SAN DIEGO -- Mike Tolbert came back to San Diego with his touchdown dance intact and "a whole bag of chips" on his shoulder, and helped assure that the Chargers will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.

Tolbert scored twice against his former team and DeAngelo Williams turned a tipped pass from Cam Newton into a 45-yard touchdown reception to lead the Carolina Panthers to a 31-7 victory against the punchless Chargers on Sunday.

Carolina (5-9) won consecutive games for the first time since last December.

"It's a great feeling to be able to score the first two touchdowns back here," Tolbert said. "It's indescribable."

The Chargers (5-9) clinched their first losing season since 2003, when they were an NFL-worst 4-12. Coach Norv Turner is expected to be fired at season's end, most likely along with general manager A.J. Smith.

The Chargers did a face-plant a week after upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-24 to remain mathematically, if not realistically, alive in the playoff picture.

Some of that might have had to do with Tolbert extensively briefing the defense about his former team.

Also, Panthers coach Ron Rivera was with the Chargers from 2007-10, first as inside linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator. And Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is a former Chargers tight ends coach.

"Now that the game is over, I can go ahead and say it. I gave a lot of tips to our defense about their offense, the keys, the checks, the audibles and stuff like that." Tolbert said. "I think that helped. I think they had less than 200 yards of offense. Our defense played great, so it definitely helped."

Tolbert, who left San Diego as a free agent in March, capped Carolina's first two drives with 1-yard scoring runs.

Tolbert leaped over the top of the pile for his first TD to cap the game's opening drive, which went 80 yards in 13 plays.

"They don't think a little fat man can jump, but I can definitely get up," Tolbert said.

His second TD was set up when Philip Rivers lost a fumble. Tolbert went in standing up for a 14-0 lead.

Both times he did his TD dance, the Dougie.

"That's in my nature. I'm a guy that loves to have fun when I'm playing games, so I'm going to dance regardless," he said.

"You can't critique that," said Newton, who cut his right index finger just before halftime and twisted an ankle but said he'll be OK. "He has a wild range of moves in his repertoire. I don't think even he knows what he's going to do."