Chargers’ Title Is a Bolt Out of Blue

Those lightning-bolt decals streaking across their helmets have never been more fitting. The San Diego Chargers have shocked the NFL -- and maybe even themselves.

LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, Antonio Gates tied a league record with his 12th touchdown and San Diego captured the AFC West title Sunday, sliding through the snow for a 21-0 win over the Cleveland Browns.

One season after a league-worst 4-12 mark, the Chargers (11-3) won their eighth straight and, when Denver lost at Kansas City, earned their first postseason berth since 1995. They’re division champions for the first time since 1994.

“I’ve only been here for four years, but in some ways it feels like eight,” Tomlinson said. “To go from where we were to this is awesome. I’ve dreamed of the playoffs for a long time, but it’s only been a dream.”

Reality set in quickly. As the Chargers walked off the frozen field, each player was handed an “AFC West 2004 Champions” baseball cap.

“This feels great,” said quarterback Drew Brees, who attempted only six passes. “It’s been a long road for San Diego fans and us. It feels great because we weren’t expected to do too much this year. Instead of 11-3, a lot of people thought we’d be 3-11.”

With a mistake-free offense and hard-nosed defense, Coach Marty Schottenheimer has led the Chargers to their longest win streak since 1987 and turned them into the league’s most unlikely success story.

“We’re riding the wave,” fullback Lorenzo Neal said.

San Diego, which hasn’t lost since Oct. 17, also showed it could be a factor in the postseason regardless of climate. The Chargers ignored blowing snow, a game-time temperature of 18 and a subzero wind chill -- the kind of conditions they could face in a playoff game at New England or Pittsburgh -- to post their first shutout since 1993 and easily handle the Browns (3-11), who lost their eighth straight.

The shutout was the Chargers’ first since Nov. 29, 1993, when they beat Indianapolis, 31-0.

“Our confidence is just snowballing with each performance,” Gates said.

Tomlinson scored on a pair of one-yard runs, his 15th and 16th touchdowns this season. He has scored a touchdown in 11 consecutive games, two shy of the NFL record shared by John Riggins and George Rogers.

Gates tied a league single-season record for touchdown catches by a tight end with his 72-yard scoring reception in the second quarter. The record is shared by Mike Ditka (1961), Jerry Smith (1967), Todd Christensen (1983) and Wesley Walls (1999).

Gates and the Chargers want to make more history. “This is one step,” he said. “We want to go to the Super Bowl.”