After watching LaDanian Tomlinson's meltdown on the sidelines against the Broncos, I was curious to see how Norv Turner and LT would respond against the Chiefs.

As a Broncos fan who is finally accepting that LT doesn't have the good stuff anymore after a nearly decade-long reign of terror, the results were encouraging. 23 rushes for 71 yards isn't awful, but take away his 36 yarder early and we're looking at 22 carries for 35 yards, a 1.6 YPC average. More importantly, by my count LT was given the opportunity to carry the ball eight times from inside the five yard line and generated a total of four yards from those carries. Included in this were three carries for 0 yards on a first and goal from the one in the 2nd quarter (SD Field Goal) and three carries for one yard on a second and goal from the two (SD turnover on downs).

That last drive was particularly interesting to me because as I watched it the Chargers were up 27-7 with a quarter to play and in complete control of the game and went for it on fourth down anyway. To me, Norv was sending a message to LT: Prove me wrong. Sure enough, on the next drive the Chargers had a first and goal on the four and after LT got stuffed for a yard on first down, they called two pass plays from the three and then one yard lines. Norv didn't go for it this time, opting to kick a field goal from 4th and goal from the 1.

As a non-technical football fan I realize goal line stuffs are often attributable to offensive line play more than anything else. But at the same time, are you prepared to tell me that LT doesn't get those touchdowns two years ago? Of course he does.

It would be one thing if LT was a sympathetic player, but his playoff failures, his public spat with AJ Smith in the offseason and his absurd declaration before the season that he was still the top running back in the league all point to a guy who simply doesn't get it. In fact I have long believed that LT is the best example outside of Donovan McNabb of Bill Simmons' so-called "Ewing Effect" - a guy who puts up the numbers but come crunch time he doesn't have that extra gear or the heart to take the team to the next level. But I'm assuming that's a topic already well covered here on MHR.

So as a lifelong Bronco fan I'm not only excited about LT totally losing the ability to hurt us with the home run ball, but also his more recent inability to get any traction where it matters most - inside the five.