SAN DIEGO — A brutal five-game stretch begins for the San Diego Chargers when they visit Baltimore on Sunday.

“We understand what’s left. We understand who it is against,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “But the only one we can control is Baltimore.”

Rivers’ remark is like most of his passes: on the mark.

The Chargers (7-4) take their two-game winning streak to Baltimore, the first leg of what they hope is a five-game run to the playoffs.

And if they complete it, the Chargers certainly will deserve that postseason spot, because after Baltimore they face the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos at home before playing at San Francisco and at Kansas City.

“We can’t worry about what’s ahead,” Rivers said. “We are trying to win one game, get to eight, and then we’ll worry about the next one. It’s really as simple as that. “

If only defeating the Ravens (7-4) were such a breeze. Instead it’s another AFC team in a fight for its playoff life, and the Chargers know what they get: A big dose of a running game and a heaping helping of a physicality on the other side of the ball.

“It’s a typical Baltimore Ravens defense,” Rivers said.

Predictably, the Chargers are banking on their running game — hello, Ryan Mathews — to take some heat off the pocket. If not, the edges of the Chargers’ pass protection could be exposed by Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs.

“We know Dumervil very well from his time in Denver and he is really rolling,” Rivers said. “And then Suggs is still playing at a super-high level.”

For two teams with legitimate Super Bowl dreams, Sunday’s contest almost has the feel of an elimination game to it.

True, it’s not a must-win.

False, if you don’t think its outcome could determine how the final month plays out, considering the AFC tiebreakers that might come into play.

“The fact we are two of the teams that are in the mix, you know what a big game it is for both teams and how it can affect the whole deal,” Rivers said. “We’re looking forward to it.

“It is kind of what you want: a late November game, two teams that have winning records and are in the hunt. It is what makes the NFL so great. “

NOTES: The Chargers promoted OL Ryan Miller from the practice squad to the active roster. … C Rich Ohrnberger (back, ankle) was placed on IR. … CB Richard Crawford was signed to the practice squad.