SAN DIEGO (AP) -- When the San Diego Chargers beat the Detroit Lions last week, they didn't have to face Barry Sanders.

When they play host to the Seahawks this Sunday in a showdown for sole possession of first place in the AFC West, Joey Galloway, Seattle's holdout star wide receiver, will be in West Virginia, where he's been playing flag football.

The Chargers are absolutely heartbroken about that.

"I wish he was playing," linebacker Junior Seau said. "Our league needs our guys to play. He's a quality wide receiver."

OK, that was the political answer.

"I am happier than hell that he's not playing against us," Seau said, his face brightening. "That guy is just a nightmare. You kidding me? When I'm looking at the ball going up in the air and it already has Joey Galloway's name on the upflight, I mean that's not good."

The Chargers saw enough of Galloway last year, particularly in a 27-20 home loss. Galloway caught an 81-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, both in the first half. In the fourth quarter, he and cornerback Terrance Shaw both came down with the ball. The Seahawks retained possession and scored for a 27-17 lead.

"I will pay him some cash to stay out there playing flag football or whatever he's doing," Seau joked. "He can come back next week. Not this week."

After losing 31 games the previous three seasons, suffice to say this is San Diego's biggest game in quite a while, probably since the 1995 wild-card playoff game when the Chargers were ripped 35-20 by Indianapolis. Both teams are 3-1.

"It's like a playoff game," said strong safety Rodney Harrison, who with Seau leads San Diego's rib-rattling defense. "It's time for us to come in here and make a statement and get the respect of the league."

The defense, largely responsible for San Diego's three wins, is all too willing to shoulder the load while the sputtering offense tries to stand on its own.

Even without having to face Galloway, the Chargers will still need to worry about Seattle wideouts Derrick Mayes, Sean Dawkins and Mike Pritchard, because their pass defense is much weaker than their bullish play against the run.

With 35-year-old Jim Harbaugh still somewhat limited because of two cracked ribs suffered Oct. 3, Erik Kramer will make his second straight start at quarterback for the Chargers. Like Harrison, Kramer wants to make people notice the Chargers.

"That's a role that I haven't been in in a while, which is the sole reason, really, why you play the game," said Kramer, who suffered through three straight losing seasons with the Chicago Bears before joining the Chargers.

"That, to me, is exciting. You never know when you're going to get in that position again," said Kramer, 34.

This game is big for Seattle, too. After losing its opener to Detroit, the Seahawks are looking for their first four-game winning streak in a single season for the first time since 1986.

"Certainly for them, and for us, with our team history for the last couple of years and not being where we should be, it is a huge game," Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna said. "There's no downplaying the importance of it. It's the fifth game of the season, but it's a big game."

The Seahawks haven't been to the playoffs since 1988 and haven't had a winning season since 1990.

This will be the first matchup between the AFC West's two newest Mikes: Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who has a Super Bowl ring and a 78-38 record in eight seasons as a head coach, and San Diego's Mike Riley, who'll be coaching his fifth NFL game.

"Mike Riley is probably thinking about the same things I am -- we're trying to put in new offenses with new teams, and that takes longer, typically," Holmgren said. "You have to rely on your defense while the offensive guys are figuring things out, and try to execute properly.

"They know they have a good defense," added Holmgren, who beat the Chargers in 1993 and 1996 while with Green Bay. "So let's be careful and not turn the ball over and beat ourselves, because we know our defense is going to play well."

SEATTLE Season schedule and results

SAN DIEGO Season schedule and results

September 12 Detroit L 20-28 September 19 @Chicago W 14-13 September 26 @Pittsburgh W 29-10 October 3 Oakland W 22-21 October 17 @San Diego 4:05pm ET October 24 Buffalo 4:15pm ET November 1 @Green Bay 9:00pm ET November 7 Cincinnati 4:15pm ET November 14 Denver 8:20pm ET November 21 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET November 28 Tampa Bay 4:05pm ET December 5 @Oakland 4:15pm ET December 12 San Diego 4:05pm ET December 19 @Denver 4:15pm ET December 26 Kansas City 4:05pm ET January 2 @NY Jets 1:00pm ET

September 19 @Cincinnati W 34-7 September 26 Indianapolis L 19-27 October 3 Kansas City W 21-14 October 10 @Detroit W 20-10 October 17 Seattle 4:05pm ET October 24 Green Bay 4:05pm ET October 31 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET November 7 Denver 4:15pm ET November 14 @Oakland 4:05pm ET November 21 Chicago 4:15pm ET November 28 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET December 5 Cleveland 4:15pm ET December 12 @Seattle 4:05pm ET December 19 @Miami 1:00pm ET December 26 Oakland 4:05pm ET January 2 @Denver 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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