Tomlinson scores two TDs to pull Chargers into tie atop AFC West
(AP) – LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t finished yet and neither is the AFC West race.
Tomlinson scored twice to continue his climb up the career rushing and scoring lists, and the San Diego Chargers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 31-23 on Sunday to pull into a tie atop the AFC West with the slumping Denver Broncos.
The Chargers and Broncos, both 6-3, play next Sunday in Denver. Four weeks ago, the Chargers appeared dead in the water, 3 1/2 games back after losing 34-23 to the then- undefeated Broncos.
The score of the Broncos’ 27-17 loss at Washington — Denver’s third straight — was announced moments before kickoff in San Diego. The Chargers then went out and won their fourth straight.
Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb threw for a season-high 450 yards, completing 35 of 55, and two late touchdowns. He was intercepted in the end zone by Antonio Cromartie on the game’s last play.
The Eagles (5-4) made it inside the Chargers’ 10-yard line three times only to have to settle for field goals by David Akers.
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was knocked out with another concussion. He had missed the previous two games during a win against Washington on Oct. 26.
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson hits the endzone while scoring against the Philadelphia Eagles defense on a 20-yard run during the third quarter of a NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
The last time the Chargers played the Eagles, on Oct. 23, 2005, Tomlinson was held to 7 yards on 17 carries, his career low for a regular-season game.
It appeared for a while in the offseason that L.T. would be a salary-cap casualty, but the sides finally agreed to a reworked contract. He turned 30 in June, then sprained his right ankle in a season-opening win at Oakland. He missed the next two games, the first time in his brilliant career that he missed regular-season games due to injury.
His previous season-high was 71 yards in a win at Kansas City three weeks ago.
Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard run to give the Chargers a 14-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter. Midway through the third quarter he chugged 20 yards through the right side of the Eagles’ defense to make it 21-6.
San Diego’s Philip Rivers threw touchdown passes of 20 yards to wide-open fullback Mike Tolbert in the first quarter and 20 yards to Legedu Naanee in the third quarter.
Naanee was flagged for excessive celebration for kneeling in front of a Chargers cheerleader and handing her the ball. The Chargers had to kick off from their 15.
The Eagles were stuffed their first three times inside the San Diego 10, including when they had the ball first-and-goal from the 1 after Quentin Jammer’s pass interference penalty in the end zone in the second quarter. They had to settle for field goals of 18, 25 and 25 yards.
McNabb threw a 5-yard pass to Jeremy Maclin early in the fourth quarter and 6 yards to tight end Brent Celek with 7:12 left to pull the Eagles to 28-23.
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