SAN DIEGO — Shaun Alexander barely broke a sweat. LaDainian Tomlinson didn't even suit up.

That's what happens when the last two NFL MVPs hook up in an exhibition opener.

Alexander's Seattle Seahawks beat Tomlinson's San Diego Chargers, 24-16, yesterday, getting the go-ahead points on a 36-yard field goal from Josh Brown with 7:18 left. Brown had missed a 41-yard attempt, but got a second chance when the Chargers were penalized for having 12 men on the field. Third-stringer Marquis Weeks added a 6-yard scoring run with 1:55 left.

"There was a lot of stuff for a first preseason game," said Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who went 1 for 2 in challenging officials' calls. "So it will be a good film to watch and it is always more fun to win."

While Alexander touched the ball three times during the game's opening drive — which Matt Hasselbeck finished with a 31-yard TD pass to Deion Branch — Tomlinson watched from the sideline, wearing a sweat suit and a cap turned backward. Tomlinson is usually held out of exhibitions to avoid the risk of injury.

At least the weather was perfect, which it wasn't the last time these teams met in a real game. That was on Christmas Eve, when the Chargers rallied for a 20-17 win in a steady rain in Seattle.

The Chargers didn't look particularly sharp in their first game under coach Norv Turner, who replaced the fired Marty Schottenheimer. They were penalized eight times for 45 yards and gave up five sacks. Each team had three turnovers.