ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos are ignoring San Diego, and to make sure, coach Mike Shanahan is forbidding his players from watching the contest on television in the locker room.

The Chargers' game at Tampa Bay is an early kickoff, and the results should be known by the time the Broncos start against Buffalo.

Shanahan thought the Broncos lost their emotional edge last weekend when they watched the Chargers fall behind early at Kansas City, only to see them pull off a stunning comeback.

The Broncos can clinch the AFC West title with a win or a San Diego loss or a tie.

"I think the San Diego-Tampa game's been canceled," receiver Brandon Marshall cracked. "So, in order for us to win, we have to beat Buffalo."

Shanahan is also asking that a score not be announced inside the stadium.

"I'm sure if guys want to find out the score, they probably could. But it's not going to be easy for them," Shanahan said. "I really don't care what San Diego does. We want to play a complete football game, and hopefully we will."

The players support the team-imposed blackout of the Chargers game.

"We have so many guys in the locker room, and unfortunately you've got some guys who can't handle it," Marshall said. "If San Diego is not doing good it might affect some guys, and if they are doing great it might affect other guys. I think it's going to keep us focused and worried about Buffalo and the tough job ahead of us."

Vikes turn to Jackson

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Tarvaris Jackson has reclaimed his starting spot at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

The team announced the move on Thursday, and coach Brad Childress said the decision has nothing to do with the health of Gus Frerotte and everything to do with the way Jackson has played the last two weeks.

"I thought it gives our team the best chance right now," Childress said. "It takes nothing away from Gus. It's more a product of what Tarvaris has done with the ball in his hand."

It's been quite a turnaround for Jackson, who was benched after losses to Green Bay and Indianapolis to start the season yet now finds himself leading the Vikings (9-5) into a crucial game with Atlanta on Sunday. A win would give the Vikings their first NFC North title.

Frerotte stepped in for Jackson in Week 3 and won seven of the next 10 games, but also threw 15 interceptions in that span. The 37-year-old Frerotte injured his lower back two weeks ago against Detroit.

And Jackson has filled in superbly, completing 70 percent of his passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns in six quarters of work to help the Vikings to wins over the Lions and Cardinals.

League fines Finnegan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for two hard hits on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub last weekend.

Finnegan was sanctioned Thursday for a helmet-to-helmet hit and an unnecessary roughness penalty for spearing Schaub on the same series during Tennessee's 13-12 loss to the Texans on Sunday.

Finnegan is tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions.

Finnegan was selected to his first Pro Bowl this week and is known for his aggressive play, but Titans coach Jeff Fisher defended his cornerback saying that both calls were questionable.

Finnegan told The Tennessean he planned to appeal the fine.

Cassel had no doubt

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Matt Cassel never thought of missing the Patriots' game six days after his father's death. He was determined to play as well as he could.

That would have been Greg Cassel's wish.

"I was just going to go out there and play my best," New England's quarterback said Thursday, two days after his 57-year-old father's funeral in California. "I knew that's what my father would have wanted - for me to go out and play.

"It was great to get a victory. And if we didn't get a victory, I still was out there giving 110 percent, and that's all I can do," Cassel said.

The Patriots did get a victory, a resounding one. They routed the Oakland Raiders 49-26 Sunday behind a career-high four touchdown passes by Cassel, who had taken time off from practice last week to be with his family.

He returned from Tuesday's funeral and was back at practice Wednesday for Sunday's game against Arizona, a contest crucial to New England's chances of making the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

Those chances seemed slim when Tom Brady sustained a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the first game and the untested Cassel replaced last season's NFL MVP. But Cassel has improved steadily after not starting a game in seven seasons in college and the pros.