SAN DIEGO—LaDainian Tomlinson took over the NFL rushing lead and scored on a 17-yard run to help the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers take a 23-3 lead over the Denver Broncos after three quarters on Monday night.
Tomlinson came into the game with 1,311 yards, 5 shy of Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker. Parker broke his lower right leg Thursday night and is out for the rest of the season.
The reigning league MVP, Tomlinson is trying to win his second straight rushing title. He had 107 yards on 19 carries, his fourth straight 100-yard game, to push his season total to 1,418. This is his fourth straight season with 15 rushing touchdowns. He set NFL records last year with 31 touchdowns, 28 of them rushing.
L.T.’s closest pursuer is Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson, who has 1,305 yards after being held to just 27 yards on nine carries in a loss to Washington on Sunday night. Peterson set the NFL single-game record of 296 against San Diego on Nov. 4.
Broncos safety John Lynch drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty—and the wrath of the crowd—after tackling Tomlinson following a 2-yard run. Tomlinson’s helmet came off and Lynch took it with both hands and threw it about 10 yards.
A few plays later, Lynch went out of his way to go over to Tomlinson and shake his hand.
Lynch went to high school in San Diego and won the Super Bowl on this field in January 2003 while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tomlinson scored late in the first quarter. He was on the sideline for San Diego’s final drive of the half. He carried four times during an 11-play, 84-yard drive capped by a 14-yard TD pass from Philip Rivers to Chris Chambers.
Tomlinson came out and was checked by trainer James Collins, and didn’t return. Tomlinson played only the first half of San Diego’s 51-14 win over Detroit eight days earlier. He said he felt a hamstring grab on a long run late in the second quarter of that game.
The Chargers need to win out to secure the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed. That would mean a trip to Indianapolis rather than New England for the divisional round, providing, of course, they win their wild-card game. San Diego is on a four-game postseason losing streak.
San Diego won four straight and eight of 10 coming in, including 41-3 at Denver on Oct. 7.
It was a rough night for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, who was born in Santa Claus, Ind.
Cutler was sacked four times, lost a fumble and was intercepted once.
Cutler fumbled after getting hit by Luis Castillo deep in Chargers territory on the opening drive. Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shawne Merriman recovered. Castillo returned after a six-game layoff following ankle surgery.
Chargers safety Clinton Hart had an interception and a sack.
San Diego’s Nate Kaeding kicked field goals of 40, 23 and 29 yards.
