"Norv Turner and Carson Palmer live close to each other in Del Mar (San Diego County). "We're not very far from each other," said Turner, the Chargers' head coach. "They can hear our dogs bark, and I can every once in a while hear their kids either laughing or crying."

When Palmer was holding out from the Bengals this fall, Turner occasionally would get updates on the quarterback and his local workouts from around the neighborhood, not thinking that Palmer soon could have a huge impact on the AFC West race.

But late this afternoon, when the Chargers (4-4) try to end a three-game losing streak and break a first-place tie with the Raiders and Chiefs, the game very well could end up in Palmer's hands."