If the Cincinnati Bengals want a glimpse into the psyche of a San Diego team that has lost four of its last five, they only need to look in the mirror.

Just three weeks ago the Bengals were on a four-game losing streak and fighting for their playoff lives. That’s exactly what the Chargers will be doing Sunday when the two teams meet at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

At 4-7, San Diego essentially needs to win out to have any hope of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The team’s latest loss came Sunday at home in overtime against Baltimore, when the Chargers blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead and allowed the Ravens to convert a fourth-and-29 play prior to kicking the game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation.

The Bengals eliminated the Chargers from the playoffs with a Week 15 victory in 2010, and they have the chance to do the same Sunday in San Diego.

OFFENSE

Quarterback Philip Rivers is having an off year by his standards. His 66.8 completion percentage is among the best in the NFL, but he ranks 16^th in passing yards (2,689) and his 14 interceptions are one shy of the league-high 15 thrown by Dallas’ Tony Romo.

The San Diego offense ranks 25^th in the NFL with an average of 324.4 yards per game. The Chargers are 18^th in passing (224.9) and 25^th in rushing (99.5).

Malcolm Floyd is Rivers’ top receiving target with 47 catches for 704 yards. He has just two 100-yard games this season, with the most recent coming way back in Week 5. But Floyd has found the endzone in three of the last four games.

Perennial Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates has not been much of a factor with 32 receptions for 368 yards with two TDs. He has just four catches for 30 yards the last two games.

Ryan Mathews is the top rusher with 594 yards, which have come at a rate of 4.1 per carry. He has just one rushing TD this season, and the Chargers as a team have four. Fullback Jackie Battle (222 yards) has the other three.

DEFENSE

The Chargers are led by Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle and also feature former Bengals first-round draft pick Takeo Spikes at linebacker.

San Diego ranks 10^th in total defense (334.7) and fifth against the run (91.5), but two of the team’s top three tacklers are in the secondary. Safety Atari Bigby is second with 68 stops, and Weddle is third with 64. Linebacker Donald Butler leads the way with 72 tackles.

The Chargers rank 20^th against the pass (243.3), a ranking which is falling after allowing Baltimore to throw for 316 yards and Denver 253 in their last two games.

SPECIAL TEAMS

San Diego punter Mike Scrifres leads the NFL with a 50.6 average and ranks fourth with a 42.2 net average. Kicker Nick Novak has only missed one field goal all year, but he also has made only 11, which ranks 29^th in the league.

The Chargers rank 30^th in punt return average, with a 20-yarder being the team’s longest of the season. But they have been a little more successful in returning kicks, doing so at an average of 24.4 yards per attempt, which ranks 15^th in the league.

THE SERIES

The Chargers lead 19-12, including 10-5 at home. The last time the two teams met in San Diego was December 15, 2009, with the Chargers winning 27-24 on a 52-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding with three seconds remaining. That was the first game the Bengals played following the death of wide receiver Chris Henry.