|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson won't be going to the Pro Bowl this season, but the Raiders can vouch for his talent.
Tomlinson rushed for a career-high 243 yards as the Raiders' season ended with
a 21-14 loss to the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. Tomlinson rushed
for 187 yards in Oakland earlier this season and now has 430 yards against the
Raiders in two games.
"We have to tip our hat to LaDainian Tomlinson for an outstanding day today," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "We did not play well enough defensively to stop him."
Tomlinson also caught eight passes (for only 17 yards) to become the first player
in NFL history to have 1,000 or more rushing yards and 100 receptions in the
same season. Versatile former 49ers running back Roger Craig came close, catching
92 passes and rushing for 1,050 yards in 1985.
The third-year running back from TCU now has four games with 200 or more rushing
yards in his NFL career, tying Jim Brown, Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders for
the second most in history. O.J. Simpson owns the record with six.
Tomlinson was not, however, selected for the Pro Bowl. Clinton Portis of the
Denver Broncos, Jamal Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens and Priest Holmes of the
Kansas City Chiefs will represent the AFC in Hawaii instead.
"There are a lot of backs that are deserving of going to the Pro Bowl,"
Tomlinson said. "At the time I guess I was behind in rushing yards. That's
usually the way it goes when we're not winning. It happens like that sometimes."
Tomlinson ran for 12 yards on the first play of the game, and it was obvious
that he would remain the focal point of the Chargers offense. He had 119 yards
at halftime, which was 53 more yards than the Raiders offense produced in the
first 30 minutes.
He had 10 runs that were 10 yards or longer, including gains of 27, 32 and 35
yards against a Raiders defense that entered the game ranked 31st (of 32 teams)
against the run. He was one of eight backs to rush for 100 or more yards against
the Raiders this season.
Tomlinson had 13 carries for 114 yards on the Chargers' three scoring drives.
His biggest run of the day may have come early in the fourth quarter with the
score tied 14-14. The Raiders defense had forced the Chargers to punt on three
straight possessions before he burst off right tackle for 35 yards. He later
would score from 2 yards out to give San Diego the winning margin.
"I am an English major, and I run out of superlatives," said Chargers
coach Marty Schottenheimer, who said Tomlinson was the best running back he
has coached in 29 years in the NFL. "What are you going to say about the
guy? He is a remarkable, remarkable, remarkable player and a remarkable human
being."