By Dennis Waszak Jr., AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Sack after sack, the San Diego Chargers made things downright miserable for Greg McElroy.

The Chargers took McElroy down 11 times, tying the team record and ruining the New York Jets quarterback's first NFL start in place of the benched Mark Sanchez in a 27-17 victory Sunday.

McElroy, the third-stringer, moved the offense for the Jets (6-9) early but faced pressure all game. With a chance to get New York back into it with less than 5 minutes remaining, McElroy was taken down by Shaun Phillips - the Chargers' eighth sack of the game - and lost the ball. Phillips, who had 2 1/2 sacks recovered and San Diego sealed the win, but not before sacking McElroy three more times.

Kendall Reyes finished with 3 1/2 sacks and Corey Liuget two for the Chargers (6-9), who also had 11 against Dallas in 1986 and finished one off the NFL mark set by several teams, last by the Giants in 2007.

With Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith facing uncertain futures, it was a dominant effort for the defense with one game left.

McElroy became the first Jets quarterback to be sacked 11 times since David Norrie by Dallas in 1987, a game played by replacements.

``It was great on their part,'' said Rex Ryan, guaranteed his first losing season as Jets coach, ``but ridiculous on our part.''

With most of the pregame drama centered around whether Sanchez or Tim Tebow would back up McElroy - turned out, it was both - Philip Rivers threw touchdown tosses of 37 yards to Danario Alexander and 34 yards to Antonio Gates to lead the Chargers.