Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Saturday, Jan 3, 2009 - 8:00pm EST on NBC
Recap: Darren Sproles ran
off the field clutching the game ball, leaving Peyton Manning to hang his head
in frustration.
The San Diego Chargers outdid Manning for the second straight January, again
turning to surprise stars to spark them along in the playoffs.
Given more playing time because of LaDainian Tomlinson’s groin injury, the
speedy little Sproles scooted 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime
and the Chargers beat the Colts 23-17 in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night.
Just like that, a Chargers team that sneaked into the playoffs at 8-8 eliminated
the NFL’s hottest team a day after Manning won his third Associated Press NFL
MVP award.
Also keeping the Chargers in the game was Mike Scifres, whose booming punts
continually pinned the Colts deep in their territory. Scifres punted six times
for an average of 52.7 yards, including a 67-yarder.
“I don’t know if you can dream a game like this,” Scifres said after the
Chargers ended the Colts’ nine-game winning streak...
more
Video:
The Chargers capture a stunning 23-17 overtime win over Indianapolis in the AFC
Wild Card game. Norv Turner, Philip Rivers, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Darren
Sproles discuss the win
Watch CBS Videos Online
|
Scoring Summary |
IND - SD |
| 1st Quarter |
| 2:59 |
IND |
TD |
Joseph Addai rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain (Adam
Vinatieri made PAT) |
7 - 0 |
| |
| 2nd Quarter |
| 10:15 |
SD |
TD |
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed to the left for 3 yard gain (Nate
Kaeding made PAT) |
7 - 7 |
| |
| 6:46 |
IND |
FG |
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 43-yard field goal |
10 - 7 |
| |
| 0:42 |
SD |
TD |
Darren Sproles rushed to the left for 9 yard gain (Nate
Kaeding made PAT) |
10 - 14 |
| |
| 3rd Quarter |
| 8:10 |
IND |
TD |
Peyton Manning passed to Reggie Wayne to the left for 72
yard gain (Adam Vinatieri made PAT) |
17 - 14 |
| |
| 4th Quarter |
| 0:31 |
SD |
FG |
Nate Kaeding kicked a 26-yard field goal |
17 - 17 |
| |
| OT |
| 8:40 |
SD |
TD |
Darren Sproles rushed to the left for 22 yard gain |
17 - 23 |
|
Team Statistics |
| |
IND |
SD |
| First Downs |
17 |
26 |
| Passing |
11 |
12 |
| Rushing |
5 |
11 |
| Penalty |
1 |
3 |
| Third Down Efficiency |
6-15 |
6-14 |
| Fourth Down Efficiency |
0-1 |
1-1 |
| TOTAL NET YARDS |
366 |
357 |
| Total Plays |
65 |
73 |
| Average Gain Per Play |
5.6 |
4.9 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
64 |
167 |
| Rushes |
22 |
33 |
| Average Per Rush |
2.9 |
5.1 |
| NET YARDS PASSING |
302 |
190 |
| Completions-Attempts |
25-42 |
20-36 |
| Yards Per Pass Play |
7.0 |
4.8 |
| Times Sacked |
1 |
4 |
| Yards Lost to Sacks |
8 |
27 |
| Had Intercepted |
0 |
1 |
| PUNTS |
6 |
6 |
| Average Punt |
46.8 |
52.7 |
| PENALTIES |
9 |
3 |
| Penalty Yards |
74 |
40 |
| FUMBLES |
0 |
1 |
| Fumbles Lost |
0 |
1 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION |
29:11 |
37:0 |
Preview: After struggling
through the first two months of the season, the Indianapolis Colts regrouped to
secure a seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs. The San Diego Chargers faced
a bit more adversity en route to clinching their third straight postseason
berth.
Indianapolis, winner of nine straight games, and San Diego, which has won four
in a row, meet for the second consecutive year in the playoffs and for the
second time this season on Saturday night in an AFC wild-card game.
Indianapolis (12-4) endured four defeats in its first seven contests this year,
but closed out the regular season with nine straight wins, including 23-20 at
AFC West champion San Diego (8-8) on Nov. 23. That victory came after the
defending Super Bowl champion Colts were eliminated by the Chargers from last
season's playoffs with a 28-24 home loss in the divisional round...more
Prediction: These teams have
a great rivalry going and in these cases you would usually go for the hot hand.
Both teams have the hot hand right now, so you just cant go against Peyton
Manning in this situation.
Colts 30 - Chargers 27
Watch out for this: This is
becoming quite a rivalry. These teams met earlier this season in San Diego with
the Colts taking a 23-20 victory in Week 12 on an Adam Vinatieri 51-yard field
goal on the game's final play. Since the beginning of 2007 and including the
postseason, this contest marks the fourth time that the Colts and Chargers will
have faced each other (San Diego won the other two games).
Video Preview: The Colts come in riding a nine game winning streak while the Chargers are winners of their last four. Which team will continue its respective streak on Saturday? Jason Horowitz and Charley Casserly preview this Wildcard game
Watch CBS Videos Online
Statistically Speaking:
|
Colts |
Average Team
Rankings |
Chargers |
 7.5 |
Total Offense |
 10.2 |
|
18.4 |
Total Defense |
22.8 |
|
4.9 |
Passing Offense |
8.3 |
|
13.1 |
Passing Defense |
26.6 |
|
24.2 |
Rushing Offense |
17.5 |
|
23.2 |
Rushing Defense |
14.8 |
|
9.3 |
Receiving Offense |
7.7 |
|
9.2 |
Receiving Defense |
22.5 |
|
22.5 |
Punting |
22.5 |
|
22.3 |
Return |
19.0 |
|
28.0 |
Kicking |
21.2 |
|
Colts Rankings
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
79.6
(31st) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
255.9
(5th) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
335.5
(15th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
122.9
(24th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
188.1
(6th) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
310.9
(11th) |
|
|
Chargers Rankings
|
OFFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
107.9
(20th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
241.1
(7th) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
349.0
(11th) |
|
DEFENSE |
|
Rush Yds/Gm |
102.6
(11th) |
|
Pass Yds/Gm |
247.4
(31st) |
|
Total Yds/Gm |
349.9
(25th) |
|
|
Around the Web:
Colts-Chargers scouting report
Boston Globe
Charger kicker Nate Kaeding has hit
27 of 32 field goals and all 46 PATs. Miscellany: Manning
drove the Colts 35 yards with 1:35 to go to set up
Vinatieri's ...
Chargers host Colts in rematch of last year's
divisional clash
NFL News
Behind Enemy Lines: Chargers vs. Colts I
ColtPower.com
Chargers lean on Hoosiers
Indianapolis Star
ACCUSCORE ANALYSIS: Colts at Chargers
San Diego Union Tribune
The Colts' running backs are both healthy for the first
time this season; and 3. The Chargers' rushing stats are slightly
inflated by their weak division. ...
Peyton Manning and Indianapolis receivers are masters of precision
Los Angeles Times
NFL MVP Is No Runaway Bleacher Report
Colts' 12th win full of memorable moments
Indianapolis Star
