"It doesn't matter, really. In fact, Sunday's results here and elsewhere only made the failure of this season sting more acutely.

"Aaaaah," was a pretty good representation of the reaction from numerous Chargers players on Sunday evening after they had beaten Oakland 38-26 and learned of the Denver Broncos' 7-3 loss to Kansas City.

With a healthy Malcom Floyd, healthier Antonio Gates and healthy enough Vincent Jackson, not to mention a reconstituted offensive line and subtle adjustments, the Chargers finished 2011 with a resounding victory over the Oakland Raiders, keeping their fiercest rivals from the playoffs and accentuating the Chargers' if factor.

If only Philip Rivers hadn't fumbled a snap as the Chargers were getting positioned for a chip-shot game-winning field goal in overtime at Kansas City…

If only they had been able to manage points (not turtling, not missing a field goal) at the end of either half or in overtime against Denver … "