SAN DIEGO - Even before the Chargers beat Detroit to clinch an NFL playoff spot, coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith were already discussing how to deal with the delicate balance of winning games and getting players healthy for the playoffs.

Those discussions should increase later this week now that the Chargers (9-5) have wrapped up the AFC West title. Before leaving Monday for league meetings in Dallas, Smith said the issue is of great concern.

"I think so," Smith said. "Coach and I have talked about that a lot in the last couple of days because we have so many people banged up in the last couple of weeks.

"It's tough. You go by the medical people. Doctors are a very, very important part of this process and the trainers. We'll just see where we are at the end of the week as to who can play or not play and always keep that in mind.

"It will be the coach's decision. He will make the call on that with his instincts as we progress."

The Chargers host Denver on Christmas Eve and wrap up the regular season against Oakland on Dec. 30. They will host a playoff game the following weekend.

Because the Denver game comes eight days after Sunday's 51-14 win over the Lions instead of the usual seven days, Turner said there will be a heavy focus this week on allowing players time to get healthy.

Among the key players ailing are linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee), defensive end Luis Castillo (ankle) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (ankle). Merriman missed the Detroit contest, Castillo hasn't played since being injured against Minnesota on Nov. 4 and Williams has battled numerous ailments all season long.

Quarterback Philip Rivers (knee) emerged from the game without further injury, according to Turner.

"We're going to be smart with Shawne, and we're going to be smart with Luis and anybody who has something that is iffy," Turner said. "The thing we've said all along, we want to be playing our best and we want to be healthy when we get into the playoffs, so that will weigh on my mind."

If the Chargers win their last two games, they will claim the No. 3 seed. Smith, though, doesn't care about the seeding. He's just glad the Chargers will be playing in the postseason for the third time in four seasons.

"I'm really pleased that we're a playoff team," Smith said. "We proved it because we're in. So somebody is going to come to our stadium. We don't know who it is, but it will be pretty exciting to see what we can do to meet that challenge and then whatever happens after that."

Sunday's victory was the team's eighth in 10 games following a 1-3 start. The slow start prompted intense criticism of Turner, who was tabbed to replace 14-win coach Marty Schottenheimer in February.

But while the public fumed, the power brokers in the Chargers' organization never lost faith in Turner. And Smith credits Turner for handling the situation well and getting the team headed in the right direction.

"He stays the course," Smith said. "He's been in this thing a long time, and so have I. Part of the business is you make a plan, and you work together and do the very best we can.

"This is not a one-year operation here. This isn't a flavor of the year. We're in this together, and we'll do the very best we can, putting both of our heads together with some good people in the organization.

"You stay the course and hope your players buy into the program, and when you start winning, they start feeling good about themselves and they start believing in the plan you have in place. If they don't, you have a chance to fracture.

"I give a lot of credit to Norv for that and the leaders on our team. We were vulnerable. We were 1-3. Things were not pleasant."

Things are much more enjoyable now with two games left in the regular season and the division crown wrapped up. The recent four-game winning streak has players believing a strong playoff run is about to commence.

"We've been kind of up-and-down and we've gotten hot at the right time," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "At some point, it has to happen. That's just how it is. For us not to be doing it, it's happening now. It's just coming at a later time. And for us, it's great, because if we can be hot going into the playoffs, whoa, Nellie! Whoa, Nellie!"

Chargers notes: RB LaDainian Tomlinson said he would like to make a run at winning his second consecutive rushing title. "I would want to because that's something a lot of guys take pride in, not only myself, but the offensive line group and the tight ends and fullbacks," Tomlinson said. Tomlinson has 1,311 rushing yards this season, second to Pittsburgh's Willie Parker (1,317). He joined Eric Dickerson as the only players to gain 1,200 or more rushing yards in each of their first seven NFL seasons. "I've been pretty consistent the first seven years of my career," Tomlinson said. "I think that's what it states. I think it's probably safe to say you now know that's an average year for me as a running back. You're going to get at least 1,200 yards." … RB Michael Turner and RT Jeromey Clary both suffered shoulder injuries and could miss a day or two of practice, according to coach Norv Turner. … The 37-point margin of victory ties for eighth best in Chargers history, but is only the second largest this season. The Chargers beat Denver by 38 points (41-3) in early October.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. C