Monday, Nov. 16, 2009

Former CCU back Tolbert scores in Chargers' win

SAN DIEGO -- 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, 31/2 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.

Tomlinson gained a season-high 96 yards on 24 carries to pass Thurman Thomas and Franco Harris and move into 12th place all time with 12,145 yards. His two touchdowns gave him 146 and moved him past Marcus Allen and into third place on the all-time list.

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.

San Diego's Philip Rivers threw touchdown passes of 20 yards to wide-open fullback Mike Tolbert, a former Coastal Carolina standout, in the first quarter and 20 yards to Legedu Naanee in the third quarter.