SAN DIEGO - Green Bay's Ahman Green broke the oldest team single-season rushing record in the league on Sunday when he eclipsed Hall of Famer Jim Taylor's mark of 1,474 yards set in 1962.
Green needed 12 yards coming into the game against the Chargers, and he got them all and more on the opening drive of Green Bay's 38-21 win. Green broke Taylor's record on a 9-yard run to the Chargers 4. That gave him 1,480 for the season, and he scored on a run on the next play.
"It lasted for a long time," Green said of the record. "I take my hat off to my O linemen and all the guys blocking for me. They know who they are. I couldn't have gotten here by myself."
Green carried 19 times for 75 yards and a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass from Brett Favre. He has 1,538 yards rushing this season.
Green is in his fourth season with the Packers and sixth in the league.
Two other Packers set franchise records. Favre threw at least one touchdown in his 23rd straight game; Cecil Isbell threw TDs in 22 straight in 1941-42. Ryan Longwell had eight points to break Don Hutson's team scoring record of 823 points. Longwell had five PATs and a 32-yard field goal to push his career total to 826 points.
BEARS: Starting left tackle Mike Gandy (shoulder) and guard Chris Villarrial (ribs) sat out.
BENGALS: Left tackle Levi Jones played the entire game six days after having torn knee cartilage repaired.
BRONCOS: Star running back Clinton Portis had to be helped off the field after spraining his right knee and ankle the play before Jason Elam's winning kick. X-rays were negative and he will have an MRI today. Portis had 139 yards and two touchdowns, his sixth consecutive 100-yard game. ... Shannon Sharpe, in what could be his final home game, had eight catches for 97 yards to become the first tight end to eclipse 10,000 yards (10,030). He has not said if he will play next season.
CHARGERS: Running back LaDainian Tomlinson has a team-high 86 catches, also his career high.
COLTS: Offensive lineman Adam Meadows left with a sprained right knee. Meadows had replaced Steve Sciullo at guard in the starting lineup. ... Peyton Manning became the first quarterback to throw for 25 touchdowns in six straight seasons. The record of five was set by Miami's Dan Marino from 1984-88 and tied by Favre from 1994-98.
FALCONS: Defensive end Brady Smith hyperextended his elbow and left the game.
JETS: Curtis Martin passed John Riggins for 11th on the all-time rushing list. Martin has 11,488 career yards, Riggins had 11,352.
LIONS: Defensive tackle Luther Elliss and linebacker Barrett Green have concussions.
PANTHERS: Starting center Jeff Mitchell, a former Countryside High and Florida standout, left with a groin pull midway through the third quarter.
RAMS: Receiver Isaac Bruce sprained his left ankle after he caught an 18-yard touchdown. X-rays showed no major damage and Bruce said he expects to play this weekend against Cincinnati. ... Cornerback Jerametrius Butler left with a bruised knee in the fourth quarter.
RAVENS: Coach Brian Billick repeated his criticisms of the instant-replay system after a call went against him on a two-point conversion attempt in the third quarter. "A lot of money spent on a system that doesn't work," Billick said.
SEAHAWKS: Linebacker Orlando Huff left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. He had a first-quarter sack for a safety.
STEELERS: Jerome Bettis passed Franco Harris for eighth on the career rushing list but was limited in the fourth quarter by a right knee injury. Bettis had 16 carries for 68 yards and has 12,184 career yards. Harris had 12,120. Bettis limped to the sideline, but later returned.
VIKINGS: Linebacker Chris Claiborne, Minnesota's leading tackler, sat out with a sore Achilles' tendon.
