"It's become an equal-opportunity backfield. Sixteen of one, a dozen-and-a-third of the other.

Not that either was complaining or counting, but Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews could almost have been one and the same running back in these past two victories, given the fact that both have carried the ball a total of 33 times. Each had 16 carries against Kansas City and 17 versus San Francisco., with Tolbert gaining 66 yards to Mathews' 65 in the first and Mathews compiling 56 to Tolbert's 46 last Thursday.

"I'm not sure if there's a method to the madness that Coach (Norv Turner) has, but it happens," said Tolbert. "I don't know if they're keeping tabs on it like that, but we work well together. We complement each other."

Though both are powerful and deliver hits as well as they take them, they are not exactly the same kind of runner, either. One of the few Chargers skill players who has yet to miss a game, Tolbert's had the most time on the field and leads the team in both rushing (737 yards) and touchdowns (11), and six times he's had breakaways of 20 yards or more. Tolbert's tied with tight end Antonio Gates for most first downs provided at 42.

Hampered by ankle problems until recently, Mathews has maintained a slightly better average gain per carry, 4.2 yards to 4.1. There is an element of teamwork at play, but admittedly, they're also driving each other to go farther.

"When it's your carry, you gotta make something happen, kinda have to feed off what the other guy does," said Mathews. " Whatever he does, I gotta feed off it. It's kinda like a competition. I get five yards, he's gonna want to get five yards and more. He gets 10 yards, I want to get 10 yards or more. It helps us out over the long run.""