Chargers overpower Broncos

SAN DIEGO -- John Lynch met LaDainian Tomlinson head-on early in the first quarter, a collision of two star players after a two-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 unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“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 defeated the Denver Broncos, 23-3, on Monday night, with Tomlinson closing in on his second consecutive NFL rushing title and San Diego getting closer to clinching the No. 3 playoff seeding in the AFC.

Tomlinson had a 17-yard scoring run among his 107 yards before sitting out the bulk of the second half, already having taken 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.

Tomlinson’s closest pursuer is Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson, who has 1,305 yards after being held to only 27 yards in 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.

A few plays after their encounter, Lynch apologized to Tomlinson.

“It is something I’ve never done in my career. I am embarrassed by it,” said Lynch, a 15-year veteran safety who grew up in San Diego and won the Super Bowl on this field with Tampa Bay five years ago.

The helmet toss went farther than most of Denver’s offensive plays as the Broncos gained only 225 yards.

The Chargers (10-5) won their fifth game in a row. They need to win at Oakland on Sunday to secure the No. 3 seeding in the AFC.

The Chargers held the Broncos (6-9) without a touchdown in the season series. San Diego won at Denver, 41-3, on Oct. 7.