SAN DIEGO -- With the Chargers off to a 4-0 start this year, the city spent considerably less on tickets for Sunday's game against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots than on other recent contests.

SOUND OFF Are The Chargers Important To San Diego?

The city shelled out $102,083 on 1,849 tickets for the most recent game, which the AFC West-leading Chargers won 21-14.

The average ticket cost was $55.21, said city communications director Carl Nettleton.

"When the team wins, they sell more tickets. And that's good for everyone," Nettleton said.

The city spent nearly $1 million on tickets for the Sept. 15 game, a 24-3 victory at home against the newly minted Houston Texans.

For a pair of preseason games, the city spent an apparent record $1.69 million for tickets to the Aug. 17 game against Seattle, and $1.68 million for the Aug. 10 game against Arizona.

Under a controversial clause in the Chargers' contract, the city guarantees the team ticket sales of 60,000 per game.

The original agreement called for a rent credit for the unsold seats up to 60,000, but the city saves some money by buying the tickets before the game.

The ticket guarantee has been in effect since 1997.