If there is one guy who is supposed to have a big game on Christmas Eve, it's Denver quarterback Jay Cutler, who hails from Santa Claus, Ind. Instead, Cutler was sacked, picked and persistently pestered by a San Diego defense that has been the NFL's most dominant over the past five games.

JIM BAIRD / Union-Tribune Defensive end Luis Castillo, in his first game back after missing six games with a severe ankle injury, tackles Denver quarterback Jay Cutler.

Following the Chargers' 23-3 victory last night, safety Clinton Hart said Cutler and Co., who will not be participating in the postseason, had little reason to put on a good show. Cutler threw for an uninspired 155 yards, completing 14-of-32 passes for a quarterback rating of 32.7.

“A young guy coming in like that, I think he didn't really want to be out there,” said Hart, whose interception at the 1-yard line stopped Denver's first drive of the second half. “It seemed like he was lackadaisical about a lot of his throws. They didn't have anything to play for . . . Some guys just want to make it through without getting hurt.”

During an impressive five-game stretch, the Chargers (10-5) have allowed just 58 points – best among all NFL teams during that span and a sharp contrast to the 20.9 per game they surrendered the first 10 games of the season. They also added two more interceptions, bringing their league-leading total to 29.

“We're doing the right things,” said defensive end Luis Castillo, who contributed two tackles and a pass deflection after missing the past six games with a severe ankle injury. “We're getting it done when we need to and we're making the big plays in critical situations, and that's carrying us right now.”

FAST STARTS The Chargers have won their past six home games, and they led at halftime in each – five times by double figures: DATE | OPPONENT | HALF | FINAL 10-14 | Oakland | 14-7 | 28-14 10-28 | Houston | 35-3 | 35-10 11-11 | Indianapolis | 23-7 | 23-21 11-25 | Baltimore | 22-7 | 32-14 12-16 | Detroit | 34-7 | 51-14 12-24 | Denver 16-0 | 23-3 Note: They also had a 10-point halftime lead against Kansas City on Sept. 30 but lost 30-16.

Castillo's return was welcomed by fellow defensive lineman Igor Olshansky, who recorded one of San Diego's four sacks.

“He brings a lot of energy and a lot of experience,” Olshansky said. “He's hard to block when he's 100 percent and he showed it today. He played really well.”

Twice the Broncos (6-9) turned the ball over deep in Chargers territory. The first came on a Cutler fumble on the first drive that was created by Olshansky and recovered by linebacker Shawne Merriman. The second was Hart's interception. The Broncos also were thwarted on a fourth-and-1 from the Chargers' 2 in the fourth quarter.

“(Red zone defense) is something we hang our hat on,” said linebacker Matt Wilhelm, who made the critical fourth-down tackle on running back Cecil Sapp behind the line of scrimmage.

“If you make plays down there as a defense, or even force a team to kick field goals, it's a win for us. To keep them two times without getting any points, it's a statement for how this defense puts the pressure on ourselves to perform and get the ball back for our offense.”

The Chargers were pitching the shutout until Jason Elam's 23-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the third. In two games against Denver this year, the Chargers allowed just six points, winning 41-3 in Denver in October. It's the second straight year the Chargers have swept the Broncos.

“To do that to them, our division rivals, was big,” said Hart, who has five interceptions on the season. “To be able to shut them out (of the end zone) like we did in both games speaks volumes. Heading into the playoffs we just want to keep rolling and take care of business.”

Denver's running game was virtually non-existent. Three running backs combined for just 50 yards on 16 carries. The Broncos gained just 92 total on the ground – 42 coming on two Cutler scrambles.

---

Kevin Gemmell: (619) 718-5304; kevin.gemmell@uniontrib.com