SAN DIEGO -- Philip Rivers threw for 178 yards and one touchdown, passing Hall of Famer Dan Fouts to become San Diego's career passing leader, and the Chargers held off the Denver Broncos 21-13 on Thursday night.
The Chargers (2-4) were coming off a mistake-filled loss at Oakland, and earlier in the season they lost three games in which they led at the two-minute warning.
The defending Super Bowl champion Broncos were coached by special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis after Coach Gary Kubiak was ordered by doctors to sit this one out because of a migraine condition that mimics strokes.
The five-time defending AFC West champion Broncos (4-2) were mostly sluggish behind Trevor Siemian, who was back at quarterback after rookie Paxton Lynch struggled in a loss to Atlanta. They lost their second consecutive game and had their NFL-record 15 consecutive divisional road victories streak snapped.
The Chargers snapped their streak of 10 consecutive divisional losses dating to 2014.
Rivers, in his 13th season with the Chargers and 11th as a starter, has 43,094 career yards passing. Fouts threw for 43,040 yards in 15 seasons with the Chargers.
Rivers threw a 5-yard scoring pass to rookie tight end Hunter Henry (Arkansas Razorbacks, Pulaski Academy) to cap the game's first possession. Rivers finished 18 of 29, and Henry finished with 6 catches for 83 yards and the 1 touchdown.
The Chargers had to settle for Josh Lambo's career-high four field goals of 37, 21, 31 and 32 yards the rest of the way.
Denver didn't get across the 50 on its own accord until there were two minutes left in the third quarter. Denver's first score came after a punt bounced off San Diego's Travis Benjamin and the Broncos recovered at the San Diego 11. The refs initially ruled the Broncos downed the punt, but Denver challenged and got the ball. Brandon McManus kicked a 29-yard field goal.
Siemian was 30 of 50 for 230 yards, with a 5-yard scoring pass to Bennie Fowler midway through the fourth quarter.
McManus kicked a 46-yard field goal with 27 seconds left, and Denver recovered the onside kick at its 46. It got to the San Diego 45 with eight seconds to go before Siemian's desperation pass was batted down by Dexter McCoil.
The Broncos were threatening at the San Diego 20 with less than give minutes to go. But on consecutive plays they were whistled for holding, Siemian was sacked by rookie Jatavis Brown, and San Diego's Craig Mager recovered a fumble by Demaryius Thomas.
McCoy went for it on fourth and 1 from the Denver 20 early in the second half, with Melvin Gordon going over the top for a 1-yard gain. Rivers misfired on two consecutive passes and was flushed on third down, forcing the Chargers to settle for Lambo's 37-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
McCoy improved to 25-31 overall in four seasons.
Veteran backup quarterback Kellen Clemens took over as holder for the Chargers after rookie Drew Kaser's misadventure at Oakland on Sunday. Kaser mishandled the snap on a potential tying field goal with 2:07 left in the 34-31 loss. Kaser, who also shanked a punt, kept his job as punter but lost his job as holder.