SAN DIEGO - LaDainian Tomlinson stiff-armed one of the greatest regular seasons in NFL history.

"To be honest with you, I'm sick and tired of talking about last year," Tomlinson said Monday, following Sunday's heartbreaking loss to the Green Bay Packers. "This is not last year."

The Chargers proved that through the NFL's opening three weeks, pulling from the gate with all the gusto of a broken down mare.

After stunning the league with a franchise-best 14-2 mark behind the incomparable play of Tomlinson in 2006, the Chargers now reside at 1-2, tied for the AFC West cellar.

To match last year's mark, they need to run the table on a schedule that includes the Super Bowl champion Colts and AFC North champion Ravens.

Although reaching 14-2 isn't the rallying cry around Chargers Park - Marty Schottenheimer was canned after doing it. It's all about playoff wins, which is a tough to do if you don't make them.

The Chargers haven't resembled a postseason squad on a steady basis. They don't even look like the one last season that couldn't prevail in the playoffs.

"People get caught up with what we did last year; this is not last year's team," said Tomlinson, who has yet to rush for 100 yards in a 2007 game. "This is this year's team. I'm sick and tired of talking about last year. It's a whole different team - focus on this team and quit looking backward.

"We didn't get it done last year, so we got to figure out how to get it done this year. The only way to do that is to focus on this year."

What's crystal clear is the Chargers' ground struggles. They averaged 2.6 yards on 28 rushes in Green Bay, with Tomlinson being held to 62 yards on 22 carries.

To illustrate the Chargers' running game woes, Tomlinson's average of 2.8 yards per carry Sunday was 1 yard better than his average in the first two games.

So can the Chargers - with unproven receivers who did catch two touchdowns Sunday - be effective with a running game that has tanked like the San Diego County real estate market?

"We haven't been able to run the ball in three games and we are 1-2," Tomlinson said. "I think that is the answer to your question."

Tomlinson's frustration is becoming increasingly difficult to hide. He's bombarded with inquiries about Norv Turner's first Chargers team not equaling Schottenheimer's final Chargers team.

"I just hear people talking about the differences from this year's team and last year's team - people out in public, in the media, people close to us, even my family," he said. "I have the same answer to them: I'm sick and tired of talking of last year's team. I tell my family that, and that's the way it is."

Meanwhile, the Chargers try to get back to the way they were. Although, Turner might have the best line regarding that.

"It makes me nervous to say pick up where this team left off last year," Turner said, "because it lost its last football game."

The Chargers are confident this funk will find its expiration date. But with each passing week, the Chargers dig a bit deeper hole.

"Of course it's a wake-up call because you don't want to continue a downward spiral and go from 1-2 and find ourselves at 1-5," Tomlinson said. "And all of a sudden it's over."

The Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) could provide the tonic for what ails the Chargers, who face three straight AFC West opponents beginning this week.

Among the rare positives over the first three weeks is one of the Chargers' losses was to a team outside their division (New England) and the other one to one outside their conference (Packers).

But instead of worrying about rivals, the Chargers stare into a mirror.

"I think we just have to keep playing and don't press and get tight now and be something we are not," said quarterback Philip Rivers, after Sunday's stellar game that was marred by a fourth-quarter interception. "Just keep working and understand where we are, but also be positive of where we are going to go.

"It gets tough and tougher every time we go out there and we understand that we are not going to sneak up on anybody. We just need to get better."

While the chunk of the season remains, there's no time like the present to get right.

"The main thing we all have to understand is we haven't played a division game yet," Tomlinson said. "(Sunday) is the first one. Winning a championship and what-not starts in your own division. We have to make sure when it comes to these next three games we have to be ready to play and play a compete game and be willing to go the extra mile."

Tomlinson always looks to run - especially from talk of the 2006 Chargers.

Chargers notes

RB LaDainian Tomlinson downplayed his argument with QB Philip Rivers along the sidelines of Sunday's loss. Tomlinson was miffed he was open on a play in which Rivers instead threw an incomplete pass to Antonio Gates. "Sometimes in the heat of a battle different players, and maybe with a player and coach, stuff like that happens," Tomlinson said. "Really it's just a competitive conversation. Philip wanted to make the point that he has a certain progression. We're going to be fine." … Among those questionable for Wednesday' s practice are LG Kris Dielman (foot), RG Mike Goff (knee), DE Luis Castillo (foot), and ILB Matt Wilhelm (calf). RT Shane Olivea (back) was able to suit up Sunday and could work on Wednesday. … WR Eric Parker (toe) is out at least another week.

- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.