• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Chargers bring Pro Bowl brigade to Seattle

Dec 24, 2006 - 5:48 PM San Diego (12-2) at Seattle (8-6) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The San Diego Chargers bring their Pro Bowl brigade to the Pacific Northwest for an interconference contest on Sunday.

LaDainian Tomlinson headlines the contingent of nine Chargers selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team. That more than doubles the total of the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, who need a win on Sunday or a loss by San Francisco to clinch their third straight division title.

Labeled by his coach Marty Schottenheimer as the best running back in NFL history, Tomlinson set a single-season record with 31 touchdowns, eclipsing Shaun Alexander's mark of 28 for Seattle in 2005. Tomlinson's total of 186 points also surpassed Paul Hornung's record of 176 points in 1960.

Tomlinson leads the league in rushing with 1,626 yards and has 53 catches for 484 yards. He has been named to the Pro Bowl four times in his six-year career.

Tomlinson's backfield partner - veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal - was also selected as a starter for his second Pro Bowl berth.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was suspended four games this season for violating the league's steroids policy, tight end Antonio Gates and defensive tackle Jamal Williams were the other starters named from the Chargers. Merriman recorded 12 1/2 sacks to earn his second Pro Bowl selection in as many seasons.

Quarterback Philip Rivers and center Nick Hardwick were named as reserves and kicker Nate Kaeding and special teamer Kassim Osgood were the other Chargers named to the Pro Bowl.

San Diego enters Sunday's contest with an eight-game winning streak.

The Seahawks had four Pro Bowl representatives - tackle Walter Jones, fullback Mack Strong and linebackers Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu.

Alexander is the reigning rushing champion and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was the Pro Bowl starter last season. But Alexander missed six games with a broken bone in his foot and Hasselbeck was sidelined for four games due to a sprained knee ligament, spoiling their chances to make the Pro Bowl again.

However, Seattle is more concerned with sealing a spot in the playoffs. The Seahawks could have clinched the NFC West title each of the last two weeks, but lost back-to-back games to division rivals Arizona and San Francisco.

On December 14, the Seahawks yielded 144 yards on the ground to NFC rushing leader Frank Gore in a 24-14 loss to San Francisco.

On Sunday, they will have to contend with Tomlinson, who has eight straight 100-yard games and a record eight consecutive multi-touchdown games.

Last week, Tomlinson rushed for a season-high 199 yards on 25 carries in a 20-9 win over Kansas City.

The Chargers own the best record in the AFC and a one-game lead over Indianapolis and Baltimore in the battle for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.