed a Chargers fan after the game and was later sentenced to five years in prison. Two years ago, brawling among fans got so bad the players noticed. All fans will be patted down entering the stadium, beer sales will be limited to one per purchase and will be cut off at the end of halftime, and the security force will number about 1,100. "It is exciting to have so many fans down there, but it seems to be a little dangerous, also," Brown said. "People think if you're a Raider fan you've got to be mean and nasty and that's what it's all about. And you add that attitude with a little juice, that's not a good mix there." Email your... 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