Coleman Gets the Last Word : Pro football: Return specialist’s touchdown is the talk of 28-25 victory that keeps Chargers in playoff contention.

SAN DIEGO —  Talking some trash and backing it up, Andre Coleman provided the spark that burned Buddy Ball.

San Diego’s dynamic return specialist ran back the second-half kickoff 92 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, the middle score of a 21-point burst that gave the Chargers a 28-25 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

Alternately stifled and aided by Arizona Coach Buddy Ryan’s aggressive “46” defense, San Diego scored three times in a stretch of 6 minutes 18 seconds spanning halftime. The defending AFC champion Chargers (7-7) won their third game in a row to remain in playoff contention, and reached .500 for the first time since Oct. 22. Arizona fell to 4-10.

“I just love to be the guy to make the play for this team, and those guys, they expect that from me,” said Coleman, who has scored on five kickoff returns and one punt return in two seasons.

Three weeks ago at Denver, Coleman was hit so hard in the chest on a return that it hurt him to laugh or cough days later, and forced him to sit out a Monday night victory over Oakland.

In the second quarter against Arizona, Jerry Drake slammed into Coleman on a return, knocking him off his feet.

“I’m 165 pounds. Those guys think they can intimidate me when they get big hits like that,” Coleman said. “Actually, when I got up, I said, ‘We’ll see how funny it is when I take one to the house on you.’ So I guess I got the last laugh.”

With the score tied, 14-14, Coleman caught the kickoff at the San Diego 8, cut left at the 30 and streaked up the sideline, pointing to the crowd as he crossed the goal line for his third touchdown on a return this year.

Drake was the only Cardinal to put a hand on Coleman, and it did nothing to slow him.

“It [Coleman’s touchdown] was a great emotional lift for us,” quarterback Stan Humphries said. “Mainly what it did was get the fans into the game real quick, and it carried over the rest of the game.”

Wide receiver Mark Seay kept the momentum on San Diego’s side when he burned the Cardinals for the second of his two touchdowns on a 38-yard pass play from Humphries for a 28-14 lead. Seay, covered by linebacker Terry Irving, wasn’t touched on the play.

The Chargers won despite committing a season-high six turnovers, including four interceptions.