Redemption couldn’t have been any sweeter for Adam Vinatieri,
who was right down the middle from a lot farther out.
One of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, Vinatieri made a 51-yard field
goal as time expired to lift Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts to a
heart-stopping 23-20 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.
Vinatieri was kicking toward the same goal posts where just more than a year ago
he pushed a 29-yard field-goal attempt wide right with 1:31 left, allowing the
Chargers to hold on for a 23-21 win.
Vinatieri said he heard some pregame smack talk from fans about last year’s
miss.
“You can’t really change last year’s outcome, obviously, and that kick will stay
with me a long time,” he said. “At least it was nice to get back out there and
have another shot at it. Making that kick was pretty sweet.”
Vinatieri pumped his fist even before the ball sailed through the uprights
Video Recap: Manning,
Vinatieri key Colts victory.
Scoring Summary
IND - SD
1st Quarter
1:42
IND
FG
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal
3 - 0
2nd Quarter
11:43
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 35-yard field goal
3 - 3
4:56
SD
TD
Philip Rivers passed to Vincent Jackson down the middle
for 39 yard gain (Nate Kaeding made PAT)
3 - 10
0:38
IND
TD
Peyton Manning passed to Anthony Gonzalez to the left
for 13 yard gain (Adam Vinatieri made PAT)
10 - 10
3rd Quarter
3:51
IND
TD
Peyton Manning passed to Dominic Rhodes to the left for
1 yard gain (Adam Vinatieri made PAT)
17 - 10
4th Quarter
11:48
IND
FG
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 38-yard field goal
20 - 10
5:36
SD
TD
Philip Rivers passed to Jacob Hester to the right for 1
yard gain (Nate Kaeding made PAT)
20 - 17
1:30
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 47-yard field goal
20 - 20
0:00
IND
FG
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal
23 - 20
Team Statistics
IND
SD
First Downs
19
21
Passing
14
13
Rushing
3
8
Penalty
2
0
Third Down Efficiency
10-17
6-12
Fourth Down Efficiency
2-2
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
341
394
Total Plays
68
58
Average Gain Per Play
5.0
6.8
NET YARDS RUSHING
91
120
Rushes
23
25
Average Per Rush
4.0
4.8
NET YARDS PASSING
250
274
Completions-Attempts
32-44
24-31
Yards Per Pass Play
5.6
8.3
Times Sacked
1
2
Yards Lost to Sacks
5
14
Had Intercepted
1
0
PUNTS
3
3
Average Punt
40.3
41.0
PENALTIES
3
5
Penalty Yards
15
37
FUMBLES
0
1
Fumbles Lost
0
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
31:40
28:20
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Peyton Manning has had
plenty of days in the NFL he'll
want to remember. Two games
against the San Diego Chargers
last season aren't among them.
Manning will look to put one of
his worst performances further
in the rearview mirror Sunday as
the Indianapolis Colts try for
their fourth straight win in a
matchup with the Chargers - the
team that also knocked the Colts
out of last season's playoffs.
Indianapolis (6-4) has bounced
back from a 3-4 start to move
back into postseason
contention...
Prediction: Fantasy play of
the week is Peyton Manning who faces a pass D that has more holes than swiss
cheese. The Chargers are dead last in stopping the throwing game. At last check,
Peyton's a pretty decent quarterback who should have an absolute field day. Colts 35 - Chargers 27
Video Preview: The San Diego
Chargers are still in the hunt for first place in the AFC West, but they face a
tough Indianapolis team. Charley Casserly and Jason Horowitz have the preview
9.9
12.5