SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers have a quarterback that is the talk of the league.

The Jets have two quarterbacks that are part of ongoing debate: which one is worse?

San Diego’s Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes and the Chargers crushed the New York Jets 31-0 on Sunday.

Rivers completed 20 of 28 passes for 288 yards as he threw two touchdown passes to tight end Antonio Gates and another to running back Branden Oliver, who also scored on a 15-yard run.

“You don’t get up 31-0 too often in this league,” said Rivers, who gave way to Kellen Clemens for the last series.

New York quarterback Geno Smith was benched after one half and replaced by Michael Vick. The Jets did not cross midfield until late in the fourth quarter, when they were aided by a Chargers penalty. The Jets converted 1 of 12 third and fourth downs, were outgained 439-151 and committed 12 penalties for 94 yards.

Smith’s struggles were obvious in the first half after he completed four of 12 passes for 27 yards and an interception. He left with a passer rating of 7.6, but coach Rex Ryan said after the game Smith would start next week.

“The only thing to change this is to win,” Smith said. “We have to do some soul-searching.”

Vick replaced Smith, the Jets’ second-round pick last year, for the second half. Vick completed nine of 20 passes for 47 yards and did little to spark the team. Overall, the Jets averaged 1.8 yards per completion.

“I’m just going to stay ready regardless what happens the rest of the season,” Vick said.

Rivers had his career-best fourth straight game with passer rating over 120.

In the final minute of the second quarter the Chargers surged ahead 21-0. Oliver, who at times looked like a clone of former San Diego running back Darren Sproles, went up the middle for his first NFL touchdown. It was the Chargers’ second running score since the opener, breaking a spell of 14 straight quarters without one.

The Chargers extended their lead to 14-0 thanks to a second-quarter Jets turnover.

One play after cornerback Phillips Adams intercepted Rivers in the end zone — Rivers’ first pick since the opener — the Jets committed a turnover on running back Chris Johnson’s fumble, which was recovered by safety Jahleel Addae at the New York 20.

“We were getting our tail whipped but we were hanging in there,” Ryan said. “Then we give it right back.”

Rivers hit Gates for their second scoring connection, this one from 12 yards. It was their NFL-best 65th as a quarterback-tight end tandem.

“Two times Gates was singled-up down there and we threw touchdowns,” Rivers said. “That is what we expect to do when we get that matchup.”

Midway through the first quarter, Rivers clicked with Gates on a 4-yard touchdown pass. The two key plays in the 90-yard drive were two Malcom Floyd completions for 66 yards.

What the Chargers said:

“I just think our toughness, for whatever reason, whether it’s Southern California, or the vibe that you get out here of just a finesse group, of guys that like to throw it around in 75-degree weather. I think we’ve shown our toughest; we talk about it all the time.” — Quarterback Philip Rivers on the misconception of the Chargers being soft.

What the Jets said:

“First off, I apologize to our fans, those that are left. I’ve been beat before but not like this.” — Jets coach Rex Ryan after being embarrassed by the Chargers 31-0 on Sunday.

What we learned about the Chargers:

1. That the Chargers can’t catch a break at center. Doug Legursky left the game in the fourth quarter on a cart with a serious left knee injury. Legursky is the third starting center the Chargers had over the first four games, replacing Pro Bowler Nick Hardwick and Rich Ohrnberger. With Ohrnberger missing his second straight assignment with a balky back, Legursky couldn’t get through his second game. That forced the Chargers to move rookie Chris Watt over from right guard and insert him in at center. The Chargers are hoping Ohrnberger’s back can rally, if not, the offense could have a youngster at center for the foreseeable future.

2. The Chargers’ running game showed a pulse, and that’s something new. It was spotty at times, but the running game produced a season-high 162 yards against the NFL’s top-ranked run defense. And it did so mostly on the back of Branden Oliver, an undrafted rookie. Oliver played more with Donald Brown only lasting one half before he was sidelined with a concussion. Oliver rushed for a career-high 114 yards and added 68 receiving yards, with a rushing and receiving touchdown. He had a long run of 52 yards; a long reception of 68 yards.

–WR Malcom Floyd has always been productive — when he can stay on the field. But once again it looks as if Floyd could miss time with a calf injury. He needed crutches in leaving the locker room after catching three passes for 72 yards. In 10 seasons, Floyd has played in all 16 games just once.

–TE Antonio Gates continues to add to his Hall of Fame resume. Gates scored his 91nd career touchdown, which puts him in the NFL’s top 10 all-time list. His 12-yard reception with Philip Rivers was the 65th time they hooked up — no quarterback-tight end tandem has more.

–RT D.J. Fluker left the game with an ankle injury. Fluker didn’t play the second half, replaced by Willie Smith. Not a good sign that Fluker left the locker room on crutches.

What we learned about the Jets:

1. The merry-go-round at quarterback continues for New York. Geno Smith was dreadful, again, and had to be yanked in favor of Michael Vick to start the second half. The Jets acknowledged Vick isn’t the long-term answer, which is why they have preached patience with Smith, a second-year pro. But after a disastrous first half, it was clear Smith needed to be replaced. The key will be how he rebounds from being demoted, something the Jets wanted to avoid as, in their eyes, he remains the quarterback of the future. Unfortunately, the present doesn’t look too good.

2. Any quarterback’s best friend is a reliable running game and the Jets can’t help Smith or Vick, in that manner. The Jets rushed for 90 yards, but neither Chris Ivory nor Chris Johnson delivered much consistency. Minus a running game to complement a tepid passing attack, the odds are stacked against the Jets.

–QB Geno Smith will start next week against the Broncos despite another woeful performance Sunday. But he knows he can’t duplicate many days like Sunday when he completed just 4 of 12 passes for 27 yards and a 7.6 passer rating. “What we did today was pathetic,” Smith said. “This makes you look at yourself a little more and find a way to get better.”

–LB Calvin Pace paced the Jets with two sacks, giving him a team-high four on the season.

–S Darwan Landry had a busy day for the Jets. He tied for a game-high 10 tackles, with nine of them being solo. He also had a pass defensed.