SAN DIEGO (AP) -Shaun Alexander barely broke a sweat. LaDainian Tomlinson didn’t even suit up.
That’s what happens when the last two NFL MVPs hook up in an exhibition opener.
Alexander’s Seattle Seahawks beat Tomlinson’s San Diego Chargers 24-16 on Sunday night, getting the go-ahead points on a 36-yard field goal from Josh Brown with 7:18 left. Brown had missed a 41-yard attempt, but got a second chance when the Chargers were penalized for having 12 men on the field. Third-stringer Marquis Weeks added a 6-yard scoring run with 1:55 left.
While Alexander touched the ball three times, Tomlinson watched from the sideline, wearing a sweat suit and a cap turned backward. Tomlinson is usually held out of exhibitions to avoid the risk of injury. The last time he played in an exhibition was in 2005, when he scored on his only run of the night, a 55-yarder.
At least the weather was perfect, which it wasn’t the last time these teams met in a real game. That was on Christmas Eve, when the Chargers rallied for a 20-17 win in a steady rain in Seattle.
Tomlinson didn’t score in that game, but he did end up with an NFL-record 31 touchdowns en route to winning the league MVP award. He broke by three the mark Alexander set the year before, when he was the MVP.
The Chargers, coming off an NFL-best 14-2 record last year, were playing at Qualcomm Stadium for the first time since falling apart in a 24-21 loss to New England in their playoff opener on Jan. 14. The Seahawks lost the same day, falling 27-24 in overtime at Chicago.
The Chargers didn’t look particularly sharp in their first game under coach Norv Turner, who replaced the fired Marty Schottenheimer. They were penalized eight times for 45 yards and gave up five sacks, two by defensive end Darryl Tapp.
Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck played only the opening series, which Hasselbeck finished with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch. Alexander carried twice for 4 yards and dropped a pass.
Guard Rob Sims grabbed a deflected pass and gained 16 yards. San Diego’s Drayton Florence had an interception that was called back due to holding on the cornerback.
Hasselbeck had surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder.
San Diego’s Philip Rivers played only two series. His backup, Billy Volek, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Floyd late in the second quarter. Volek was 13-of-18 for 143 yards.
San Diego’s Nate Kaeding kicked field goals of 38, 27 and 50 yards.
Seattle backup quarterback Seneca Wallace threw a 17-yard touchdown to Ben Obomanu with 10:45 left. Wallace was 17-of-25 for 191 yards, with one interception.
Darren Sproles, who missed all of last season after breaking his left leg on a punt return in an exhibition game exactly a year earlier, had a nice game for the Chargers. He carried seven times for 63 yards and caught four passes for 36 yards.
Chargers rookie safety Eric Weddle continued to look at home at Qualcomm Stadium. He intercepted Wallace early in the second quarter and returned it 16 yards.
While at Utah, Weddle had four interceptions in two games against San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium. He had three last year, returning two for touchdowns.
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