Chargers Deal Colts Stunner

Despite losing quarterback Philip Rivers and running back LaDainian Tomlinson, and with tight end Antonio Gates play limited, the San Diego Chargers somehow found a way behind career backup Billy Volek to shock the Indianapolis Colts, 28-24, in a thrilling AFC Divisional playoff game. Volek led the Chargers (13-5) on an eight-play, 78-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, and his one-yard scoring plunge gave San Diego the lead with 4:50 left. Peyton Manning had two chances to drive the Colts (13-4) to the winning score, but came up empty-handed, and San Diego moved on to face unbeaten New England in next Sundays AFC Championship game. The can be seen on News 8 Now. Kickoff is at 3pm. Manning, who opened the game with 13 straight completions, finished with 402 yards on 33-of-48 passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Joseph Addai had nine catches for 67 yards, and 13 carries for 43 yards, while Dallas Clark had six catches for 95 yards and a score. Reggie Wayne had seven grabs for 76 yards and a score for the Colts, who failed in their bid to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Marvin Harrison was limited by a knee injury that kept him out of most of the regular season, and finished with only two catches for 27 yards. Volek completed 3-of-4 passes for 48 yards in relief of Rivers, who completed 14-of-19 passes for 264 yards, three scores, and an interception before leaving late in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. Michael Turner rushed for 71 yards on 17 carries in place of Tomlinson, who left late in the second quarter with an apparent left leg injury. Tomlinson had seven carries for 28 yards before leaving, but the Chargers still managed to make their first AFC title game since the 1994 season when they beat Pittsburgh before losing to San Francisco in the Super Bowl. Vincent Jackson had seven catches for 93 yards and a score for San Diego, which has now won eight straight, the second-longest active winning streak in the NFL. The team with the longest active winning streak in the league waits to host San Diego next Sunday, in a rematch of a divisional playoff game last season, and a Week 2 game this season -- both Pats wins -- with a spot in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona on the line. Both Rivers and Tomlinson indicated after the game that they expect to play next week in New England. "Weve got some guys who can fight and scratch and claw as good as anyone Ive been around," said Chargers head coach Norv Turner. "Ive never been around a more gutsy performance by a team. The adversity, the things that happened during the game, all the injuries ... Our guys never backed down. That was a special, special game." Manning connected with Anthony Gonzalez on a 55-yard scoring strike, vaulting the Colts back on top, 24-21, with 10:07 remaining. With Volek under center and Turner in the backfield, the Chargers were somehow able to march back down the field to take the lead. The key play was a 15-yard facemask penalty on Marlin Jackson on a 3rd-and-4 that kept the drive alive, and Volek dove in from one yard out to give the Chargers a four-point lead with 4:50 left. "Thats why Billy prepared like he does every day, and thats why we kept Michael Turner around here," said Rivers. "Just the poise and the guts of this team throughout the game were outstanding." Manning led the Colts to the doorstep of a go-ahead score on the next drive, but an incompletion on 4th-and-goal at the seven-yard-line turned the ball back to San Diego with 2:01 left. The Colts held the Chargers to a three-and- out, and Manning got one more chance, at the Indianapolis 32-yard-line with 1:30 remaining. Three plays later the Colts were faced with a 4th-and-5, with their season on the line. Mannings pass for Clark was a little long, and the ball deflected off the tight ends hands and to the turf, sealing the win for the Chargers. Manning marched the Colts right down the field on the opening drive of the game, moving 76 yards on nine plays, and a 25-yard scoring pass to Clark gave Indy the early 7-0 lead. The Chargers moved to the Indy 35 on their first drive, but Rivers was picked off by Kelvin Hayden, and the Colts took over at their 24. The Colts started moving again, and a 17-yard connection from Manning to Harrison would have set Indy up at the San Diego 23. Antonio Cromartie forced the fumble, though, and the Chargers took over at their 22. "We couldnt lose the takeaway battle, and we didnt get our points in the red zone," said Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who neither confirmed nor denied the rumors that he is mulling retirement. San Diego capitalized on that turnover, as Rivers 14-yard scoring toss to Jackson capped a 10-play, 78-yard drive, but it came with a cost. On the play prior to the scoring pass Tomlinson suffered a left leg injury, after rushing for an eight-yard gain. He fumbled on the play, but the Chargers recovered. Adam Vinatieris 46-yard field goal gave Indy a 10-7 lead with 5:10 left in the first half. Nate Kaeding had a chance to tie the game on the next San Diego possession, but his 48-yard attempt banged off the right upright no good. In the two- minute offense, Manning moved the Colts back into San Diego territory, but his pass for Wayne was tipped and picked off by Cromartie, who found a wall of blockers and ran back 89 yards for what would have been a go-ahead score. The touchdown was called back for a holding penalty on Eric Weddle, though, and the Colts took a 10-7 lead into halftime. Sans Tomlinson, the Chargers scored on their first possession of the second half to go on top. Rivers hit Chris Chambers for a 30-yard scoring pass, and San Diego led 14-10 with 11:33 left in the third quarter. The Colts continued to move the ball at ease on the ensuing drive, but again a turnover deep in San Diego territory kept the Chargers in the game. On 3rd- and-3 from the four-yard-line, Manning tried to throw short over the middle to Kenton Keith, but Keith deflected the pass, and San Diego safety Weddle made an incredible interception, catching the ball with his right arm while being blocked by Colts center Jeff Saturday. "We did a good job of getting down there, we just couldnt get it in, which was certainly disappointing," said Manning. "The passing game was effective. The protection was good, it felt like I was in a good rhythm, and we were hitting some things." Starting at midfield on their next drive, the Colts needed only five plays to go back on top. Wayne took the pass from Manning and dove inside the pylon for a seven-yard scoring grab. He was initially ruled out of bounds at the two- yard-line, but a Colts challenge overturned the call and put Indy on top 17-14. Darren Sproles broke through for a 56-yard scoring catch to give the Chargers the lead on the last play of the third quarter, but San Diego lost another offensive star on the play. Rivers jumped to make the screen pass to Sproles, and landed awkwardly. The Chargers QB limped off the field, and into the locker room, and Volek came on to lead the San Diego offense. Game Notes Manning threw six picks in the Colts 23-21 loss at San Diego on November 11. Cromartie had three of them...Vinatieri was 0-for-3 from beyond 40 yards during the regular season...San Diego had not won a divisional playoff game on the road since its epic 41-38 overtime win at Miami in January, 1982...This was the final game at the RCA Dome. The Colts are scheduled to play in Lucas Oil Stadium next season.