After 16 weeks of battling and jockeying for position in the AFC, it comes down to this for the Chargers: Win on Sunday and they're in the playoffs.

It's as simple as that.

Key losses by the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs this weekend put the Bolts' postseason destiny in their own hands. Now it's just a matter of winning Sunday's game at the Chiefs and the Chargers take one of the two wild card spots, probably the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Things shaped up nicely over the weekend. The New England Patriots have clinched one of the two first-round byes, and the Denver Broncos can do so with a win tonight.

The Indianapolis Colts have already clinched the AFC South. The winner of Sunday's Bengals-Steelers game will take the North division. The Chargers will play one of those three teams, assuming they win.

That's not easy assumption. The Bolts lost to the Chiefs at home earlier this season. They also had a similar situation last year, needing to beat Kansas City in the game's final week.

They pulled off a tense overtime victory in that game, going on to win at Cincinnati in the first round of the playoffs. Could this be a case of playoff deja vu? Bolts fans can only hope so.

A baby's skull was fractured when a South Pasadena family was struck in a hit-and-run during an evening walk on Sunday, police said.

The family's dog was killed by a dark-colored SUV, which hit the family at about 7:30 p.m. as it turned south from Columbia Street to Orange Grove Avenue, according to a South Pasadena Police statement.

The driver apparently saw the family as they entered the intersection, then intially stopped after hitting them, police said.

"We hear this horrible thud noise, I turn and look and iI see a car racing down," said Rachel Emmons, who witnessed the crash. "What I remember the most is the screaming."

The four-month-old baby's skull was fractured and their mother's nose was broken as they were dragged about 10 feet, according to South Pasadena Police Chief Art Miller.

"At this point there seems to be some thought, forethought and afterthought, in this case,"  Miller said.

The mother and baby were sent to a local hospital, where they were being treated for their injuries but expected to recover, police said.

The father, 40, suffered minor injuries.

Police ask anyone with information that can help identify the driver to call 626-403-7280. Police expect the car will have tell-tale damage on its front.

A federal judge says Oklahoma's lethal injection protocols are constitutional and that the state can proceed with the scheduled executions of four death row inmates early next year.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot on Monday ruled against a group of condemned inmates who say the state's use of the sedative midazolam in a three-drug method presents a risk of cruel and unusual punishment.

They sued after the April 29 execution of Clayton Lockett, who writhed on the gurney, mumbled and lifted his head during his 43-minute execution that the state tried to halt before it was over.

The state has purchased new medical equipment, adopted new protocols and ordered more training, and prison officials say they're ready for the next execution on Jan. 15.

One new application is looking to make the job of being a designated sober driver a little sweeter.

DDVIP – Designated Driver App, a new application from The California Office of Traffic Safety, gives discounts and exclusive offers to sober designated drivers across the state.

Users can search through all participating bars and restaurants in California and filter them by location. The Greater San Diego area, for instance, has more than 35 restaurants and bars that are offering deals like a free non-alcoholic drink for sober drivers.

"Designated sober drivers play such an important role in saving lives each time they take the wheel,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft in a press release. “The DDVIP app lets users see which nearby bars are choosing to reward designated drivers with discounts and free non-alcoholic beverages. Essentially, it gives designated sober drivers the VIP treatment they deserve."

The application also helps out sober drivers taking a break for a weekend by letting them get a ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb through the application.

The application is available to download for free on Android’s Google Play and the Apple App Store.
 

Saturday's amazing comeback win is even more impressive for the Chargers as we learn more about the severity of Philip Rivers' injury.

According to a number of reports, the quarterback has a bulging disk in his back and might require surgery in the offseason.

Rumors had been swirling for much of the season about the severity of his injury, especially since Rivers missed his first practice since 2007 last week. But he was able to play on Saturday -- his 143rd straight start, second longest active streak in the NFL -- and led the Bolts from 21 points down to shock the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

ESPN first reported the story, also saying Rivers had taken epidural injections to reduce swelling.

Rivers is expected to finish the season, which concludes Sunday as the Chargers travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. if they win that, they will qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year and play the following week.

The San Diego woman who crashed her vehicle into cyclists on Fiesta Island four months ago was found competent to stand trial by one expert, NBC 7 has learned.

Theresa Owens, 49, was arrested Aug. 12 after her vehicle traveled the wrong way on the island in Mission Bay and struck approximately 10 cyclists.

Owens has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony DUI causing injury and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors claim Owens was found to have a baggie of meth hidden in her vagina at the time of her arrest.

Owens’ attorney spoke at Monday’s hearing in San Diego Superior Court downtown and said he will hire another mental health expert to evaluate his client.

The judge ordered a competency exam for Owens to determine whether she’s competent to stand trial. In the meantime, all criminal proceedings will be on hold.

Ten of those bicyclists were injured, including La Jolla father and husband Juan Carlos Vinolo, who is now paralyzed as a result of the collision.

Vinolo attended Monday’s hearing with his family.

Now out of the hospital but still in rehab, Vinolo told NBC 7 his life after the crash has been a very difficult reality to accept.

He said it's difficult to realize there are so many things he's not going to be able to do again.

Also, he said the implications of his injuries are a lot greater than most people think.

The economical consequences are enormous, Vinolo said.

Vinolo's supporters have set up an online fundraiser for Vinolo and his family as they face hospital bills for his two punctured lungs, broken ribs, dislocated left shoulder, broken clavicle, loss of kidney, laceration of the spleen and six broken vertebrae.

There have been fundraisers held by fellow cyclists as well.

Since the crash, the City of San Diego has implemented changes to signage on the path used by many cyclists.

This includes additional 25 mph signs, directional white arrows at the entrance, one-way directional arrows and wrong-way signs around the island as well as no left turn signs and one-way only signs at the shortcut to a youth camp housed at the island.

The next hearing for Owens was scheduled for February 9.

A San Diego-based U.S. Navy sailor and his wife believe the Grinch who stole their Christmas surprise works for the U.S. Postal Service.

David and Heather Price are spending their first Christmas away from their family and decided to buy toys for nieces and nephews and ship them all wrapped and ready for Christmas.

They sent a cardboard box containing approximately $90 worth of toys and gift cards through the Ocean Beach post office on Dec. 13.

When their family in San Antonio, Texas received the package six days later, it was obvious that someone had replaced the box with another.

“There was nothing but a garland in there and wrapping paper,” said David Price.

“Nothing like we sent,” Heather added.

The Prices say someone removed their handwritten shipping label and pasted it on top of a different box.

Because David’s mother received the package in person, they know it was not a case of someone stealing an unattended package from the front porch.

“Right now it seems like it’s an internal issue,” Heather said.

They are working with USPS investigators and have filed a claim seeking a refund of the items that were in the original box as well as the $20.30 spent on shipping.

They were upset initially but are now focused on catching the culprit.

“We don’t want this Grinch to do this again to another family,” Heather said.

NBC 7 reached out to the U.S. Postal Service but we have yet to hear back.

On its website, USPS says "unfortunately a small number of employees abuse the public's trust. It is the job of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General special agents to identify dishonest employees and take proper investigative steps to have them prosecuted."

If the Prices receive the refund, they will purchase the items again and ship them using a private company.
 

A fire broke out in a Clairemont duplex Monday morning; the second in two days in the same area.

Two adults were home when the fire started when a smoke alarm alerted them to get out, the fire department said. Five cats and three dogs were also inside the duplex. One cat was resuscitated and one other did not make it. The rest of the animals were unharmed.

San Diego Fire-Rescue responded to the fire at 4888 Clairemont Drive just before noon. They said smoke and fire could be seen when they arrived. They were able to put out the flames, which were contained to a bedroom only.

Investigators suspect a space heater or similar electrical issue sparked the fire, which is estimated to have caused $75,000 in damages to the property and another $25,000 in contents, according to Fire-Rescue.

A North County shopping center full of holiday shoppers was the location of a manhunt Sunday, after police say a man tried to rob someone at gunpoint in front of one store.

Shopper Michael Haas saw close to a dozen patrol cars and a police helicopter in the air when he went to North County Plaza around 2:30 p.m.

He described seeing police on the ground and a police helicopter in the air.

According to Carlsbad police, they arrested two people after one man tried to rob someone of gunpoint in front of the Marshalls.

The suspect took a display item and got away, sparking a manhunt from the air and on the ground.

Officers caught up with the man and a suspected accomplice approximately three miles away at the Chevron on Tamarack Avenue.

"Sometimes desperation brings out the best in people and the worst in people," Haas said. "You have some people who are just desperate and they don't care who they hurt or what they do."

Police said their officers will keep a high profile in the shopping center over the next few shopping days.

The North County Transit District has announced its holiday schedule for the Coaster, Sprinter and Breeze trains, including free service and late night trains on New Year's Eve.

All three train services will run on regular schedule Christmas Eve and Sunday schedule on Christmas Day. The Vista Customer Service center will be closed Christmas Eve, and the Oceanside center will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas day. None of the other service centers will open that day.

The three trains, Lift and Flex services will all be free after 6 p.m. on New Years Eve. This does not include the six Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains serving all eight stations. Those trains will run on a regular schedule and valid fare is required.

Consumption of alcohol on the trains is only allowed until 9 p.m. Alcohol will be banned entirely beginning Feb. 1.

San Diego MTS bus and trolley lines will not offer free services, but will have extended hours New Year's Eve.

To see a full list of extra departures, special schedules and extended hours, visit NCTD's website here or call (760) 966-6500.

Some 49ers fans got off with a warning after they were caught flying their drone over Levi’s Stadium before Saturday’s game against the Chargers, Santa Clara police confirmed Monday.

The airspace over Levi’s Stadium is federally restricted. Officers swarmed the drone’s operators as soon as they spotted them, authorities said.

In this case, police didn’t confiscate the drone, but Santa Clara Police Lt. Kurt Clarke said, “If need be, we will have to take the drone away if they don’t want to comply.”

“You’ll see a number of officers get dispatched if a drone is flying near the stadium, because we don’t know if it’s a hobbyist or someone who has ulterior motives,” Lt. Clarke said. “Our job is public safety. We want to make sure the venue is safe.”

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a new alert Monday regarding the “do’s and don’t’s” of flying an unmanned aircraft.

The FAA notes anyone caught breaking the rules could face much more than a warning, including big fines.

One of the two NYPD officers slain by a man who posted on Instagram that he was "putting wigs on pigs" was set to become a volunteer chaplain on the day of his death, officials say.

Rafael Ramos had finished a 10-week course with the New York State Chaplain Task Force and was scheduled to attend a graduation ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, said the Rev. Marcos Miranda, the non-profit organization's president.

An hour before the ceremonies began, Ramos and fellow officer Wenjian Liu were ambushed and fatally shot by 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who then ran into a nearby subway station in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood and took his own life.

Miranda said he didn't know if Ramos had planned to attend the graduation ceremony but said his group plans to present Ramos' widow and sons with a certificate of completion and his chaplain's credentials at the man's funeral on Saturday.

Miranda said that he met Ramos shortly after the man began his coursework. He said they spoke several times and described him as an "amazing" person who was always seen with a smile on his face. Miranda said Ramos did very well in the course and told him that he wanted to become a full-time minister when he retired from the NYPD.

"You could see the kindness radiating in his eyes," Miranda said. "He had very kind eyes."

The New York State Chaplain's Task force is not affiliated with the NYPD, but it trains people to provide emergency spiritual and emotional services. 

Ramos was very active at his church, Christ Tabernacle in Glendale, Queens, where he served as an usher, and was part of the marriage and life group ministries.

"Ralph was definitely a family man," said the church communications director, Janice de Castro, in a statement. "He always talked about his kids and how well they were doing athletically and academically. He loved his family and his church."

A wake for Ramos will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Christ Tabernacle Church. The funeral will be held there at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The White House said Tuesday that Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden will be attending the service at President Obama's request. 

Many local law enforcement agencies, including the San Diego Police Department, are grief-stricken over the ambush-style shooting of two NYPD police officers.

Police departments from Oceanside to Chula Vista are reminding their officers to take precautions to protect their safety.

A recent Federal Bureau of Investigations report released last month shows 76 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2014. Of that, the FBI says 27 officers were killed as a result of an adversarial action – where a suspect took life, in all but one incident, by shooting and killing an on-duty officer.

FBI agent Darrell Foxworth says the report and recent events in New York are reminders of how dangerous a job law enforcement is. He says one death in the line of duty is too many.

“Having been in the law enforcement field for 29 years, anytime you hear about the death of an officer, especially when it has to do with an adversarial situation, it hits home. It’s a very somber feeling,” Foxworth said. “It’s something that really hits home, and it hits deep.”

For San Diego officers, the ambush killing of two officers in their patrol car opens old wounds.
In 2011, a San Diego police officer was shot in his patrol car minutes after a random gesture of kindness, buying McDonald's for a 13-year-old in City Heights.

“Officer Jeremy Henwood, when we lost him in 2011, he was killed in pretty much the same manner,” former SDPD Chief William Lansdowne said. “He was shot for no other reason than he wore a uniform.”

Lansdowne and other leaders in the law enforcement community are now calling for an end to these escalating tensions between the police and protesters.

Authorities confirm the crazed New York gunman was seeking retaliation against police for the Michael Brown and Eric Garner deaths.

“The time for protests and accusations and the time for being defensive and saying ‘We’ve done nothing wrong,’ is over,” Lansdowne said. “It doesn’t discount that we’ve had mistakes on our part and there needs to be change, but we’re going to do that, and we need to do it together with the community.”

Local activist Chris McKay says it is not time to stop the protests, citing some 400 lethal officer-involved-shootings every year.

“I’ve seen it, and I’ve seen it escalate over my lifetime,” McKay said.

McKay says he has been beaten, choked, thrown on the ground and “stomped on” by police.

Despite that, he says he is willing to tone down the rhetoric and be respectful of the officers killed.

“I think the violence that happened in New York is just actually another sign that people in this country are getting fed up,” said McKay, who drew widespread criticism for covering a memorial for Officer Henwood earlier this year.

Despite being grief-stricken and the sobering reminder of how dangerous their jobs are, Lansdowne said this incident won’t stop officers from doing their job.

“They’ve always done it and they will continue to do that, and the public needs to say ‘thank you’ at this particular time. Please stop and waive and say ‘thank you,’” he said.

Other local statements on NYPD incident:

Chula Vista Police Department Captain Roxana Kennedy
The recent ambush and murder of two NYPD officers and another Florida officer remind law enforcement to stay vigilant and always be aware of our surroundings and potential threats. CVPD supervisors and officers are discussing tactics, officer safety concerns and sharing local and national news alerts regarding the recent tragedies in roll call with squads. As we mourn for the loss of fellow law enforcement officers, we ask that the community also keep these fallen officers, their families, and NYPD and Tarpon Springs Police Department families in their prayers.

SDPD Chief Shelly Zimmerman
This is a tragic and grim reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire NYPD family as they grieve the loss of two of their officers.

San Diego Police Officers Association

The members of San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) are deeply saddened by the senseless murders of New York Police Department (NYPD) Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of these fallen heroes, the NYPD, the New York Police Benevolent Association, as well as the citizens from the City of New York.
The deplorable actions of their killer, beginning with the shooting of his ex-girlfriend, show the suspect as nothing more than a coward. Yet, this murderer sought redemption among some members of our nation by assassinating the guardians of our communities, sworn police officers. Sadly, there are some citizens who praised these horrible actions and seek to justify them. The SDPOA is outraged to think that anyone would be willing to support this murderer.
Voices from throughout the nation have called out for justice, peace, and respect for all lives. As we enter the New Year let us remember that all of these matter and we should choose our words wisely as we speak to one another in our efforts to unite our nation as never before.
We are thankful to have the support of so many in this city. We ask that you continue to send your thoughts and prayers to the victims and their family and friends.
The SDPOA urges the public to come forward and immediately report any possible threats against law enforcement.

Deputy Sheriff's Association President Matt Clay
I have released no statement in regards to the ruthless murder of the two NYPD officers. Of course if there were one it would simply echo that our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the slain officers and to the members of the NYPD. We earnestly hope and pray that there are no more such attacks and no further activist rhetoric calling for unrest across the states.

I did send our condolences regarding the loss of Officers Liu and Ramos to the New York City Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.
 

A 3-year-old girl suffered “major injuries to her face” and was taken to the hospital by helicopter after a crash Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The multi-vehicle accident happened around 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of Hannalei Drive and Avocado Drive in Vista.

According to CHP, a Ford Expedition was stopped on Hannalei, waiting to turn left onto Avocado. A car on Avocado stopped to let the SUV go. However, it wasn’t a four-way stop. So when the Expedition drove into the intersection, a Jeep Laredo going the other way on Avocado slammed into it, officials said.

The 35-year-old woman behind the wheel of the Expedition wasn’t hurt, but her two daughters were a different story. Her 7-year-old girl suffered minor injuries, and her 3-year-old was flown to Rady Children’s Hospital, according to CHP.

The little girl appeared alert as she was placed on a stretcher. Officials have not released her condition.

No one in the other vehicles, including two other children, was seriously injured, CHP said.

New York Rep. Michael Grimm pleaded guilty to a single count of tax fraud Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court.

The guilty plea comes one month after the congressman, a Republican who represents Staten Island, was elected to a third term.

In April, Grimm was named in a 20-count indictment that accused him of under-reporting the payroll and earnings of his Upper East Side restaurant, Healthalicious, which he ran from 2007 to 2010. He pleaded not guilty in federal court and was released on bond.

Prosecutors alleged Grimm employed a number of immigrant workers who did not have legal status to work in the U.S., and paid them in cash -- wages that were not reported to the government. He also allegedly "substantially under-reported" the restaurant's gross receipts, lowering its taxes.

Grimm said at the time he was being wrongly accused but asked House Speaker John Boehner to take him off the House Financial Services Committee until his federal case was resolved.

Asked during an October whether he would resign if found guilty, Grimm responded, "Certainly, if I was not able to serve, then of course I would step aside."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) called on Boehner to demand Grimm to step down from office in light of the guilty plea. Other Democrats have echoed Pelosi's call.

"Now that the election is over, Congressman Grimm is finally admitting the truth to his constituents," Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday. "Clearly, Speaker Boehner must insist that Congressman Grimm resign immediately."

Boehner, who has forced out other lawmakers for lesser offenses, doesn't plan to comment on Grimm's situation until the two discuss it, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said. A felony conviction does not disqualify a person from serving in Congress, other than under the 14tth Amendment or for certain treasonous acts.

If he refuses to resign, it would take a rare vote by his fellow lawmakers to expel him from the House. The last member to be expelled was James Traficant, D-Ohio, who was kicked out of Congress in 2002.

Grimm, 44, made headlines in January after telling a NY1 reporter he wanted to throw the journalist off a balcony in the Capitol for asking about the campaign finance inquiry.

An independent advisory office recommended that the House Ethics Committee investigate the balcony incident. The ethics panel deferred its investigation into Grimm while the Justice Department case was ongoing.

If Grimm doesn't resign, the panel is sure to address the case next year.

He is scheduled to be sentenced June 8.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday declared a state of emergency for several parts of California following recent severe storms to hit the state.

Marin, Mendocino and San Mateo are among the local counties that will now be eligible for state funds to repair roads, levees and buildings damaged by the recent storms. Ventura County in Southern California was also included in Brown's state of emergency.

Monday's proclamation also opens the door for Caltrans to being requesting federal disaster funds to help pay to repair the millions of dollars in storm damage.

More from 2014 and looking ahead to 2015:

A man involved in a series of armed robberies at restaurants and other businesses in Clairemont, La Jolla and Ocean Beach was sentenced Tuesday to more than 14 years in state prison.

Last month, 23-year-old Ryan Churchill pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges.

He's one of four robbers dubbed the "Backdoor Bandits" because they entered the backdoor of a business, fully masked with weapons.

In all, they robbed 13 businesses between May and August 2013.

Two other suspects are set to be sentenced next month. 

Several cars collided on Interstate 5 north of San Diego Tuesday, temporarily trapping one person officials said.

The collision blocked several lands of southbound I-5 at SeaWorld Drive near Mission Bay around 12:30 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol has issued a SigAlert. Traffic was backed up to State Route 52.

San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were able to get the trapped patient out of the car. There were no details provided on the extent of the person's injuries.