SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers fans at Qualcomm Stadium are usually pretty savvy.

They know when to chant, "You can't run!" or "L.T., L.T., L.T.!" But where is the most obvious cry? Anyone for "MVP, MVP, MVP!" for LaDainian Tomlinson?

The season reaches its halfway point and Tomlinson should be among those getting MVP consideration. Especially after his past two weeks, rushing for 355 yards, adding 77 through the air and collecting six touchdowns.

"He's having an MVP year," fullback Lorenzo Neal said, "with the kind of numbers he is putting up."

Those numbers compared to any player tell the story.

Tomlinson leads the NFL with 14 touchdowns and he's added one passing. His 1,151 yards from scrimmage are also No. 1. He's the league's second-leading rusher at 828.

Plus, Tomlinson's team is being mentioned among the Super Bowl contenders.

Sounds like a good case to become the team's first league MVP, doesn't it?

"I think there is no question," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "I don't know how you don't. And he's on a team that is 6-2 and battling in their division. I could see where you could make a big argument for him."

But Tomlinson is more about team goals than collecting gaudy hardware. He would trade all his individual accolades for the Chargers to make a deep playoff run.

"Obviously, it would be an honor," Tomlinson said of the MVP. "But honestly, it's not something I even want to think about or talk about right now because it's the middle part of the season. Maybe toward the end of the season, we can talk a little bit more about it."

But Tomlinson -- long the talk of the town -- is becoming the talk of the league.

After rushing for 100 yards in just one of the first six outings, he's reeled off two of the most impressive games of a stellar career which has seen him eclipse 8,000 rushing yards.

"Hey can he keep it going?" Rivers asked. "If anybody can, he can. Nothing he does, week to week, surprises us in the locker room."

Rivers said Tomlinson's breathtaking runs aren't the only thing to give defenses pause.

"He did some things again in the passing game," Rivers said of Tomlinson's three Sunday receptions for 20 yards. "Catching those swing routes and doing some things like that, it drives them crazy."

So one's not nuts to include Tomlinson in the MVP chatter. Even if Tomlinson doesn't want to take part. Shoot, he'll even nominate a teammate rather than blow his bugle.

"I think anytime you have winning teams people start to look for MVPs; that comes along with winning," Tomlinson said. "Philip could be our MVP right now. But since I have a lot of touchdowns and yards, I guess people will start to mention my name."

But Tomlinson, who has been named to three Pro Bowls, points to the calendar instead of his statistics.

"It doesn't matter to me because it's halfway through the season," he said.

Schottenheimer said Tomlinson should be all the way in the MVP mix.

"He's leading the league in touchdowns and first and second in about everything else," Schottenheimer said. "He is certainly having a terrific season.

"I think you start with the people that are having successful seasons and are playing on successful teams. I think that we all know that is where that begins."

CHARGERS NOTES: -- Sunday's win over the Browns was accompanied by a lengthy injury list on Monday. These players are questionable for Wednesday, when the team starts preparation for Sunday's game at Cincinnati: DE Luis Castillo (ankle), FS Marlon McCree (calf) and DE Derreck Robinson (foot). LB Shaun Phillips (calf) is also questionable; he's missed the past two weeks. LB Donnie Edwards (hip) is OK. .. It was a big day for LaDainian Tomlinson on and off the field. Before the game he met his idol, Browns great Jim Brown. "I will never forget the moment of meeting him," Tomlinson said. "He said I had a great career so far and (said) to stay healthy. The guy inspired me a lot. To me he was the best combination of power and speed. He was phenomenal. But walking around the corner and seeing him. … I'm there thinking to myself, 'My goodness, that is Jim Brown.' The first thing I do is go and shake his hand and say, 'Hey, I appreciate you inspiring me to be a running back.' " … Coach Marty Schottenheimer called the league office to voice his displeasure in the rule which costs the Chargers 15

yards for calling consecutive defensive time outs.

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