SAN DIEGO — Facing Brett Favre in prime time, the San Diego Chargers knew they had to leave no doubt.

Stunned by two gut-wrenching losses, Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and the rest of the Chargers raced past nemesis Favre and the New York Jets for a 48-29 victory last night in a wild game befitting two original AFL teams.

"It didn't matter how any of us felt. We were going to do what we had to do to win this game," Tomlinson said. "We needed this bad. If we lost this game, we go 0-3 and I don't know what's going to happen. For us to get that first win, there is a sigh of relief."

Rivers tied his career-high with three touchdown passes, Tomlinson scored his first two TDs of the season and San Diego finally got back at Favre after all these years. They sacked him three times and intercepted him twice, including a 52-yard return for a score by All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Favre always seemed to come up big on Monday nights with Green Bay. This night, though, he finally lost to the Chargers after beating them five straight times dating to 1993.

San Diego (1-2) looked like the team picked by many to reach the Super Bowl.

Tomlinson, the two-time defending NFL rushing champion, scored on a 2-yard leap to give the Chargers a 38-14 lead in the third quarter. He had been slowed since jamming his right big toe late in the Carolina game. He scored on a 2-yard run late in the game.

Favre rolled his left ankle early in the third quarter.

"It felt like I got shot in the leg or something," said Favre, who played all but the Jets' final possession. "They took some X-rays and I think it's OK."

Rivers has thrown three TD passes in every game this season. He was 19 of 25 for 250 yards yesterday.

Favre had three touchdown passes for the Jets (1-2).