Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Chargers' Gates, Tomlinson set new records

San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and running back LaDainian Tomlinson each set NFL records in their team's 34-31 overtime loss at Indianapolis on Sunday.

Gates caught his 13th touchdown pass of the season on a four-yard shovel toss from Drew Brees with 9:24 left in the third quarter. The 13 TD receptions set an NFL record for most touchdown catches by a tight end in a single campaign. Former Chicago Bears tight end and head coach Mike Ditka set the previous record of 12 in 1961.

Tomlinson, who had caught a 74-yard TD pass earlier in the game, scored on a 16-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was his 12th straight game with a rushing TD, establishing an NFL single-season record. The previous single-season mark of 11 was set by Dallas' Emmitt Smith in 1995 and equaled by Kansas City's Priest Holmes in 2002.

The overall record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown is 13, which is shared by a pair of Washington Redskins. John Riggins first reached the mark during the 1982 and '83 seasons. George Rogers matched it over the 1985 and '86 campaigns.

Tomlinson's second touchdown of the day gave San Diego a 31-16 lead, but Indianapolis closed out the game with 18 unanswered points and won the game on Mike Vanderjagt's 30-yard field goal 2:47 into overtime.

The records established by Gates and Tomlinson were overshadowed by the one set by Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, who broke Dan Marino's single- season record of 48 touchdown passes set in 1984.

Manning eclipsed the former Miami Dolphins great with his 49th TD pass of the season, a 21-yard scoring strike to Brandon Stokley with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter that pulled the Colts to within 31-29. A two-point conversion run by Edgerrin James tied the game. A three-yard shovel pass from Manning to James Mungro for a touchdown with 6:11 left in the third quarter tied Marino's record at 48.

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LT shouldn't have a problem tying the overall record of 13 games in a row next week against the Chiefs.

I knew about Gates' record, but not LT's.