LT chasing TD mark
As the adage goes, "records are made to be broken." Well, that certainly seems to be the case with the National Football League's mark for touchdowns in a season. Since 1995, there have been four different running backs who've established a new record for scoring TDs.
Within a few weeks, it appears that the record will fall once again. San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is on a torrid pace in 2006. Through 11 games this season, he has found the end zone 24 times. "LT" has rushed for 21 scores and added three touchdown receptions. He needs just five more touchdowns to surpass the record set by Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Obviously, the Hall of Fame is keeping an eye on Tomlinson's pursuit of the NFL record in hopes of documenting the moment with memorabilia should he surpass Alexander's total of 28 touchdowns in 2005.
It would not be the first time that the Hall of Fame has contacted the Chargers regarding a memento from Tomlinson's record-setting performances. Currently on display (left) in the Hall of Fame's Pro Football Today exhibition area are artifacts from two of his history-making exploits. The jersey he wore on September 18, 2005 when he scored a rushing touchdown in his record 14th straight game is joined by the gloves and shoes he adorned during the 2003 season finale when he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes in the same season.
TDs in a single season
28 - Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (2005)
27 - Priest Holmes, Kansas City Chiefs (2003)
26 - Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams (2000)
25 - Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys (1995)
24 - John Riggins*, Washington Redskins (1983)
23 - O.J. Simpson*, Buffalo Bills (1975)
22 - Gale Sayers*, Chicago Bears (1965)
* Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Here is a game-by-game look at Tomlinson's performance in 2006.
|
Rushing
|
Receiving
|
||||||||||
| Date | Opponent |
No
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
LG
|
TD
|
No
|
Yds
|
Avg
|
LG
|
TD
|
| Sept. 11 | at Oakland |
31
|
131
|
4.2
|
58
|
1
|
3
|
18
|
6.0
|
10
|
0
|
| Sept. 27 | TENNESSEE |
19
|
71
|
3.7
|
15
|
2
|
7
|
51
|
7.3
|
14
|
0
|
| Oct. 1 | at Baltimore |
26
|
98
|
3.8
|
29
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
7.0
|
7
|
0
|
| Oct. 8 | PITTSBURGH |
13
|
36
|
2.8
|
12
|
0
|
8
|
34
|
4.3
|
19
|
0
|
| Oct. 15 | at San Francisco |
21
|
71
|
3.4
|
9
|
4
|
7
|
64
|
9.1
|
16
|
0
|
| Oct. 22 | at Kansas City |
15
|
66
|
4.4
|
19
|
0
|
6
|
72
|
12.0
|
37t
|
1
|
| Oct. 29 | ST. LOUIS |
25
|
183
|
7.3
|
51
|
2
|
3
|
57
|
19.0
|
26
|
1
|
| Nov. 5 | CLEVELAND |
18
|
172
|
9.6
|
41t
|
3
|
3
|
20
|
6.7
|
7
|
0
|
| Nov. 12 | at Cincinnati |
22
|
104
|
4.7
|
17
|
4
|
6
|
54
|
9.0
|
19
|
0
|
| Nov. 19 | at Denver |
20
|
105
|
5.3
|
24
|
3
|
3
|
74
|
24.7
|
51t
|
1
|
| Nov. 26 | OAKLAND |
19
|
109
|
5.7
|
44
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
|
229
|
1146
|
5
|
58
|
21
|
48
|
456
|
9.5
|
51t
|
3
|
||
Related links:
Alexander sets TD mark in 2005
Birthday trip to the Hall's archives
A young Chargers fan was treated to a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Hall's archives.
NFL franchises, 1920-current
Here is a complete rundown of every franchise that has competed in the National Football League since it was founded in downtown Canton, Ohio on September 17, 1920.