ESPN NFL

SAN DIEGO -- LaDainian Tomlinson's days as a great running back are probably behind him. His days as a San Diego Charger may be numbered as well.

But as the Chargers continue to show that they intend to be a team to be reckoned with in January, Tomlinson still has a significant role. It may not be as a game-breaker anymore. But Tomlinson, 30, is still the most dangerous and the most used player in the NFL at the goal line.

When San Diego settled down near the goal line in their 43-14 pummeling of the sloppy and overmatched Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, everyone in the house knew what the Chargers were going to do.

The entire stadium started to chant, “L.T., L.T., L.T.”

And the ball went to Tomlinson. Tomlinson scored on runs of 1 yard and 3 yards. He tried to get another touchdown, but he was stripped of the ball at the goal line in the fourth quarter. The Chargers challenged the close call, but they were denied.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tomlinson leads the NFL with 26 goal-line touches. He has seven touchdowns at the goal line, which is also a league high.

Even though he had only 39 yards on 13 carries Sunday, his work near the goal line shows Tomlinson is still a big part of this team. He said he was motivated when he was introduced as part of the franchise's 50th anniversary team prior to the game. Eleven current Chargers are on the team.

This is far from Tomlinson's last honor. Tomlinson is likelyheaded to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He moved into 10th place on the all-time rushing list Sunday with 12,257 yards.

“It was a special day,” Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson is on pace for the least productive season of his nine-year career. He has 497 yards on 148 carries and is averaging 3.4 yards per carry, which would be a career low if the season ended today.

It took Tomlinson and the Chargers several weeks to agree on a restructured contract to ensure his return in 2009. There is a good chance San Diego will decide to part ways with Tomlinson after this season.

Although Tomlinson's golden days in San Diego may only be a memory, he continues to show he can produce when it counts.

The following are other key aspects of Sunday's game:

San Diego keeps charging: San Diego is one of the hottest teams in the NFL as its enters December, which has been Charger-friendly in recent years.

San Diego has won six straight games. It is 8-3 and leads the 7-4 Broncos by one game in the AFC West. San Diego, which plays at Cleveland next week, has two games remaining with teams with winning records. The Chargers look poised to make a run at the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.

The win over Kansas City gave San Diego a 5-1 record against AFC West opponents as it finished division play. The Chargers' only blemish was a home loss to the Broncos, which San Diego avenged last week with a 32-3 win in Denver.

San Diego has registered back-to-back 29-point wins. During San Diego's six-game win streak, it has outscored opponents by 105 points.

The Chargers are smoking into the final stretch, which is good news for them, because they always play well in December. Quarterback Philip Rivers is 14-0 as the Chargers' starter in December. The team is 9-0 under coach Norv Turner in the month.

San Diego plays relentless defense: The San Diego defense has been terrific during its winning streak. It has allowed an opponent more than 20 points just once during the streak. San Diego has surrendered a total of 17 points in the past two games.

Pressuring the quarterback has been a big part of the Chargers' defensive success. San Diego made Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel uncomfortable all game. The Chargers had one sack, but Cassel was pressured into throwing an interception and he lost one of two fumbles. The lost fumble was returned by San Diego safety Paul Oliver for a touchdown.

“I think we're really playing well as a defense,” San Diego cornerback Quentin Jammer said. “The pressure is a big key.”

Charles and Chambers continue to shine: The reason there is hope for the 3-7 Chiefs is that their two best offensive weapons are still just getting acclimated.

Second-year running back Jamaal Charles had 93 yards on 14 carries. Receiver Chris Chambers continued to shine with a team-high seven catches for 70 yards and a 7-yard touchdown catch against his former team.

Charles has taken over this month as the Chiefs' top back in the aftermath of Larry Johnson's release. Charles is a game-breaker who looks like he could have a future in Kansas City.

Chambers has been fantastic for the Chiefs in the four games since the team claimed him off waivers earlier this month from San Diego. Chambers has 17 catches in four games and he looks like Cassel's favorite target.

When Dwayne Bowe returns from a four-game NFL suspension in two weeks, he will have some work to do to reclaim being the Chiefs' top receiver.

SAN DIEGO --- After the Chargers’ 43-14 win over Kansas City, linebacker Shaun Phillips clarified his role, to ESPN.com, in the verbal spat with Josh McDaniels. He apologized to the Denver coach for his words, which he said were misinterpreted.

Phillips said he wasn’t trying to threaten McDaniels.

“I said 'We’re going to beat that (rear end),’ ” Phillips said. “I meant it by our team, not me. I meant we’re going to win. In no way was I threatening or challenging him personally. I’m sorry if he felt that way. I respect him. It’s up to him to accept my apology.”

Phillips said he has moved on from the situation.

“It’s so last week,” Phillips said.

SAN DIEGO --- The San Diego Chargers wrapped up their AFC West divisional play for 2009 in grand style.

The Chargers completely manhandled the Chiefs. The undermanned Chiefs stuck around in the first quarter, but the Chargers exploded in the second quarter with 21 unanswered points. The Chargers continued the beat down in the second half.

The Chargers finished their AFC West slate with a 5-1 record. Their only blemish was a home loss to the Broncos, which San Diego avenged last week with a 29-point win in Denver.

San Diego has registered back-to-back 29-point wins. In San Diego’s six-game win streak, it has outscored opponents by 105 points. San Diego has outscored Kansas City 73-21 this season.

The Chargers are 8-3 and lead Denver by one game going into the final month of play. The Chargers, who play at Cleveland next week, have been excellent in December under the guidance of coach Norv Turner and the leadership of quarterback Philip Rivers.

San Diego looks poised to make a push for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.

Kansas City dropped to 3-8 and saw its two-game win streak (its longest in two-plus seasons) end. The Chiefs did some nice things early, but they just couldn’t keep up with the surging Chargers.

SAN DIEGO --- Halftime notes where the Chargers are handling the Chiefs, 28-7:

• The Chiefs were in the game, but the Chargers scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. The rout was on when Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel let a ball slip out his hands. San Diego safety Paul Oliver caught the ball and brought it back for a touchdown to give San Diego a 28-7 lead.
• LaDainian Tomlinson has had more goal-line carries than any player in the NFL this season and he scored his sixth touchdown near the goal line Sunday. Tomlinson is now 10th in the NFL in all-time rushing yards.
• San Diego tight end Antonio Gates is fourth in the all-time list for touchdowns by a tight end with 55.
• San Diego safety Eric Weddle returned to the field after missing some time with a knee injury. San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman (foot) left the game in the second quarter. He is questionable to return. He has been dealing with the injury for weeks. With San Diego leading big, Merriman may not return.
• Oliver was called for another facemask penalty. He could be fiend or the second in a week for the infraction. He was fined $5,000 by the league for a face-mask penalty against Denver last week.
• Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles has 71 yards on eight carries.
• Former San Diego receiver Chris Chambers has five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown for Kansas City.

SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers are playing without two key defensive players.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman and safety Eric Weddle left the game in the second quarter. Both are questionable to return.

Merriman has a foot injury and Weddle has a knee issues. Merriman has been dealing with a foot problem for several weeks. He didn’t practice all week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.

SAN DIEGO -- Chris Chambers has to be thrilled.

Leading up to Sunday’s game against San Diego, Chambers said he had the game marked on his calendar. He clearly came to play. Chambers caught a short touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Chambers was claimed by Kansas City earlier after being a surprise cut in San Diego earlier this month. Chambers has been outstanding since joining the Chiefs. Sunday, he is doing his best to try to upset his former team.

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman is active and he is expected to start against Kansas City. He didn’t practice all week with a foot injury.

Kansas City linebacker Mike Vrabel is inactive with a knee injury. He will be replaced by Andy Studebaker, who had two interceptions and a half sack in the Chiefs’ upset over Pittsburgh last week.

San Diego defensive lineman Luis Castillo is not active. He suffered a calf injury at Denver. Alfonso Boone will start in his place.

Brandon Siler will start ahead of Kevin Burnett at linebacker.

San Diego center Nick Hardwick is inactive for the 10th straight game with an ankle injury. He practiced in a limited basis last week.

New San Diego right tackle Jon Runyan is inactive. He probably won’t be ready to play until two weeks from now at Dallas.

SAN DIEGO –- Please join us Sunday afternoon for NFL Nation Live. We will have a live discussion of all of the NFL action.

I will be at the Chiefs-Chargers game, giving live updates. I look forward to it.

The Kansas City Chiefs promoted rookie receiver/return man Quinten Lawrence from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

He was a sixth-round pick this year. He spent time on the roster before being cut and signed to the practice squad. He had one rush and one kickoff return before spending the past four weeks on the practice squad. He is eligible to play against the Chargers on Sunday.

Lawrence takes the place of Maurice Leggett on the 53-man roster. Leggett was put on the injured reserve this week.

After a two-game stay in Denver, I'm on my way to San Diego for Sunday's game between the Chargers and the Chiefs.

Both the Chargers and the Chiefs are entering the game with good vibes. The Chargers have won five straight games and are in first place in the AFC West with a 7-3 record. The Chiefs are coming off of two straight wins, including a win over defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh on Sunday. It’s the Chiefs’ first two-game win streak in more than two years.

With both the Broncos and the Raiders in the books for Week 12, please check back for pre- and post-game coverage from San Diego.

San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman didn’t practice Friday and he has missed the entire week of practice as the Chargers prepare to play Kansas City on Sunday. Merriman has a foot injury.

He is listed as questionable on the injury report. Merriman has been playing very well in the past several weeks and he continued to improve from a 2008 knee surgery. At this point, it would still be a surprise if Merriman didn’t play. While Merriman is questionable, San Diego defensive lineman Luis Castillo is doubtful. He suffered a calf injury at Denver on Sunday he hasn’t practiced all week.

San Diego center Nick Hardwick could play for the first time since Week 1. He has been limited all week and is listed as questionable. He has an ankle injury.

For Kansas City, linebacker Mike Vrabel is questionable with a knee injury that kept him out last week. He has been limited in practice all week.

Meanwhile, the Chargers were given another 24-hour exertion as they try to sell out Sunday’s game. They were given a 24-hour extension Thursday. Now, they will have until 1 p.m. Saturday to lift the local television blackout. The Chargers have 1,350 tickets to sell.