Ex-CCU star Jerome Simpson makes his first NFL touchdown catch in the Bengals win over the Chargers.
(AP) -- CINCINNATI (AP) - Former Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jerome Simpson caught the first two touchdown passes of his NFL career to help the Cincinnati Bengals beat the San Diego Chargers 34-20 on Sunday. Simpson caught six passes for 124 yards.
Carson Palmer threw four touchdown passes during a near-perfect performance in the swirling snow, and the Bengals ended the Chargers' run of four straight AFC West titles.
The Chargers (8-7) froze up in their coldest game in nearly three years, repeatedly self-destructing on a raw, windy evening. The loss gave the division title to Kansas City, which beat Tennessee 34-14 earlier in the day.
It was only San Diego's second loss in its last 22 games in December. Palmer, a Southern California kid, led the Bengals (4-11) to their second straight win with a cast of reserve receivers. Two of his touchdown passes went to Jerome Simpson, including a 59-yarder in the fourth quarter. Palmer finished with a career-best passer rating of 157.2 - perfect would be 158.3.
Another former Coastal Carolina star, Mike Tolbert, a running back for San Diego, suffered a neck injury during the game. Tolbert gave a "thumbs up" to the crowd while being taken off the field on a body board. According to Tolbert's agent Joel Turner, Big Mike went through a series of testing and received a medical clearance.
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