DETROIT (AP) – LaDainian Tomlinson’s best game as a receiver was enough to beat the Detroit Lions.

Tomlinson caught nine passes for 148 yards, a season-high for running backs, and had two touchdown receptions to build a lead the San Diego Chargers held onto in a 14-7 victory over Detroit on Sunday.

Tomlinson’s 73-yard and 16-yard scores in the first half gave San Diego a 14-0 lead it maintained through three-plus quarters, but the Chargers had to knock down Joey Harrington’s heave with three seconds left to ensure a rare win. San Diego (3-10) had lost three straight, and 17 of 21. The Lions (4-9) had won three straight at home, and were a victory away from tying their combined wins from the last two seasons. Before halftime, Tomlinson had five receptions for 127 yards and two scores. He entered the game with only one career TD reception.

Tomlinson also had 88 yards rushing on 25 carries. He surpassed 200 yards of offense for the fourth time this season with a season-high 236 yards.

The Lions were able to stay close because the Chargers blew opportunities to pad their lead with 11 penalties for 95 yards, and Doug Flutie had two turnovers.

Detroit pulled within a TD with 7:22 remaining when Harrington’s 4-yard TD pass to Casey FitzSimmons capped an 83-yard drive.

The Chargers picked up only one first down on each of their next two possessions. The second time the Lions got the ball back, they drove to San Diego’s 33 – where their comeback hopes ended with a spike to stop the clock and three long incomplete passes.

Flutie was 17-of-25 for 244 yards with two TDs, an interception and a fumble.

His crafty ways led to Tomlinson’s first TD.

Flutie rolled right, then went back to his left before lobbing a pass to a wide-open Tomlinson late in the first quarter.

Tomlinson turned Flutie’s short toss into a 73-yard score with 1:54 left in the second. He ran past linebacker Barrett Green to get open, then sprinted untouched through the secondary.

The Chargers are 2-0 this season when Tomlinson scores at least twice, and 8-0 in his three seasons.

The Lions had not allowed an opponent to have 100 yards receiving since Arizona’s Anquan Boldin had 217 yards in a loss in the season opener at Detroit.

Harrington was 26-of-46 for 208 yards and a score.

The Lions were extremely fortunate to trail just 14-0 at halftime.

Penalties negated two San Diego touchdowns, two more flags stunted another scoring opportunity, and Flutie turned the ball over twice deep in Detroit’s end.

AP-ES-12-07-03 1639EST