Palmer, Bengals ice Chargers' playoff hopes

CINCINNATI - Carson Palmer threw four touchdown passes during a near-perfect performance - one without Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco - in the swirling snow, and the Cincinnati Bengals beat San Diego, 34-20, yesterday, ending the Chargers' run of four straight playoff appearances.

The Chargers (8-7) froze up in their coldest game in nearly three years, repeatedly self-destructing in the raw, windy weather. The loss gave the AFC West title to Kansas City, which beat Tennessee 34-14 earlier in the day.

It was only San Diego's second loss in its last 22 games in December, one that will leave them chilled to the bone for a long time.

Palmer, a Southern California kid, led the Bengals (4-11) to their second straight win with a cast of reserve receivers. Two of his touchdowns went to Jerome Simpson, including a 59-yarder in the fourth. Palmer (16-for-21, 269 yards, no interceptions) finished with a career-best passer rating of 157.2, just shy of a perfect 158.3.

After losing 10 in a row, matching the club record for futility, the Bengals have won back-to-back games in front of small home crowds. This could have been the last one for coach Marvin Lewis, finishing his eighth season in Cincy. He turned down a contract extension last season.

The Chargers pretended they were plenty warm. Several came onto the field in blue shorts and sleeveless shirts for pregame warm-ups in a driving snow. By the kickoff, they were well-chilled.

Receiver Vincent Jackson fumbled a handoff on a reverse on San Diego's opening play and had to chase it all the way back to the 1-yard line. The series ended with Mike Scifres shanking a 24-yard punt. Five plays later, Palmer threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham.

Philip Rivers came into the game with a career passing rating of 100 in December, the best in league history. He was 27-for-40 for 256 yards with a touchdown and an interception that set up one of the Bengals' fourth-quarter touchdowns.