Next up: Tennessee

“Pay the man his money.”

Vincent Jackson, who had appeared in only two games prior to kickoff following an extended holdout and an injury, torched the 49ers for three touchdown receptions in the 34-7 blowout victory. He opened the rout with a 58-yard touchdown strike from Philip Rivers on the Chargers’ first possession. Jackson would later record 21 and 11-yard touchdown receptions and finished the game with five catches for 112 yards.

The Chargers entered the game without Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd, so there were faint whispers of “Upset!” in the air. That wasn’t going to happen on this night. Jackson and Rivers were not to be denied. In fact, the game became such a one-sided affair that the San Diego stars sat down early in the fourth quarter.

Jackson lost approximately $3 million and missed 10 games as a result of his extended holdout, but he sent a loud message to A.J. Smith and San Diego management with his dominance in this game. Jackson said all of the right things about the team and his desire to return in 2011 earlier in the week and then backed it up with an electrifying night in front of the home crowd. He demonstrated a ridiculous rapport with Rivers and backed up his holdout position.

San Diego now sits down to view the other AFC West teams in action on Sunday.

– It appears that the Broncos may turn to Tim Tebow against the Raiders. Obviously, they’re rooting for the rookie quarterback to bring his magic to the NFL, if only for a week.

They’ll then cheer for the Raiders in Week 17 against the Chiefs, but let’s take one game at a time.

– The spotlight game of the day obviously occurs in St. Louis, where the Rams host the division-leading Chiefs. Matt Cassel is slated to return, but this is a game with huge playoff implications on both sides. The Rams will not go down easily.

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The Chargers then finish out the season with two road contests against the heretofore deplorable Bengals and the aforementioned Broncos. The finger-pointing has begun in Cincinnati, and both top receiving options are banged up. The Broncos have already dismissed a coach and can’t plug the holes fast enough.

The schedule’s set up for a fantastic finish. If this is any indication, Jackson is going to be front and center for the playoff push. And, if he delivers, he’ll get that cash back in short order.

The 49ers ruled Alex Smith out of Sunday’s game against the Broncos overseas. Smith sustained a separated shoulder in Week 7 against the Panthers and will be unavailable for the game. David Carr entered the contest and did nothing to impress embattled coach Mike Singletary. As such, former Baltimore quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith, will get the nod.

Smith hasn’t started a game in three seasons, and lost his last opportunity to challenge for the starting gig in Baltimore when he was sidelined for much of the 2008 training camp schedule because of an illness. Joe Flacco stepped into the role and never looked back.

He has familiarity with former Ohio State teammate Ted Ginn, Jr., but all eyes will be on Smith’s ability to connect with Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree downfield.

I’m intrigued. OK, so it’s probably the Big 10 loyalist in me. Still, the offense has to come alive sometime … right?

Check it out here .

The Saints signed former Washington tailback Ladell Betts to rebuild depth at tailback following Lynell Hamilton’s injury. The Bills signed several rookies. Other teams hit by injuries are mulling signings of the remaining veteran options.

On Monday, it was announced that former Eagles star and longtime fantasy hero Brian Westbrook had agreed to terms with the 49ers. Anthony Dixon, the sixth-round pick out of Mississippi State, topped 100 yards and scored for the 49ers in their preseason opener, but the team opted to bring in a seasoned veteran who can play on third downs (Westbrook’s pass-catching efforts made him a fantasy legend).

Westbrook immediately slides up the board as Gore’s top backup and handcuff option. Given the improvements on the offensive line (save the center’s broken leg, of course), the 49ers are looking to make some noise in the NFC West. Westbrook won’t see enough carries to warrant a fantasy start if Gore stays healthy.

However, he could prove to be a fantasy goldmine off the bench if pressed into heavy action.

All throughout the off-season, I’ve been banging the drum about the prospects for the 49ers, owing a nod to Frank Gore’s brilliance, the improvements made on the offensive line, Alex Smith’s growth and the expectation that Coffee would raise his game in his second year. Well, all of the former is now true, but rookie Anthony Dixon, a sixth-round pick out of Mississippi State will be called upon to play the back-up role to Gore. Michael Robinson, the former Penn State quarterback, is in the third spot for now.

There isn’t much out there in the way of free agent running backs. Might the 49ers reach out to Brian Westbrook? The other “name” backs out there are Dominic Rhodes, DeShaun Foster, T.J. Duckett & Adrian Peterson II.

The other move is to make a trade. With the 49ers expected to push for a division title, a trade with Buffalo (Marshawn Lynch) or Baltimore (Willis McGahee) is certainly in the realm of possibility. They need an insurance policy for Gore.

Coach Mike Singletary was already dealing with Kentwan Balmer’s unexcused absence. I love the quote from the Hall of Famer – “If he wanted to be back, he’d be back.” Balmer, the 49ers’ 2008 first-round pick, has yet to make an impact for the squad on any level — except this headache.

There never seems to be a shortage of drama for the Singletary-led 49ers. Will these preseason issues be enough to derail this squad?

Owens signed a one-year deal to join his reality television tag-team partner, Chad Ochocinco, in Cincinnati. The move gives Carson Palmer his deepest and most potent receiving corps ever, with Antonio Bryant coming over from Tampa Bay and rookie Jermaine Gresham expected to make an immediate impact. Palmer, in his second year back from injury, is primed to have a big season with Cedric Benson handling the running load again. He’s being drafted as one of the first QB2s, but could become a weekly starter in short order.

The Bengals appeared to be the fit all along for Owens, but that didn’t stop the chatter about the Rams, Raiders, Bears, Jets and seemingly countless other squads. There was talk about Owens’ salary demands. There was talk about his locker room demeanor. There was talk about his ability to fit as a secondary option.

The Bengals ultimately decided that veteran receiver had something left in his tank, as I’d argued all along after watching his efforts in Buffalo last season. There were flashes of his old breakaway self, but perhaps too few to convince some (look at the line and QB play in Buffalo).

In Cincinnati, Ochocinco is unquestionably the headliner. Owens will be the No. 2, with Bryant sliding down in the pecking order (he slid very deep in a draft in which I participated on Tuesday night). There’s potential for 60-70 receptions if things go properly and this unit stays healthy. I’d ranked him as a WR3 this preseason with the assumption that he’d enter a situation in which he could make an impact. Owens might have had a larger statistical impact in St. Louis, but he’ll have the opportunity to produce in what could be an upper-tier offense, particularly with Antwan Odom and the defense ready to get after it.

Now, I mentioned that Ochocinco is the headliner here. The Bengals are banking that Owens doesn’t become the locker room equivalent of a heckler.