SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- LaDainian Tomlinson reached new heights for the San Diego Chargers and helped complete the Oakland Raiders' ignominious fall from grace.
Tomlinson rushed for a career-high 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season as the Chargers defeated the anemic Raiders, 21-14.
Three of Tomlinson's top seven rushing performances have come against Oakland. In this one, he carried 31 times, caught eight passes for 17 yards and personally outgained the Raiders, 261 yards to 141.
"It's one thing to have a big game and lose. It kind of gives you a sour taste in your mouth," said Tomlinson, who broke his own team record with 2,370 all-purpose yards. "But to win makes it that much better."
"It's remarkable to do what he's done this year," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "I'm an English major and I've run out of superlatives. What else can you say? He's a remarkable player and a remarkable person."
Oakland's season ended at Qualcomm Stadium for the second year in a row. Last January, the Raiders were beaten by Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII. Now coach Bill Callahan may lose his job after Oakland (4-12) dropped 10 of 12 games at the end of its worst season since 1997.
"This is the same team that went to the Super Bowl last year. Something has definitely changed," defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield said.
While Callahan refused to speculate about his future, defensive tackle Rod Coleman did not mince words.
"He won't be my coach," Coleman said. "I'm not coming back next season. ... Sugar to (crap) in one season, you can't blame it all on the players."
Controversy dogged Callahan right through the end of the season. Before this game, he deactivated running back Charlie Garner and cornerback Charles Woodson for violating team rules.
"I will address it with them personally, like I do with all disciplinary situations," Callahan said.
With Rick Mirer and Tee Martin running the offense, the Raiders totaled just nine first downs and zero passing yards. They did all of their scoring on special teams in a 4:15 span of the second quarter as Phillip Buchanon scored on an 80-yard punt return and Doug Gabriel returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
But Tomlinson broke a 14-14 tie with a two-yard TD run 3:18 into the final period and the Chargers (4-12) held on for just their third win in the last 13 meetings with their AFC West rivals.
"I think we can enjoy this win because it shows the type of team we have, the type of defense we have," said San Diego rookie cornerback Sammy Davis said. "There's nothing like beating the Raiders at home in our last game of the season."
