SAN DIEGO — LaDainian Tomlinson jumped for joy. Norv Turner's eyes were red.

It was rainy and gloomy, but it might as well have been a sunny day.

Yes, the San Diego Chargers can win in the playoffs.

Thirteen long years after their last postseason victory, the Chargers finally came to life late in the second half yesterday to beat the Tennessee Titans 17-6 in an AFC wild-card game.

Tomlinson was held to 42 yards on 21 carries, but the star running back got to celebrate the first playoff victory in three tries in his brilliant seven-year career.

"It didn't come easy, but I tell you, I'm just happy to get that first one," Tomlinson said.

"It's a relief, but at the same time, it's not like we're saying, 'OK, we won a playoff game, so let's get ready to lose,' you know what I mean? I'm already thinking about next week and how tough of a game we're going to have going to Indianapolis, facing the champs."

The Chargers (12-5) advance to face the Colts on Sunday. San Diego escaped with a 23-21 win over the Colts at Qualcomm Stadium on Nov. 11.

The Titans bottled up Tomlinson, the two-time NFL rushing champion and 2006 league MVP, and dared quarterback Philip Rivers to beat them. The second-year starter did just that, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson late in the third quarter that gave San Diego its first lead at 10-6.

L.T. finally found the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, on a fourth-down leap over the pile from inside the 1 that had to survive a video review.

"I just felt like going through the air was a better option," Tomlinson said.

There would be no comeback for Vince Young and the Titans (10-7), who were missing four offensive starters due to injuries.

"Nobody gave us a chance to be here," Young said. "We're just happy to be part of it. Next year, we'll have a good run again."

Just like that, the nightmares of the Marty Schottenheimer era finally went away.

Schottenheimer was fired due to front-office friction in February, a month after San Diego inexplicably melted down in a 24-21 divisional-round playoff loss to New England. The Chargers had gone an NFL-best 14-2 in 2006.

Two years earlier, the Chargers lost in overtime to the New York Jets in a home wild-card game.

Overall, the Chargers had lost four straight postseason games dating to their ugly 49-26 loss to San Francisco in the Super Bowl following the 1994 season.

"Norv was brought here in an odd situation," Tomlinson said. "It was either, get us back to the playoffs and win a game in the playoffs, or you're a failure. That was kind of what he was given."

When it was noted during his postgame news conference that his eyes were red, Turner said: "I don't know. It's probably the rain."

Rivers was 19 of 30 for 292 yards, with one interception. Chris Chambers had six catches for 121 yards, and Jackson had five for 114.