Tomlinson, Chargers improve positions in win over Broncos

LaDainian Tomlinson neared the rushing title, the Chargers the No. 3 seed.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Don’t tell the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos that their Christmas Eve game didn’t mean anything.

John Lynch met LaDainian Tomlinson head-on early in the first quarter, a collision of two star players following a simple 2-yard run.

Normally they’d get up and get ready for the next play. Not this time. Tomlinson’s helmet came off and Lynch took it with both hands and threw it about 10 yards, drawing an un-sportsmanlike conduct penalty and the wrath of the crowd.

“I thought it was going to be that kind of a night, where even the good guys turn to bad guys,” Tomlinson said.

It turned out to be a walkover for the Chargers, who beat the Denver Broncos 23-3 on Monday night, with Tomlinson closing in on his second straight NFL rushing title and San Diego getting closer to clinching the No. 3 playoff seed.

“This was a meaningful game,” said Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo, who returned from a six-game injury absence and recovered a fumble and had a sack. “This wasn’t a game that didn’t matter. And it’s not about the third seed. It’s about a divisional opponent that we’ve had some trouble beating in the past, whether it’s in Denver or here.”

Tomlinson had a 17-yard scoring run among his 107 yards before sitting out the bulk of the second half, already having scampered into the rushing lead with 1,418 yards. His route to another title was made easier when Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker (1,316) broke his right lower leg on Thursday night, finishing his season.

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 yards against San Diego on Nov. 4.