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Defensive tackle Jamal Williams joked that he’s forgotten what Qualcomm Stadium looks like from the inside. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he can hardly remember what it’s like to play in front of his own fans. Other players are simply thrilled to be back.

When the Chargers host the Chiefs Sunday, it will mark the first time in 28 days that they’ve played a home game.

“We’re excited to be back in our stadium,” Tomlinson said. “You kind of forget what it feels like to play at home. This Sunday we’re going to get a chance to play at home again. We can’t wait.”

The Bolts last appearance in Qualcomm Stadium was Oct. 12, a night in which they defeated the New England Patriots. They followed that game with trips to Buffalo and London before enjoying their bye last week.

“We haven’t been in our stadium in a month,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “It’ll be good to be in our stadium with the energy level, the fans, everything involved in it.”

Home cooking has been good for the Chargers of late. Their 2-1 at home this season and have won 17 of their last 19 at Qualcomm Stadium dating back to the start of the 2006 season. The Bolts have also won six-straight home games in the month of December.

“It’s always easier when you’ve got your crowd behind you and you can feed off their energy,” Williams said. “We’ve been good at home the last couple of years and we need to continue that to get us on track.”

It hasn’t been long since the Chargers experienced such a long absence from home. In 2004, they went four weeks without playing at Qualcomm Stadium when their bye followed two road games. In 2003, the Bolts had a three-game road swing that caused them to go more than a month without playing a home game.

Cromartie, Chambers sit

The Chargers are pretty healthy after a week off, but two players missed Wednesday’s practice. Wide receiver Chris Chambers (ankle) and cornerback Antonio Cromartie (hip) both rested. Both players played in Week 8 against New Orleans but sat Wednesday due to some soreness.

When asked about their status, Turner kept his cards close to his vest, but didn’t give a ringing endorsement of either player’s status.

“When they can’t practice on Wednesday, I start getting concerned,” Turner said.

Keep ‘em guessing

The Chargers will likely have a few new wrinkles in their defense this week as they prepare for their first game under new defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, and the Chiefs are preparing for everything.

In a conference call with San Diego media Wednesday, Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez said his club has spent time this week watching some film of the 2006 Chicago Bears, which was the last club Rivera called defensive plays for.

“I would expect to see much of the same, but at the same time we’re going to prepare for whatever,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to study some Chicago tape. Players are players, and they’ve got some good players on that defense and some guys that can change the game in one play. We’ve got to go out there and make sure that we execute.”

Youth movement

Kansas City will bring 19 rookies and three first-year players to San Diego Sunday. With running back Larry Johnson out, there are currently five rookies that sit atop the depth chart at their respective positions.

The 1-7 Chiefs knew going into 2008 that the season would present its challenges, but Head Coach Herm Edwards is still disappointed in the way things have panned out.

“I thought we’d be a little bit better than we were,” Edwards said. “I think what got us early was our inexperience. That’s kind of how we played early in some games. We were up and down. I think the last couple weeks we’ve settled down some. We’ve been more consistent. We just haven’t been able to make a play to finish it.”

In addition to the host of rookies, the Chiefs currently have six second-year players on their 53-man roster, including starting quarterback Tyler Thigpen.

“We’re very young but they’re getting better and gaining a lot of experience,” Edwards said.

Quick Hits

- The Chargers have won four of their last five games following a bye week and are 9-9 all-time after open dates on their schedule.

- Sunday will mark the 97th all-time meeting between the Chargers and Chiefs. The Bolts first game in franchise history was a win over the then Dallas Texans in 1960. Dallas later moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs.

-Since 2004, the Chargers a 12-2 in the month of November.

- With 19 touchdown passes through eight games, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is on pace to shatter Dan Fouts’ single-season franchise record. Fouts tossed 33 in 1981, and Rivers’ current rate projects him to 38 on the year.

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