****Unofficial Official Colts Chargers Pregame Thread**** (1 Viewer)

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

agreed, game on!

This game is going to be closer than the bookies think that is for sure.

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

 

[pizzatyme]

agreed, game on!This game is going to be closer than the bookies think that is for sure.Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

I think this team knows how to win in the playoffs. They've been winning for years! They've been in this position before. Are Chargers homers worried how they'll react in a 2nd round playoff game? I mean, you haven't done this in a long time... :razz:

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

THE POLIAN CORNER

By staff - Colts.com

Bill Polian, in his 10th season as Colts president, has a resume unique in the NFL. One of two men to win NFL Executive of the Year five times, Polian in the 1980s built the Buffalo Bills into a four-time Super Bowl participant. In the mid-1990s, he built the expansion Carolina Panthers into a team that made the NFC Championship Game in its second season, 1996. Since joining Indianapolis in 1998, he built the Colts from a 3-13 team in 1997 and 1998 into one that has made the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons, including an AFC Championship Game appearance after the 2003 and 2006 seasons, AFC South titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and a Super Bowl championship following last season. Each week during the season, in The Polian Corner, Polian and Colts.com will discuss issues pertinent to the Colts and the rest of the NFL.

Question: The Colts had a playoff bye this past weekend. What did you do over the weekend?

Answer: I watched football. It was instructive, to say the least. I hadn't watched four games on television back-to-back like that in a long, long time. It was interesting and somewhat exciting.

Question: Assess the four games, if you will . . .

Answer: I thought that the (New York) Giants played awfully well in a game that probably went according to form. Tampa Bay played every team in our division (the AFC South), so we had a pretty good feel for what they might have been, particularly as under the weather as they (the Buccaneers) were. Our impression of the Giants was as a pretty good team, and that’s exactly what they showed. I thought they managed the game exceptionally well. I thought their game plan was really good. I thought they played aggressive defense, which is what they have been doing all season and I thought that (Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning) did a really good job. He managed the game well, made good decisions and threw the ball well. He did all of the things he needed to do to win. And they caused a turnover on special teams, which was a key thing. The Washington-Seattle game went just according to form. That was the way you would have expected it to go, particularly in Seattle. Seattle is probably the second- or third-strongest team in the NFC, so you might have expected it would go that way. The issue of the Pittsburgh-Jacksonville game was really a tale of two halves, a tale of two teams - Pittsburgh doing everything wrong in the first half and Jacksonville doing everything right and that almost reversing itself in the second half. Jacksonville was able to make the play of the game at the end of the game – fittingly, by (quarterback) David Garrard – to win the game. More power to them. On to New England. Then Tennessee – as we suspected might have been the case – gave a terrifically game effort against San Diego, but they (the Titans) just had too many injuries to overcome. The most important factor in the playoffs, the most important ability, is availability. You have to be healthy and obviously, Tennessee was not, including (quarterback) Vince Young. In the end, a better team – San Diego – who was healthier, and despite having lost their tight end (Antonio Gates) was able to win the game. But a game effort by the Titans nonetheless.

Question: Discuss the match-ups for the Colts this weekend against the San Diego Chargers . . .

Answer: I think they’re awfully difficult. We’ve said this from Day One. First of all, it is a big, physical team with a dominating offensive line and with a mindset of dominating. It has the best runner in professional football running behind it – LT (Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson). As you saw Sunday, he’ll make miraculous play after miraculous play. The play he made on the goal line was an absolutely phenomenal play. The Tennessee player (linebacker Stephen Tulloch) made a great play as well, but he didn’t finish and LT did. That’s why he’s on his way to the Hall of Fame. (Quarterback) Philip Rivers has grown and developed as a quarterback. On Sunday, Tennessee did everything they could to take away LT and make Philip Rivers win the game and he did. You certainly have to give him great credit for that. That’s what he’s capable of doing. (Wide receiver) Chris Chambers, unlike when we played there early in the year, is now fitting into the offense. He’s confident. He’s comfortable with Rivers. They know what he can do. He knows what they can do, so he’s in a position where he can really be a contributor. And he was on Sunday. He’s a great player. The other wide receivers are also quite good as well. The backup tight end (Brandon Manumaleuna) is an outstanding blocker – better than (Pro Bowl tight end Antonio) Gates, even. It adds to their running game if and when you’re in a position where you don’t have to worry about Gates, either because he’s out with an injury or because they choose to remove him from the game. It’s a multifaceted attack and they really do a good job with it. It’s a little more far-reaching than it was a year ago. It’s a little more multifaceted, so when you do take away LT, which is problematic, at best, although Tennessee did a great job of it, they have ability to hurt you in other areas and that’s what they did. They did a terrific job of really finding the seams in the zones, getting big pass plays and of course, Philip Rivers made the plays. Defensively, they are as dominating a defense as there is in the league. They have two great outside linebackers. They have the best nose tackle in professional football. They have the best inside rusher in professional football who is now back – Luis Castillo, who we did not play last time around. They have the (NFL’s) leading interceptor, in (cornerback) Antonio) Cromartie. They have other terrific players in the defensive backfield. They’re aggressive, yet sound. They are not a crazy, take-a-chance defense. That’s not (San Diego defensive coordinator) Ted Cottrell. He’s a great football coach. He’s a sound, solid football coach. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win the football game within the talent level he has. Fortunately for him – unfortunately for us – they have great talent. It’s a heck of a matchup. They belong here. They earned their way here. We knew from the outset, from the time we played them in San Diego, they were an outstanding football team, very deserving of being here. It’s going to be a tough ballgame for us.

Q: The Colts know firsthand the Chargers have an outstanding special teams, particularly returner Darren Sproles, who returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the first meeting between the teams . . .

A: That goes almost without saying. If you don’t stop Darren Sproles, as we did not out there in San Diego, the game is over. Forget it. We have little chance to win – forget touchdowns – if we give them the kind of returns he had last time around. We don’t have a chance. You can’t take a team like this, with the kind of firepower they have – and spot them 14 points and expect to win a playoff game. It’s not going to happen. We have to find a way to control Darren Sproles. That’s a lot easier said than done. But we have to do it. If we don’t do it, we’re in big trouble.

Q: You said availability is the key to the playoffs. The Colts are getting healthy at the right time, it seems. Will everybody be ready to play?

A: I think so. I really think so. We’ll know better on Wednesday and Thursday when we see how guys responded to Monday’s practice and how they respond to Wednesday’s practice. This includes (Colts wide receiver) Marvin Harrison. My gut today tells me that we’ll be as healthy as we have been maybe since the opening game of the season.

Q: That’s how tough things have been on the injury front this season. The Colts lost a starter in defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland before the season even began . . .

A: That’s exactly right.

Q: Which means the first unit hasn’t been together for even one game . . .

A: That’s correct.

Q: On Monday, Colts safety Bob Sanders was named the Associated Press’ Defensive Player of the Year. Comment on that honor, if you will . . .

A: It’s a great honor for Bob. I’m very happy for him. Well-deserved. It’s a tribute to (Colts defensive coordinator) Ron Meeks and our defensive staff and the defensive ballclub that we put on the field that finished third in the NFL in total defense. A great job by everybody and Bob, being the standardbearer, gets the award and deservedly so, but I think he’d probably be the first to tell you that a pat on the back goes to everybody on the defense for a great year.

Q: On Monday in the locker room, the other members of the defense congratulated him immediately upon hearing he had won the award . . .

A: We have a great group of guys, No. 1. And No. 2, they recognize clearly what a difference Bob makes. He has done a terrific job for us and he has been very deserving of the award. Glad to see him get it.

Q: How did you keep him healthy all season?

A: (Laughing) We had a little bit of a different practice regimen. We took a page out of the (Head Coach) Kirk Ferentz playbook from the University of Iowa (where Sanders played collegiately) and rested him once during the week and took it very easy on him in training camp. You do have to do some different things, because he’s a little shorter than most players. Therefore, with his explosiveness, he’s a little more susceptible to injury. Fortunately, we were able to get him through 15 ballgames and he made a huge difference.

Q: How is Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney coming along with his injury?

A: He’s doing fine. He is still not out of the cast and still not walking without a mechanical aid, so for those that were worried that we put him on injured reserve too early, he would never had had a chance to be back for the playoffs or even the Super Bowl. So, we made the wise decision there guided by the medical people. But everything is going along fine and we’re very confident that he’ll be back out on the field in June and ready to go.

Q: Can you talk about the long-term effect of the injury to Marvin Harrison? Will it hamper him the rest of his career and will it hurt him the rest of the postseason?

A: The answer is no and yes. It will not plague him for the rest of his career. And it will go away eventually. He will have some soreness coming out of the game Sunday and coming out of the game hopefully if we’re able to advance in future weeks. And he probably will have some management issues in practice as we go forward. After all, he’s 36 years of age and he has some mileage on those legs. But it’s not something that is career-threatening, nor is it something that will cause long-term problems. He practiced Monday. As I told him after practice, he looked like the same old Marvin to me. The same issue always presents itself. Does the capsule become irritated? That’s always the case with injuries like this. Just exactly that which happened with (Colts safety) Bob (Sanders last season). It’s no coincidence. Players who are as explosive as Bob and Marvin are wired differently than you and I. God put them together a little bit differently. As a result, they put so much stress on their joints that they always are susceptible to these kinds of things. Marvin has had a miraculous career in the sense that he has never been injured for any real length of time. He only has had one other injury that I can remember since I have been here, but you do have to be careful of the issue of capsular irritation. We’ll watch that closely as we go through the week, but everything Monday looked good.

Q: What do you do to combat the Chargers’ offense, and how do you take LT away?

A: I don’t know, first of all, that you can take LT away. We don’t have a defense inside that’s similar to the Titans, No. 1, because we don’t have (Titans defensive tackle) Albert Haynesworth, who is another person that God created in a special way. He’s sort of the prototypical defensive tackle. He has incredible ability to crush blocks and move the line of scrimmage back onto the other side. We don’t have that kind of a player. By the same token, I don’t think you ultimately shut down LT, anyway. Tennessee really didn’t. In the fourth quarter, when it counted, he made some big plays. You have to hope to contain him, as the cliché goes. And Philip Rivers is an outstanding quarterback, as he proved Sunday. He has (wide receiver Vincent) Jackson. He has Chambers. We don’t know if the tight end (Gates) will play or not, but if Gates plays, that’s as solid a receiving corps as you can find. He makes the plays. You have to play down and distance. You have to play formation. You have to play game situation and hope you make the right call in the right situation. The problem with LT is this: LT can hit a home run at any time. So, you might strike him out three times, but the fourth time at bat he is likely to hit a three-run home. He causes pressure that other backs don’t, even backs as good as (Jaguars running backs) Fred Taylor and (Maurice) Jones-Drew because any time he gets a crease it’s bye-bye, baby. It can be six. We saw that in December of 2004. We had one guy – a half a man – out of his gap and took it the distance. That’s the kind of pressure he puts on you. You’re not going to stop him. What you want to try to do is limit his big plays.

Q: He’s more than a runner. He catches the ball out of the backfield well, too.

A: He catches the ball tremendously. He’s very, very dangerous with the ball in his hands after he catches it. I can’t remember, including (Hall of Fame running back) Walter Payton, a back in my time in the league who has retained the incredible long-distance burst that LT has. He has played now a long time by running-back standards and still has retained that incredible top-end speed. One step, fifth gear and away you go. That’s awfully difficult to contain and that’s all you can hope to do.

Q: At midseason, people were asking, 'What’s wrong with LT?’ He scored 18 touchdowns and led the NFL in rushing, so what was wrong with LT?

A: (Laughing) Not a thing. Not a thing.

Q: What will the Colts do to counter the Chargers’ pass rush, which was effective against Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in the first meeting?

A: First of all, you have to remember that in the last ballgame, we did not have Tony Ugoh at one tackle and we lost Ryan Diem at the other tackle. So, we had to do some things that we would not ordinarily do in order to really try to slow the rush down because we had two rather inexperienced players in there playing tackle. We finally had to move (guard) Jake Scott out there late in the game. If we’re healthy, and it looks as though we will be with Tony and Ryan back, then we can do a lot more of the standard things that – as (Colts Head Coach) Tony (Dungy) says – we do. We do what we do, which is a complete repertoire of passing and running. You don’t have to try and adjust for a rush that you feel might overpower you otherwise. If our tackles are healthy, I think it’s a little bit different game. (Offensive tackle) Michael Toudouze did a terrific job when he stepped in there and (offensive tackle) Charlie Johnson did a terrific job when he was in there, but with the first group in there, the first five in there, you have a little more flexibility to do more things and I would kind of expect that.

Q: Can you talk about the year Tony Ugoh had this season?

A: Tony Ugoh had a great year. How many left tackles come into the league, play in an offense this prolific and you don’t even know he’s out there? That’s the best example of how to play and how to judge your play. Interestingly, we’ve had two rookies come in here – one earned a starting job and unfortunately never got to see it come to fruition and Tony earned a starting job and came in here and played marvelously all year – both from the University of Arkansas: Brandon Burlsworth (a 1999 third-round draft selection who died before his rookie season in an automobile accident) and Tony. They’re doing something right developing offensive linemen in Fayetteville.

Q: Is there a feeling the Colts can go all the way this season?

A: The first thing we have to do is to win this game this week. This is the most important game that we’ve played all season. There is none more important. To state the obvious, it’s one and done if you don’t win, so this is the one we have to totally focus on and not worry about anything else. If we’re fortunate enough to make it to the next round – whomever we play, we’ll have to focus on then – but this week is the most important thing. In the context of that, the next most important thing is to block out everything written or said about this game and about either team. Because most of it will be nonfactual and that which is factual won’t mean anything anyway. The bottom line is to focus and listen to one voice and focus on that which is important to win the football game as outlined by Tony Dungy, the coordinators and the position coaches and pay no attention to anything else. If we do that and we go out and play the kind of football we’re capable of playing, we can be in this football game right until the end. If we’re distracted, if we don’t pay attention, if we treat this as something other than just another football game, if we believe we have to give more than our normal effort and if we try to strain to do more than we’re normally required to do, we’ll end up putting ourselves in the soup. It has to be focus, focus, focus: block out all the extraneous stuff, which is everything that exists outside of the game plan and the locker room and the meeting rooms and the practice field, and focus on what it takes to win doing our thing the way we do it every week. If we do that, we’ll be in great shape.

Q: Is there any truth to the notion that the game goes to another level in the postseason?

A: Absolutely not. And what we found out over the weekend was that most importantly more games by far are lost than won. At this time of the year, more teams lose games via turnovers, via the inability to keep your cool, inopportune penalties at the wrong time, mental mistakes, dropped coverages – things of that nature – than are earned by playmaking on the part of the opposition. (Penn State Head Coach) Joe Paterno has said for years and years – however long he has been coaching – echoed by (former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Head Coach) Marv Levy, echoed by Tony Dungy, echoed (former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame Head Coach) Chuck Noll, echoed by (former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins Head Coach) Jimmy Johnson, echoed by (longtime NFL Head Coach) Marty Schottenheimer – I can go on and on, naming virtually every coach in the Hall of Fame, that you first must not lose the game. You must find ways to do what you do and not lose via mistakes. The way to do that, as I said before, is to focus on doing what you do the same way you do it every week. The only thing that changes in the playoffs is the amount of attention that is focused on the game. Everything else is pretty much the same, except of course, it’s one and done. You don’t have to ratchet it up. You don’t have to give 10 percent more than you give during the season. All of the clichés you hear – none of that is true. What you really have to do is focus harder and blot out the distractions to a greater degree than you do during the regular season.

Q: In that vein, how much of a help was last year’s run?

A: I think it’s very important. The people who were here for last year’s run, which was about 75 percent of the team, recognize exactly that. For the young players, for the rookies, it’s a new time. It’s a period of time that brings new and exciting experiences and the temptation is to want to do more. The temptation is to want to reach out and do a little bit more and in the end, you only hurt yourself doing that. Just do what we do. As long as we do that, we’ll be fine.

Q: The Indianapolis Star mentioned you as a candidate for another job in the NFL last week. Can you comment on that?

A: You’ve confused the Polians. My son, Chris, who is our Vice President of Football Operations, was mentioned prominently as a candidate for the Atlanta General Manager’s job. As it turned out, he is very happy here – as am I. Both Polians are sticking around. It wasn’t the newspapers’ fault. That was just the normal speculation that goes on at this time of the year.

Q: Is there a chance of Dwight Freeney returning for the playoffs?

A: That won’t happen. Unfortunately, because of the severity of his injury, we had to put him on injured reserve at the time he was operated on, so he’s gone for the season. He won’t be eligible until the new league year begins February 29.

Q: You’ve discussed Dwight. How is everybody else who is on injured reserve progressing?

A: Everything’s going along smoothly with virtually every player who is on IR, including Booger, who has been here and working out and rehabbing. It looks positive with everyone.

Q: The Chargers are on a seven-game winning streak. When the Colts and Chargers played in November, the Chargers won, but weren’t playing the way people were accustomed to seeing them play. What took place to allow the Chargers to improve?

A: First of all, I’m not sure a lot took place, to be truthful with you. This is the sort of conjecture and conventional wisdom that sort of floats around in the airwaves and it sometimes makes you scratch your head. They had (center) Nick Hardwick out at the time we played them. They had Castillo out at the time. They’re a much better team with both of those players in the lineup. You can start there. The second part of it is they were adjusting to both a slightly different style of offense, a slightly different style of defense brought in by (first-year head coach) Norv Turner and Ted Cottrell. That takes a while to get used to. Both Ted and Norv – to a lesser extent, Norv, because he had been there (as offensive coordinator (in 2001), but certainly to a great extent, Ted – were getting used to their personnel and still not quite set on certain combinations in certain situations. As time went on, that solidified. They became a more efficient football team. Were they a poor football team when we played them? No. Absolutely not. They’ve just become more efficient and healthier and in doing so, they have run up some pretty good wins, including a complete decimation of Detroit several weeks ago. Essentially, they’re the same football team, much more comfortable with the systems offensively and defensively, and they’re clearly healthy at this point.

Q: Tomlinson is incredible in a lot of ways. This season, for instance, he didn’t play in the preseason, yet still led the NFL in rushing . . .

A: If you’re a football person, you say LT is a special, incredibly gifted, talented player. He should sit out the preseason. Why would you want him to play? Why would you want your most valuable player being risked in a game that doesn’t count? That’s especially true of a running back who takes lots of hits and has lots of wear and tear and for whom any given play could be a career-ending play. So, (Chargers General Manager) A.J. Smith and Norv did exactly the right thing. He’s carried enough. He knows the offense. He knows where the goal line is.

Q: And he showed how special he is Sunday, with a second-effort touchdown to help San Diego advance in the playoffs . . .

A: First of all, to jump that high is superhuman to begin with. Second of all, to take the hit he took and still have the presence of mind to reach out and with the other hand put the ball across the goal line is absolutely incredible. As one of the announcers said, it was reminiscent of Walter Payton. He’s in the same league as Walter Payton. Those are very special, once-in-a-lifetime players and that’s what LT is.

Q: When you consider LT, Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and a slew of others, there will be an unbelievable amount of talent on the field Sunday . . .

A: These are two exceptional football teams. From a talent standpoint, this is a step up from the previous week and that’s the way it should be. There are only eight teams left playing in the National Football League and these are by and large the eight best teams. You have teams in the AFC – the Pats, the Chargers, ourselves, the Jaguars – who are exceptionally talented. Think of the Jaguars, with Fred and Jones-Drew. There is incredible talent, to say nothing of the undefeated Patriots. There is incredible talent, top to bottom, in the AFC, but these teams are here for a reason. It’s because they are, by and large, the most talented teams.

Q: What kind of a difference can the crowd in the RCA Dome make on Sunday?

A: It always makes a huge difference, especially in our building. In this case, this is a game that is exceptionally close. I would not anticipate that this would be anything but a very hotly-contested football game. There are going to be some ups and downs. We’re going to have some ups and downs. This is a great defense we’re facing. They lead the league in turnovers. They have people who can sack the quarterback. And they have people who can tackle you and knock the ball loose – evidence what happened against Tennessee. Who knows how that game turns out if the Chargers don’t cause the turnover. But you know what? They caused it, so every little bit, every little minute edge, helps. Therefore, the crowd can play a huge role. It’s going to allow us to get a little bit of a jump. That minute inch, inch and a half, may mean the difference between victory and defeat. We need the 12th man more than ever this Sunday.

Q: You sometimes see teams go to no-back sets in passing situations. Is this something the Colts might consider or would the Colts want running back Joseph Addai in the game?

A: I would say the latter is true. (Colts Offensive Coordinator) Tom (Moore) is always very conscious of putting our best players on the field. Joseph Addai is one of our best players, so we would probably always want to have a running back in the game. Now, do we go empty? Yes, we do and we have fairly frequently in the last three or four weeks with Joseph flanked out opposite the trips in a lot of cases. So, we’ve done that, but we never removed Joseph – or rarely ever remove Joseph – and replace him with a wide receiver, because we’d be taking an exceptionally talented and explosive player off the field.

Q: The Chargers play a 3-4 defensive scheme and there’s a theory that the Colts don’t fare well against 3-4s. Perception or reality?

A: That’s perception. We play lots of 3-4s during the course of the year and do well with it. We had some difficulty blocking San Diego when they were in here two years ago and that myth got created. There is really no substance to it. As a matter of fact, the Patriots have basically not played us 3-4 in quite some time. They’re pretty much all four down linemen. It’s just a myth that we don’t pay a lot of attention to.

Q: In your mind, what are the key match-ups Sunday?

A: The first thing you have to do is protect the passer. The strength of the Chargers’ defense is their incredible pass rush – (outside linebackers Shaun) Phillips and (Shawn) Merriman off the edge, the big people inside. They really do a great job of that. The second thing you have to do, is when they do blitz you, block the blitzers up. You have to know who’s coming and you have to get them blocked. So, it’s kind of 1A and 1B – basic, four-down pass protection, which is difficult enough in and of itself. And 1B, is blitz protection – blitz pickup. The third thing you have to do is limit LT’s big plays. Let him hit doubles and hopefully not home runs. He’s going to get a lot of line-drive singles and maybe some doubles and maybe even a triple, but you can’t let him hit home runs. The fourth thing you have do to is absolutely win the special teams battle – covering kicks, covering punts, making sure you don’t have any blocked kicks. Let’s face it: the loss of the special teams, which we lost decisively last time around, cost us the victory in San Diego. We absolutely have to win that phase of the game. Finally, we have to do a good job of pressuring the passer. If you give Rivers time, he’s very, very cognizant of where his receivers are. He can get the ball to them. He’s resourceful. He doesn’t look as pretty as some, but he’s a darned good, gritty, tough-minded, smart quarterback. So, you have to do a good job of trying to get pressure on him. We do it with our front four, so our front four has to win some battles up there.

Q: And some people forget that the Chargers’ punter, Michael Scifres, is very effective as well.

A: He’s a great punter. He’s not a guy you’re going to get many returns on. You have to go in with that mindset. What you have to do is make sure – because he will kick the ball a mile high – that you catch the ball properly, make the right decisions in terms of fair catch, no fair catch, letting the ball go in the end zone or not and get what you can in the return game. But first, secure the ball, because it’s very difficult to catch it. Again, from the special teams standpoint, the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm.

Q: And, again, no looking ahead this week. That mindset is crucial.

A: There is no game other than this game that’s important for us. Everybody else can talk about whatever else they want. This is the only game that counts and the only voices we should listen to are Tony’s and the coaches’. Focus, focus, focus. If we do that, we will do what we do, then we will be in the ballgame. If we do anything but that, we’re in big trouble against an extremely talented San Diego Chargers football team.

 

[Riffraff]

Small note that could pay huge dividends:

FB Lorenzo Neal may be able to play on Sunday. One month after breaking his leg.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/n...ce=NFLHeadlines

 

[Bri]

I don't disagree with some of the keypoints here but the Chargers aren't realistically projected in this thread.

They have an excellent T in McNeil, he can stop any DE on any given Sunday.

They have a so good he's a pain in the neck DT in Jamal Williams. Colts aren't moving him and Addai is not running up the middle, Dungy/Moore probably won't even call those plays ths week. Jamal is that good.

Shawne is excitable. He'll overrun a play, he'll get to Peyton and be all hyped up like he did something no one ever did before. A veteran team with smart play calls and good blocks can take advantage of his excitability. I'm sure the Chargers will be telling him to calm down or be ready or what not too.

Cromartie coverred Wayne well but he goes for every ball and with that he goes for every fake. I'm sure Peyton will be pumping alot.

The Colts don't have anyone to stop Tomlinson IMO. It'll have to be Dungy getting them to gang tackle every play like his Bucs teams used to. Tomlinson can catch 9-10 balls in a game, besides running. If they don't stop him, with or without Gates, they've got probs.

Jackson is way better than he's shown this year IMO. That guy is taking a long time to develop into a star if he's gonna be one. If he brings his A game, he and Chambers would be hard for any team to cover. I think he's been playing passive like a guy that doesn't want to make a mistake and if they can get that out of him, he'd do far better.

Turner's been kept around for a reason. Though he never does it, it'd be wise for Turner to try and have them run it 50 times with Tomlinson and Turner and see if the Colts don't crack in the 4th Q after that pounding. They've got the legs to do it.

76 yards rushing in the first game for LT. 4 catches for 21 yards. This was at home playing with the advantage of 6 turnovers.I'd say LT was pretty stoppable.

"I reckon that there's fool's gold" Seriously, LT2 is awesome I'm sure the Colts are concerned about him like the Chargers are about Peyton despite his 6 INTs. Their greatness spans far more than one game

 

[Bri]

Small note that could pay huge dividends:

FB Lorenzo Neal may be able to play on Sunday. One month after breaking his leg.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/n...ce=NFLHeadlines

This is a big deal, his run blocking and blitz pickup is like a security blanket of sorts for them.

 

[Bri]

MT, nice interview post

 

[FUBAR]

1. Trenches. If they can't pressure Manning or protect Rivers, it'll be over quickly.4. Rivers plays half decent. Not great, but not awful either.5. Dominate on defense and special teams again.6. Make Addai beat them.

IMO, these are the key. Colts don't need to pressure Rivers as much as keep LT in check, but it is absolutely imparative that the Chargers pressure Manning. If Merriman/Phillps are able to hit Peyton and get hurries, even more so than sacks, they will be able to keep it closer. Cromartie will be a key in coverage. If he doesn't hold up, it's over. A solid, "Roethlisberger-type" performance from Rivers is key. Manage the game, don't turn the ball over.Bob Sanders vs. LT. One of the best mini-contests this week. My guess is Sanders & co. "win" this one, by keeping LT under 100, with 1 TD. Sproles on returns. He isn't Cribbs/Hester/Washington, but he's right after those 3. It will take a small miracle for San Diego to win, but it's possible.

 

[DanFouts]

1. Trenches. If they can't pressure Manning or protect Rivers, it'll be over quickly.

4. Rivers plays half decent. Not great, but not awful either.

5. Dominate on defense and special teams again.

6. Make Addai beat them.

IMO, these are the key. Colts don't need to pressure Rivers as much as keep LT in check, but it is absolutely imparative that the Chargers pressure Manning. If Merriman/Phillps are able to hit Peyton and get hurries, even more so than sacks, they will be able to keep it closer. Cromartie will be a key in coverage. If he doesn't hold up, it's over.

A solid, "Roethlisberger-type" performance from Rivers is key. Manage the game, don't turn the ball over.

Bob Sanders vs. LT. One of the best mini-contests this week. My guess is Sanders & co. "win" this one, by keeping LT under 100, with 1 TD.

Sproles on returns. He isn't Cribbs/Hester/Washington, but he's right after those 3.

It will take a small miracle for San Diego to win, but it's possible.

1. It will be interesting to see what they do with Cromartie. Does he cover Wayne or Harrison. I think he is better off on Wayne. Wayne has the speed, and Cro can recover better then Jammer. Cro will given up short passes, but prtoects better on the deep ball because of his speed and recovery. Wayne is the deep threat......2. Sanders on LT....this hurts. Sanders would have been on Gates, but not now. Maybe they need to try some "crazy" stuff since they are the underdog and injured. Maybe line LT out wide with Turner in the backfield for a few plays. Try to get some missmatches. I think Sanders does a great job in run support, why not make him not be able to.....

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

1. It will be interesting to see what they do with Cromartie. Does he cover Wayne or Harrison.

That will be somewhat up to the Colts, as the Chargers usually keep Cromartie on the right side and Jammer on the left side.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

CHARGERS: Club won 1st playoff game since ’94 AFC Championship last week…Team has won 7 consecutive games (2nd-longest active streak in NFL)…Head coach NORV TURNER is 2-1 (.667) in postseason…Club aims for 3rd consecutive win vs. Colts…QB PHILIP RIVERS is 1-1 (.500) in postseason & has completed 33 of 62 passes (53.2 pct.) for 522 yards with TD vs. 2 INTs & 73.5 passer rating. Team is 8-1 (.889) when Rivers has 70+ completion pct. Rivers is 1-0 as starter vs. Colts…RB LADAINIAN TOMLINSON averages 81.7 rush yards-per-game in postseason (245 rush yards, 70 att.) with 3 TDs. Tomlinson (1,474) led league in rushing for 2nd season in row. In 3 career meetings vs. Ind., Tomlinson has 70+ rush yards in each game with 2 rush TDs (233 rush yards, 66 att.) & has totaled 13 receptions for 125 yards (9.6 avg.) with TD…Team is 8-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions…WR CHRIS CHAMBERS totaled team-high 6 receptions for 121 yards (20.2 avg.) in postseason debut last week. Chambers has 5 TD receptions in 6 career meetings vs. Colts. Last week, WR VINCENT JACKSON registered career-high 114 yards (22.8 avg.) on 5 receptions with TD…In ’07, defense led NFL with 30 INTs (most for SD since ’64), incl. 6 INTs vs. Colts on 11/11/07...Club ranked 2nd in AFC with 42 sacks…Team is 11-1 (.916) when LB SHAWNE MERRIMAN has 2+ sacks. Merriman aims for 3rd consecutive game with sack in postseason. Merriman has 2 career sacks vs. Ind. CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE led NFL with franchise-high 10 INTs & became 1st Charger to lead league in INTs. Cromartie posted career-high 3 INTs in last game vs. Colts. CB DRAYTON FLORENCE aims for 3rd consecutive playoff game with INT…KR-PR DARREN SPROLES posted 45-yard PR-TD & 89-yard KR-TD in last meeting vs. Ind. & became 9th player in history to record KR-TD & PR-TD in same game.

COLTS: In ’07, club posted 6th consecutive season with 10+ wins & became 1st team in NFL history with 5 consecutive seasons with 12+ wins…Club has earned 8 playoff appearances in past 9 seasons…Colts own 4-2 (.667) postseason record in RCA Dome.…Under TONY DUNGY (2002-present), Colts are 4-1 (.800) at home in playoffs…In 6 postseason games at home, QB PEYTON MANNING has completed 147 of 224 passes (65.6 pct.) for 1,969 yards with 12 TDs & 5 INTs & 102.0 passer rating. For career, Manning has 7-6 (.538) record in playoffs & has completed 290 of 474 passes (61.2 pct.) for 3,496 yards with 18 TDs & 15 INTs. Incl. postseason, Colts are 10-2 (.833) when RB JOSEPH ADDAI has 20+ carries. Addai averages 89 rush yards-per-game at home in playoffs. Addai led the Colts with career-high 15 TDs this season (12 rush, 3 receiving)…WR REGGIE WAYNE led NFL with career-high 1,510 receiving yards on career-best 104 receptions. Wayne has 6 TD receptions in 11 postseason games. In last meeting vs. SD (11/11/07), Wayne posted 10 receptions for 140 yards (14.0 avg.) with TD. In past 3 vs. Chargers, WR MARVIN HARRISON has totaled 442 yards (16.4 avg.) on 27 receptions with TD (147.3 yards-per-game)...TE DALLAS CLARK led NFL TEs with 11 TDs in ’07. Colts are 3-0 in playoffs when, Clark has 100+ receiving yards…Defense ranked 3rd in NFL, allowing 279.7 yards-per-game…S BOB SANDERS has 2 career postseason INTs. Rookie LB CLINT SESSION posted career-high 2 INTs in last meeting vs. SD. Team is 27-4 (.870) when DT ROBERT MATHIS registers sack…K ADAM VINATIERI leads the NFL with 40 postseason career FGs and 49 FG attempts.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (12-5) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-3)

RCA Dome (55,506) – Indianapolis, Indiana

Sunday, January 13, 2008 – 10:00 a.m. PST

The San Diego Chargers will take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, January 13, the teams’ fourth meeting in the last five years, but this time the stakes will be much higher as they meet in the Divisional Round of the 2007 AFC Playoffs and the Chargers are out to dethrone the defending Super Bowl Champions.

CBS Sports will televise the game live with Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf being dispatched to Indianapolis to call the action. Kickoff from the RCA Dome is set for 10 a.m. PST.

The Chargers and Colts are quite familiar with one another and they have a memorable history, including a meeting in the 1995 AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

In Week 10 of this season on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, the Chargers hosted the Colts and intercepted Peyton Manning a record six times, including a career-high three by Antonio Cromartie, and Darren Sproles electrified the home crowd by returning a kickoff (89 yards) and a punt (45 yards) for touchdowns as the Chargers knocked off the Colts, 23-21. The prior two games were just as entertaining. In 2004, the Chargers took an eight-game win streak to Indianapolis, only to see it come to a halt when the Colts rallied from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Bolts, 34-31 in overtime. But less than a year later in ’05, the Bolts rode a two-sack and three-tackle-for-loss effort from linebacker Shawne Merriman and shocked the Colts, 26-17, to end Indianapolis’ perfect 13-0 start to the season.

Since 1990, the Chargers and Colts have played 11 times and San Diego is 7-4 in those games. The Chargers also lead the all-time series, 13-9. Manning’s career passer rating against the Chargers (71.3 in five games) is the lowest against any of the Colts’ opponents that he’s played more than once.

The Chargers are one of the NFL’s hottest teams. They’ve won seven straight and 11 of their last 13, including their first playoff victory since January 1995. The Chargers’ seven-game win streak is the NFL’s second-longest behind undefeated New England. In finishing the regular season 11-5, the Chargers had their second straight season with 11-or-more wins and their ninth in team history. The Chargers’ 46 wins in the last four years are the third most in the NFL behind only New England (52) and the Colts (51).

SUCCESS STARTS FROM THE TOP

• Chargers President and CEO Dean Spanos received a Game Ball in the locker room from Head Coach Norv Turner after the Chargers defeated the Detroit Lions, 51-14, on Dec. 16 to win their second-consecutive and third AFC West Championship in the last four years…Dean took over as the Chargers President-CEO in 1994, and under his reign the team has won four AFC West titles, been to the playoffs five times and the Super Bowl once (XXIX in 1994). Spanos hired Turner to coach the Chargers on Feb. 19, 2007.

• On New Year’s Day 2008, Spanos signed General Manager A.J. Smith to a five-year contract extension through 2014…Smith has stockpiled the Chargers’ roster with outstanding talent, including the October acquisition of wide receiver Chris Chambers from Miami.

• Norv Turner won 11 games for the first time in his coaching career in leading the Chargers to an 11-5 mark in the regular season…Turner and Bobby Ross (1992) are the only coaches in team history to win the AFC West in their first season…in defeating Tennessee in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs, Turner became the first Chargers’ coach since Ross (1994) to win a postseason game.

• The Chargers have gone 18-6 (.750) in AFC West play the last four seasons (since 2004)…they have won two straight division titles and three of the last four…since the NFL realigned the divisions in 2002, the Chargers are the only AFC West team to win back-to-back titles.

• En route to winning the AFC West, the Chargers defeated all three of their division opponents away from home this season. It was the first time that had happened since 1994 when the Chargers beat the Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks away from home.

• With the season on the line, the Chargers went 5-0 this year in December…they will go into the 2008 season having won 10 straight games in December, improving their December record to 15-4 since 2004.

• The Chargers scored 412 points in the regular season, their fourth-straight year of scoring 400+…it’s now the longest stretch of 400-point seasons in team history…the last time it happened three years in a row was back during the 1979-81 seasons.

• The Chargers’ coaching staff is one of the League’s best at preparation and game-planning…offensively in the regular season, the Bolts were the NFL’s second-highest scoring team in the first quarter (119) and its third-highest scoring in the first half (235).

• At home this year in the first quarter during the regular season, the Chargers were the NFL’s very best, outscoring their opponents 81-0, becoming only the second team in the league since 1982 (Tampa Bay, 2001) to hold its opponents scoreless at home in the first quarter…that 81-point scoring disparity in the first quarter at home is the largest in NFL history…the old mark (79 points) was set back in 1921 by the Buffalo All-Americans (83-6)…the Titans scored three points on the Bolts in the first quarter of last Sunday’s Wild Card Playoff game to become the first team to score on San Diego in the first quarter.

• Defensively, the Chargers allowed the NFL’s fourth-fewest points (tie) in the first quarter (47) and the third-fewest in the first half (131).

• The Chargers’ coaches also proved they are among the NFL’s best at making halftime adjustments during the regular season…offensively, the Chargers led the entire NFL in touchdowns (nine) and total scoring drives (11) on their first offensive possession of the third quarter…it happened again in the Playoff game against the Titans…Nate Kaeding’s 20-yard field goal on the first possession of the third quarter ignited a 17-0 scoring burst in the second half to seal the win.

• Defensively, the Chargers ended their opponents’ first drive of the third quarter with a punt or a turnover 12 times in 16 games, tied with Miami for the second-highest total in the NFL behind Indianapolis, which did so in 14 of 16 games…the Chargers did it again vs. the Titans, forcing a punt on Tennessee’s first possession of the third quarter.

• At home, the Chargers’ defense allowed only 10 touchdowns (rushing and receiving), tied with Pittsburgh for the fewest in the league…they did not allow any vs. Tennessee.

• Following the Chargers’ Dec. 30 season finale in Oakland, Turner awarded each member of the Chargers’ coaching staff with a Game Ball.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR - DEFENSE

• Antonio Cromartie…”Cro,” the Chargers’ 2006 first-round draft choice out of Florida State, had his NFL coming out party against Indianapolis in this year’s Nov. 11 NBC Sunday Night Football game at Qualcomm Stadium…Cromartie recorded a career-high three of Peyton Manning’s record six interceptions…Cromartie finished the year as the NFL’s leader with 10 interceptions…he had all three of his picks off Manning in the game’s first half, intercepting his third on the third play of the second quarter…it was one of three multi-pick games for Cromartie during the season.

• Thanks in part to their prowess in forcing turnovers, San Diego’s defense led the NFL in opponent passer rating (70.0) during the regular season…it was the first time the Chargers have ever led the NFL in that category…when the Chargers and Colts faced off in Nov., Peyton Manning posted just a 49.4 passer rating, his lowest figure since Sept. 18, 2005 vs. Jacksonville (44.0)…though he’s thrown for over 300 yards in four of his five starts against the Chargers, Manning’s passer rating against San Diego is just 71.3, the lowest against any team he’s played against more than once, and well below his career rating of 94.7, which ranks second all-time in the NFL record books.

• An interesting aside to Sunday’s game is that it features the NFL’s top-two ball-hawking defenses…San Diego (+24) and Indy (+18) lead the NFL in turnover ratio…they also rank 1-2 in total takeaways (San Diego 48 and Indy 37) and interceptions (San Diego 30 and Indy 22)…it’s the first time a Chargers team has ever led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways and it’s the first time they’ve led the NFL in turnover ratio since 1993…the Chargers scored 128 pts off turnovers in the regular season, secondmost in the NFL…when the Chargers and Colts met in Nov., the teams combined for nine turnovers, six by the Colts and three by the Chargers…the Bolts, however, only managed to score a total of 10 points off those turnovers…the Chargers’ 48 takeaways in 2007 were the most in the NFL since Baltimore had 49 in 2000.

• The Chargers head to Indianapolis having won seven in a row…during that stretch, the Chargers have held five of their seven opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense, including last Sunday when they held Tennessee to 248 yards…only two teams amassed more than 300 and none more than the 328 yards by Detroit in Week 14…the Chargers won that game though by 37 points, 51-14…Indianapolis’ 386 total net yards on Nov. 11 was the fifth-most against the Bolts this season.

• Shawne Merriman has been a thorn in the side of the Colts both times he’s played them…when the teams met in Nov., Merriman was limited to four tackles, but one of his stops was a tackle for loss and he was also credited with a quarterback pressure on the third-and-three play when Cromartie intercepted his third pass of the game.

• When the Chargers and Colts met in 2005, Merriman was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career…he finished that game with a solo sack and two assists, along with three tackles for loss…one of his biggest plays was tackling Manning for a six-yard loss on a fourth-and-goal play from the Chargers’ one-yard line, midway through the second quarter…it set the Bolts up for a late field goal that gave them a 13-0 lead in a game they would eventurally go on to win, 26-17, and end the Colts’ perfect 13-0 start to the ’05 season…following the game, Merriman also received Defensive POW honors from Sports Illustrated.com, Rookie of the Week honors from Fox Sports.com and a Game Ball from ESPN’s NFL Prime Time.

• In last Sunday’s Wild Card Playoff Game against Tennessee, Merriman had a huge game, forcing the Titans’ Chris Brown to fumble, which Shaun Phillips recovered, as the Titans were driving for a potential score early in the second quarter…he would later record a four-yard sack in the fourth quarter to help put the game on ice.

• Since the Chargers selected Merriman in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, he’s led the team in sacks each of his three seasons, with 10 in 2005, 17 in 2006 and 12.5 this year…as a team this year, the Chargers had the fifth-most sacks in the league (42)…last year, the Bolts led the NFL and had the second-most in team history (60)…since Merriman’s arrival in 2005, his 39.5 sacks and the Chargers’ 149 team sacks are the most in the NFL.

• Merriman’s outside linebacker mate, Shaun Phillips, will be one to watch as well…he made one of the biggest defensive plays of the game last Sunday against the Titans…with the Bolts up 10-6, the Titans were driving deep into San Diego territory late in the third quarter…on the very first play of the fourth, “SP” tackled LenDale White for a three-yard loss…after two incompletions, the Titans attempted a 38-yard field goal that barely missed to the left…the three yards that Phillips took on that tackle for loss, were definitely key in the missed field goal…as a result, the Chargers got the ball back and drove 72 yards for the back-breaking TD and a 17-6 lead…Phillips finished the game with 11 tackles, second-most on the team…he made a couple of other big plays against the Titans…on the first series of the game, he pressured Vince Young into an incomplete pass on a third down play which forced field goal try after Titans had driven to Chargers’ 12-yard line…also, his second-quarter fumble recovery after massive open-field hit by Shawne Merriman at Chargers’ 11-yard line prevented potential Titans score in game they already led, 3-0.

• Phillips racked up an interception against the Colts when the teams met in Nov…it was his first of the year and helped set up a field goal that put the Chargers up 10-0 in the first quarter.

• The Chargers are playing some of the best run defense in the NFL today…dating back to the Bolts’ game against Indy on Nov. 11, the Chargers have allowed five rushing touchdowns (in nine games) and no team has rushed for more than 131 yards…in those nine games, the Chargers are only allowing 92.3 ypg on the ground…the Chargers held the Colts to 75 yards and no TDs on the ground when they met in Nov….in the last three games with the Colts, Indy is averaging 67.7 ypg on the ground and has only scored one rushing TD.

• Linebacker Stephen Cooper is one of the key cogs in the Chargers’ defense…Cooper recorded double-digit tackle totals in 14 of the Bolts’ 17 games during the season, including playoffs…”Coop” racked up a career-high 19 when the Bolts took on Indy in Nov. on NBC’s Sunday Night Football…he was the Bolts’ team leader this season with 179 tackles for the year.

• Defensive end Igor Olshansky capped off the finest season of his career with his first-ever interception in the ’07 season finale at Oakland…it came on the Raiders’ first offensive play of the game and nine plays later, the Bolts scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead…Olshansky became the 10th different Chargers’ player to intercept a pass this season…Igor finished the regular season with a career-high and defensive-line-leading 69 tackles, 19 more than his previous high (50) from last season…he also set a career-high with 3.5 sacks and tied Shaun Phillips for the team lead with three forced fumbles.

• Safety Clinton Hart finished the season on a roll with two interceptions in the season’s final three games…he had a potential sixth interception just barely get away from him in last weekend’s Wild Card Playoffs vs. the Titans…Hart had a career year for the Bolts, finishing the season with career highs in tackles (109) and interceptions (five), and also recording his first sack since 2003…Hart recorded his 100th tackle of the season on a one-yard tackle for loss in the Chargers’ regular-season finale at Oakland.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – SPECIAL TEAMS

• Despite being named a first alternate, Mike Scifres had another Pro Bowl-caliber season for the Chargers…his 46.1 average was the second-highest ever recorded in team history behind Darren Bennett (46.2 in 2000).

• All season, Scifres gave opponents a long field to work with, landing 36 of his punts inside the 20, second-most in the NFL…Scifres finished the regular season as the NFL’s third-leading punter in terms of net average (39.6), narrowly missing out on becoming only the second punter in team history to post a season net average of 40.0+…he had only 29 punts returned this season, fourth-fewest among the league’s Top 25 punters…Dennis Partee (40.6 in 1971) is the only punter in team history to finish a season with a net average of 40.0+…six times this season, opponents had either zero or negative punt return yards against the Chargers – Chicago (0), Kansas City (0), Oakland (0), Indy (-5), Baltimore (0), Detroit (0) and Denver (0).

• Scifres had a banner night when the Chargers faced the Colts in Nov., achieving the rare feat of posting a higher net average (46.0) than his gross average (45.0)…of his five punts that night, three landed inside the 20, and Indy only was able to return two for a total of five yards in losses…the other three were all downed by the Bolts’ coverage units.

• Scifres hit at least one 60-yard punt in seven of the Chargers’ last 11 games, including playoffs…he hit a season-long 70 yarder Nov. 25 against Baltimore.

• Return specialist Darren Sproles had a career-night the last time the Chargers and Colts played in Nov. as he became the ninth player in NFL history to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same game…his 27.2-yard average on kickoff returns during the regular season was fifth-best in the league and as a punt returner, his 9.5-yard average ranked seventh…Sproles only fair caught two punts during the entire season, tied for the fewest in the league among the NFL’s leading punt return men.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR - OFFENSE

• LaDainian Tomlinson will be looking for a repeat performance from the one he had in 2004 at the RCA Dome when he caught the longest touchdown pass of his career (74 yards)…though the Chargers lost 34-31 in overtime, Tomlinson finished the game with 176 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.

• Tomlinson is on quite a roll of late…including Sunday’s game-clinching touchdown against Tennessee, he has scored nine touchdowns (seven rushing and two receiving) in the Chargers’ last six games…Tomlinson finished the 2007 season leading the NFL with 15 rushing TDs.

• During the Bolts’ seven-game winning streak, the NFL’s rushing champion has racked up 721 yards (103 ypg) and seven touchdowns.

• In three career games against the Colts, Tomlinson has rushed for 233 yards (77.7 ypg) and two touchdowns…he also has 125 receiving yards and a TD…he’s never rushed for more than 100 yards however against the Colts…Indianapolis ended the season with the NFL’s 15th-ranked run defense (106.9 ypg), while the Chargers finished the year with the league’s seventh-ranked rushing offense (127.4 ypg).

• Tomlinson finished the regular season with over 100 yards rushing in four of the last five games…he’s looking for his second-career 100-yard game in the playoffs (123 vs. New England in 2006).

• Tomlinson also has an impressive streak coming in to the Colts game in which he has recorded a run of at least 10 yards in 28 consecutive games…it’s the longest such streak in the NFL…Tomlinson’s longest run against the Colts in Nov. was a 16-yarder.

• Wide receiver Chris Chambers had a monster six-catch, 121-yard effort to lead all players in his playoff debut last Sunday against Tennessee…Chambers has at least two catches in every game since joining the Chargers in an Oct. trade from Miami and the Bolts are 9-2 since his arrival…he’s averaging 16.5 ypc since joining the Bolts…Chambers had two 100-yard games for the Dolphins before the trade, but none since donning Lightning Bolts…he went over the 100-yard mark on a 39-yard catch on a third-and-10 play during the touchdown drive in which the Bolts scored their final points in the 17-6 win.

• Chambers came into the playoffs having caught a touchdown pass in each of the Bolts’ last two regular-season games…as a rookie in 2001, Chambers caught a 74-yard touchdown pass against the Colts, which is the third-longest catch of his career.

• Chambers’ 41 catches since he joined the Bolts (prior to Week 7) is the most on the team.

• Fellow wide receiver Vincent Jackson rides into the RCA Dome off a career performance against Tennessee in the Wild Card Playoffs…Jackson racked up a career-best 114 yards and a touchdown on five catches…his 25-yard touchdown catch gave the Bolts their first lead of the game, 10-6, in the third quarter...that TD catch is the one that put him over 100 yards for the first time in his career.

• Jackson’s playoff afternoon was strewn with big catches…when the Chargers drove for a field goal to begin the third quarter, they did so with the help of a 34-yard catch by “Jax” on a third-and-nine play and he also had a 20-yard catch on the very first play of his third quarter TD drive.

• The Chargers offensive line, featuring starters Jeromey Clary, Mike Goff, Nick Hardwick, Kris Dielman and Marcus McNeill, has only given up four sacks in the last four games, while opening holes for the team’s running backs to rush for 541 yards (152.3 ypg), including a season-high 274 against Detroit Dec. 16…the line redeemed itself last Sunday against Tennessee…after giving up a season-high five sacks to the Titans in Dec., the line only allowed one in Sunday’s Wild Card win…the Bolts gave up two sacks to the Colts in their Nov. win…in 11 games this season, including playoffs, the Chargers gave up zero or one sack and three times they rushed for over 200 yards…in the regular season, the Chargers’ offensive line only allowed 24 sacks, tied for eighth-fewest in the league.

• Philip Rivers has gotten hot for the Chargers at the right time of the year…in leading the Bolts to wins in their last seven games, Rivers has completed 119 of 195 (.610) for 1,392 yards with 11 TDs and only four INTs for a rating of 92.9…Rivers’ career passer rating in the regular season (86.6) is the highest in team history (min. 500 pass attempts).

• Rivers will be looking for an improved performance on Sunday against the Colts…his 30.6 passer rating in their Nov. meeting was the second-lowest of his career…on a rainy night in San Diego, the Chargers’ signal-caller only completed 13 of 24 for 104 yards with no TDs and two INTs.

STREAKING TO THE FINISH – BOLTS RIDE SIX-GAME WIN STREAK INTO POSTSEASON

The Chargers streaked into the postseason riding a six-game win streak, the NFL’s second-longest win streak heading into the postseason. The Bolts put up some impressive numbers during those six games. Below is a look at those figures, along with where they ranked in the NFL at the conclusion of the regular season (Weeks 11-16 of the regular season).

Points Scored (183 = 30.5 ppg)..................................2nd

Points Allowed (75 = 12.5 ppg).................................. 1st

Point Differential (108 = 18 ppg) .............................. 1st

Rushing Yards (143.8 ypg)...........................................2nd

Rushing Yards Allowed (85.8 ypg).............................4th

Total Yards allowed (264.5 ypg) ................................2nd

Quarterback Sacks (23 = 3.9 spg)...............................1st

Turnover Ratio (+15) .....................................................1st

Time of Possession (32:26 avg) ................................. 3rd

CHARGERS-COLTS CONNECTIONS

• Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith was a member of the Buffalo Bills’ scouting staff when Colts President Bill Polian served as the club’s general manager…Bolts’ Defensive Coordinator Ted Cottrell was on Marv Levy’s staff in Buffalo during Polian’s tenure.

• Chargers guard Kris Dielman played at Indiana University as did Chargers Corporate Sales Manager Chris Lee…Bolts Offensive Coordinator Clarence Shelmon coached running backs at Indiana from 1981-83…Chargers offensive line coach Hal Hunter was the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator from 2000-01.

• Chargers outside linebackers coach John Pagano spent the 1997-01 seasons as a defensive assistant with the Colts.

• Chargers center Nick Hardwick and linebacker Shaun Phillips both played collegiately at Purdue…Hardwick is from Indianapolis and attended Lawrence North High School.

• Chargers Executive Vice President/COO Jim Steeg grew up in Fort Wayne, IN and was the co-Hoosier Celebrity of the year in 2005 with Peyton Manning…Director of Player Development Arthur Hightower spent three years working at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis…Senior Director of Marketing Partnerships Denny O’Leary is a Hoosier alum.

• Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy was the defensive backs coach in Kansas City when Chargers assistant secondary coach Kevin Ross played cornerback for the Chiefs…Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal spent one season with Dungy in Tampa Bay…Chargers safety Marlon McCree played under special assistant to the defense, Rod Perry, in Carolina.

• Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner worked with Colts Defensive Coordinator Ron Meeks with the Dallas Cowboys in 1991…Turner also hired Meeks to coach his secondary with the Washington Redskins in 2000…Meeks and Chargers quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell worked together in St. Louis in 2001.

• Colts linebacker Freddy Keiaho played at San Diego State.

• Colts Offensive Quality Control Coach Pete Metzelaars played for the Buffalo Bills from 1985-94, when Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith worked for the team as a scout, assistant director of college scouting and director of pro personnel…Indy’s strength and conditioning coach Jon Torine also spent time with Smith in Buffalo…Chargers offensive line coach Jack Henry and Colts Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore worked together with the Detroit Lions.

• Colts Defensive Line Coach John Teerlinck was a fifth-round draft choice of the Chargers in 1974 and played four seasons at DE for the Bolts…Special Assistant to the Defense Rod Perry coached the Chargers’ secondary from 1997-01…Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd coached the Chargers O-Line from 1974-76… special teams coach Russ Purnell attended Orange Coast JC and Whittier College…he then coached at Corona del Mar High School, Edison HS in L.A. and at USC… wide receivers coach Clyde Christensen is from Covina, Calif.

• Colts TE Bryan Fletcher is the younger brother of former Chargers running back Terrell Fletcher…Colts LB Brandon Archer is the younger brother of Phil Archer, a linebacker who attended training camp with the Chargers in ’05 and ’06.

• Chargers K Dave Rayner was drafted by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft from Michigan State • Chargers WR Buster Davis played at Walker High School in New Orleans where he was coached by Ralph Wayne, father of Colts WR Reggie Wayne…Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie and Colts WR Craphonso Thorpe were teammates at Lincoln HS in Tallahassee, FL.

• The Following players were college teammates: Chargers K Nate Kaeding with Colts TE Dallas Clark and S Bob Sanders at Iowa…Chargers RB Michael Turner and Colts G Ryan Diem at Northern Illinois… Chargers RB Darren Sproles and OT Jeromey Clary with Colts G Ryan Lilja and LB Brandon Archer at Kansas State…Chargers WR Buster Davis and Colts RB Joseph Addai at LSU…Chargers CB Paul Oliver and Colts CB Tim Jennings at Georgia…Chargers OT Shane Olivea and Colts DT Quinn Pitcock at Ohio State…Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie and Colts WR Craphonso Thorpe at Florida State.

A LOOK BACK AT THE MOST RECENT CHARGERS-COLTS GAMES

NOV. 11, 2007: CHARGERS VS. COLTS – On a cool and rainy night in San Diego, the Chargers knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts before a National TV audience on NBC’s Sunday Night Football…Darren Sproles electrified the crowd with two long touchdown returns, including an 89-yarder on the game’s opening kickoff and Antonio Cromartie did his part by intercepting Peyton Manning a team-record-tying three times as part of a six interception night for the Bolts…the Chargers had complete command of the game early as Sproles scored on the kickoff and then on a 45-yard punt return later in the first quarter…Cromartie recorded all three of his interceptions in the first half, the third of which resulted in a four-yard touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson that gave the Bolts a 23-0 lead…the defending champs rallied though with a 21-0 run through the rest of the game that fell short only when Adam Vinatieri missed a potential game-winning 29-yard field goal to the right…Clinton Hart sealed the victory for San Diego with an interception on the game’s final play…San Diego tied its team record with the six picks on the night…for Manning, the six INTs were a career high.

DEC. 18, 2005: CHARGERS AT COLTS – The Chargers did what many people didn’t think was possible, ending the Indianapolis Colts’ perfect 13-0 start by handing them a 26-17 loss before a capacity crowd of 57,389 at the RCA Dome. The Chargers dominated the first half of the game in jumping out to a 13-0 lead. They scored on a 29-yard touchdown catch by Keenan McCardell and three field goals by Nate Kaeding, including a 48-yarder. In the first two quarters, the Bolts shut out the Colts and outgained them in total yards 249 to 94. They also ended Indianapolis’ NFL-record streak of scoring in 31 consecutive quarters. Shawne Merriman was a disruptive force in the first half as he was involved in two sacks and three tackles for loss. The first play of each of Indianapolis’ first three drives of the game either ended in a sack or a tackle for loss. Merriman made a huge play in the second quarter with the Bolts hanging on to a 10-0 lead. On a fourth-and-goal at the oneyard line, he tackled Peyton Manning for a six-yard loss and on the ensuing possession, the Chargers drove 91 yards in 18 plays for the field goal that gave them the 13-0 edge at the half. In the third quarter, the face of the game completely changed. A Merriman sack on third-down on the Colts’ first series of the third quarter helped the Chargers get a field goal to extend their lead to 16-0, but then Indianapolis went on an improbable 17-0 run. It started with a field goal that cut the lead to 16-3. Then on San Diego’s next possession, Drew Brees was intercepted by Gary Brackett and two plays later a touchdown run by Edgerrin James cut the lead to 16-10. The Chargers got the ball back and facing a third-and-13 from his own 12, Brees was sacked and stripped of the ball and the Colts recovered at the four-yard line. Three plays later, Manning threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Clark and the Chargers lead was gone as Indy surged ahead 17-16. After an exchange of punts, San Diego was seemingly in trouble again. Keenan McCardell mistakenly fielded a punt at his own one-yard line and was tackled at the eight. Three plays later though, while facing a third-and-nine, McCardell made arguably the biggest play of the season as he slipped behind the Colts defense to catch a 54-yard pass which led to a season-long 49-yard field goal by Kaeding that gave the lead back to the Chargers at 19-17. On the ensuing kickoff with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Matt Wilhelm stripped the ball from Dominic Rhodes and the Chargers recovered at the 29-yard line and the Chargers had a chance to put the game away. But just two plays later, Brees was intercepted on a pass in the end zone intended for Reche Caldwell and again the Colts had life down by two. Indianapolis responded by driving all the way to the Chargers 23-yard line but an intentional grounding penalty and a three-yard sack by Luis Castillo on back to back plays forced a punt instead of a potential field goal. It was just what the Chargers needed as two plays after the punt, Michael Turner, who was in the game for an injured LaDainian Tomlinson took a handoff from Brees and raced 83 yards to the end zone with 2:09 left in the quarter to put the game away and end the Colts hopes of a perfect season.

DEC. 16, 2004: CHARGERS AT COLTS – The Chargers eight-game winning streak came to an end as the Indianapolis Colts rallied from a 31-16 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Chargers, 34-31, in overtime on a 30-yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt. The game was played in front of a frenzied sell-out crowd of 57,330 at the RCA Dome which was on hand to witness Peyton Manning set the NFL record for touchdown passes in a single-season. The record-breaker took place on a 21-yard pass to Brandon Stokley with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter that tied the game, 31-31, following a two-point conversion. The Chargers wasted a brilliant offensive effort from Drew Brees, who completed 21 of 31 for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, and perhaps an even better defensive effort from Steve Foley, who tied his career high with three sacks. Donnie Edwards also had a standout game, recording an interception at the Chargers’ five-yard line, a sack and forced fumble, and a team-high nine tackles. LaDainian Tomlinson caught a career-long 74-yard touchdown pass from Brees. He finished the game with 176 total offensive yards, including 95 yards receiving. Tomlinson also scored a touchdown on a 16-yard run, marking his 12th consecutive game with a rushing touchdown, the second-longest streak in NFL history. Eric Parker had 103 yards receiving, including a 19-yard touchdown catch. It was his second 100-yard game of the season. Parker caught three passes for 40 yards on his touchdown drive. Antonio Gates caught a four-yard touchdown pass, his 13th of the season, to set a new NFL record for single-season touchdown catches by a tight end. Nate Kaeding scored seven points, including three on a 50-yard field goal. He increased his season total to 108 to set a new team rookie scoring record. Mike Scifres tied his career-long with a 60-yard punt.

2007 TAKEAWAY-GIVEAWAY RATIO

This season, the Chargers led the NFL with 30 interceptions, 48 total takeaways and a +24 turnover ratio. Antonio Cromartie paced the defense, leading the NFL with a team record 10 interceptions. Cromartie returned one of his interceptions 70 yards for a touchdown against Houston. Even more impressive than the touchdown Cromartie scored is the ones that he’s prevented. On Nov. 11 against Indianapolis, Cromatie had an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Reggie Wayne. The Bolts ended up winning that game by two points. And on Dec. 2 in Kansas City, Cromartie had two interceptions in the end zone, preventing 14 Kansas City points in a game the Chargers won by 14 points, 24-10. Both his interceptions against the Chiefs came while covering veteran receivers, Eddie Kennison and perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez. Cromartie is in only his second NFL season and he wasn’t even a starter until the team’s Nov. 11 game against Indianapolis. The Bolts recorded at least two takeaways in 15 of the team’s 17 games this season, including playoffs, and have 44 takeaways in the last 14 games.

TOMLINSON WINS SECOND-CONSECUTIVE RUSHING TITLE

• LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 1,474 yards this season, just the fourth-best total of his career, but it was enough to capture his second-straight NFL rushing title...he became the first back since Indianapolis’ Edgerrin James (1999-00) and 12th back in NFL history to win back-to-back rushing titles…LT is the only player in team history to ever win the league’s rushing title.

• As a team, the Chargers rushed for 2,039 yards, their NFL-leading sixth-straight 2,000-yard season.

• Tomlinson also won the NFL’s rushing touchdowns title with 15…it was his third rushing TDs title…he’s only the second player since the merger (1970) to lead the league in rushing touchdowns three times, joining Emmitt Smith who won it in 1992, ’94 and ’95.

• Tomlinson finished second in the NFL with 1,949 total yards from scrimmage, 155 yards behind Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook…LT won the NFL’s scrimmage yards title in 2003.

• Tomlinson racked up 63 scrimmage yards against Oakland on Sunday to push his career total past 14,000 yards…he finishes the season with 14,025 and is the 21st player in NFL history to get to 14,000.

• Tomlinson ended the season with a 56-yard rushing game in Oakland, giving him just enough yards (10,650) to move past former 49er, Eagle and Seahawk Ricky Watters (10,643) and into 18th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.

• Tomlinson became first player since Barry Sanders in 1994 to finish season with more than 300 touches without fumbling the football...Tomlinson’s 375 touches this season (315 carries and 60 receptions) were the same amount that Sanders had in ’94.

TOMLINSON TOUGHEST TO TACKLE

The Sporting News ran a recent poll in which NFL defensive players from around the league were asked who the ‘toughest player to tackle was’ among their peers. LaDAINIAN TOMLINSON was a runaway winner, earning 19 votes. Minnesota’s ADRIAN PETERSON (six votes) was second.

 

[pizzatyme]

MT, that's a lot of useless info, but thanks for the copy-paste!

It all comes down to the QBs.

I'll go with the 2-time MVP.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

Seriously?

 

[purestrength]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

 

[pizzatyme]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team. Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game? Let alone on the road, and especially against the defending SB champs?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

Seriously?

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team. Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game? Let alone on the road, and especially against the defending SB champs?

it has happened before with teams resting alot downthe stretch, not having much to play for, coming out rusty.I am worried about the bolts. They are big underdogs for a reason

 

[Bri]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

Seriously?

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team. Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game? Let alone on the road, and especially against the defending SB champs?

it has happened before with teams resting alot downthe stretch, not having much to play for, coming out rusty.I am worried about the bolts. They are big underdogs for a reason

Colts being rusty or not "up" for this game would only happen if Dungy were a poor coach and he's terrific so...no way that happens, no way

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

Seriously?

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team. Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game? Let alone on the road, and especially against the defending SB champs?

it has happened before with teams resting alot downthe stretch, not having much to play for, coming out rusty.I am worried about the bolts. They are big underdogs for a reason

Colts being rusty or not "up" for this game would only happen if Dungy were a poor coach and he's terrific so...no way that happens, no way

just like against Pitt two years ago you mean?

 

[Bri]

Colts being rusty or not "up" for this game would only happen if Dungy were a poor coach and he's terrific so...no way that happens, no way

just like against Pitt two years ago you mean?

No, good point but, no way he falls into that trap again then

 

[Bri]

Colts being rusty or not "up" for this game would only happen if Dungy were a poor coach and he's terrific so...no way that happens, no way

just like against Pitt two years ago you mean?

No, good point but, no way he falls into that trap again then

quoting myself but...I'm pretty confident though that if the Chargers get to Peyton early OR he throws an INT early(like the 6 last time) someone will call it that and not give the Chargers their props for their early gameplan.

 

[Despyzer]

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team.

Charger fans can't make any comments about the Colts in this thread? Does that work both ways or does this only apply to Charger fans?

Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game?

Approximately one year ago.

 

[pizzatyme]

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team.

Charger fans can't make any comments about the Colts in this thread? Does that work both ways or does this only apply to Charger fans?

Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game?

Approximately one year ago.

You know what I meant. They lost their first game last year. The point remains the same. They are happy to make the playoffs.The Colts have made it 7 of the last 8 years.And, yes, all comments from Chargers fans are welcomed.

 

[Despyzer]

You know what I meant. They lost their first game last year. The point remains the same. They are happy to make the playoffs.The Colts have made it 7 of the last 8 years.

I'll be kind and keep to myself how frequently the Colts escaped their first game during that time span.But I will say that I think all fans are happy when their teams make the playoffs. It is so much better than the alternative.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team, I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

Seriously?

Are you colts homers worried about the rust of your team? I mean you havent been playing for anything since you lost to the pats really.

All kidding and razzing aside, no. Seriously, no.The healthy starters played a lot more at the end of this season than they did two years ago. I think Dungy handled it perfectly this time.

And, like I said, the Chargers fans should be worried about their team. Since when was the last time they have even PLAYED a 2nd round game? Let alone on the road, and especially against the defending SB champs?

it has happened before with teams resting alot downthe stretch, not having much to play for, coming out rusty.I am worried about the bolts. They are big underdogs for a reason

More to the point, I would love for you to explain your comment about the Colts not having anything to play for since losing to the Pats. Did the Colts already have that first round bye clinched at 8-1? That would be unprecedented!

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (12-5) vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-3)

Returning to the playoffs for an NFL-best eighth time in nine years and aiming to match the post-season success that resulted in the Super Bowl XLI title, the Indianapolis Colts, 13-3, host the San Diego Chargers, 12-5, in the AFC Divisional Playoffs on Sunday, January 13. Kickoff for the contest, telecast nationally by CBS Sports, is 1:00 p.m. (EST). Westwood One provides national radio coverage.

This year, Indianapolis has produced its sixth consecutive 10+-victory season, tying the third-longest streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81; 6, Dallas, 1968-73; 6, Miami 1970-75; 6, LA Rams, 1973-78; 6, Dallas, 1991-96; 6, Colts, 2002-07). Indianapolis has become the only NFL team with five consecutive 12+- victory seasons. The Colts were tied with Dallas (1992-95) as the only teams to do it four consecutive seasons. Indianapolis won 13 games for third time in franchise history (1968, 1999), one victory shy of the club seasonal-record (14, 2005).

Owners of the NFL's best regular-season record (102-42) since the start of the 1999 season, while being the only team to earn eight playoff appearances in the last nine seasons, Indianapolis enters this game as victors in 47 of its last 57 regular-season games. Indianapolis' winning ways include a 28-8 record in AFC South play, while the club has owned or shared the lead in 95 of 102 weeks of the division's existence, including the last 60 consecutive weeks. The Colts have won the past five AFC South championships, the best divisional-title streak in club history.

The Colts' playoff berth represents the 21st in the 55-year history of the team, the 11th since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, the 10th in the past 13 years and the eighth in the past nine seasons. The 2007 season marked the sixth year of the Owner and C.E.O Jim Irsay-President Bill Polian-Head Coach Tony Dungy regime. Under Irsay's stewardship, the Colts have made the playoffs 10 times in the past 13 years, including consecutive seasons from 1999-2000 and 2002-07. The club has posted the most regular-season victories (102) in the NFL since 1999, and the club has won a franchiserecord five consecutive divisions titles. Indianapolis won 50 regular-season games from 2003-06 to rank among the teams with the most regular-season victories over any four-year span (52, Chicago, 1985-88; 52, San Francisco, 1989-92; 51, San Francisco, 1987-90; 50, Chicago, 1984-87; 50, New England, 2003-06. Indianapolis won 63 games from 2003-07, to rank among the leaders for most regular-season victories over a five-year span (66, New England, 2003-07; 62, Chicago, 1984-88; 62, San Francisco, 1988-92; 62, San Francisco, 1989-93; 61, San Francisco, 1986-90; 61, San Francisco, 1987-91; 61, San Francisco, 1990-94; 61, San Francisco, 1994-98). Polian's teams have produced a combined regular-season record of 202-133 with him as either general manager or president. Discounting his first two building years in Buffalo and his first seasons with Carolina and the Colts, his record is 186-85. In 20 seasons as a general manager or president, his teams have made 14 playoff and seven conference championship game appearances, and he has been a part of eleven 11+-victory seasons. Dungy directed Tampa Bay to playoff appearances four times in six seasons. His 1999 Buccaneers squad advanced to the NFC Championship Game, losing in the final seconds. Dungy is the winningest head coach in the NFL from 1999-2007 with a regular-season record of 103-41. Dungy is the 8th head coach to direct the Colts into post-season play. He joined the Colts in 2002 after producing a 54-42 regular season (2-4 in playoffs) with Tampa Bay from 1996-2001. This year's squad produced the 17th 10+-victory season in franchise history. Dungy is one of five Colts head coaches to earn double-digit victory totals (6, Tony Dungy; 4, Don Shula; 3, Ted Marchibroda; 2, Don McCafferty; 2, Jim Mora). This marks Dungy's ninth career double-digit victory season (10-6, 1997; 11-5, 1999; 10-6, 2000 with Tampa Bay; 10-6, 2002; 12-4, 2003; 12-4, 2004; 14-2, 2005; 12-4, 2006; 13-3, 2007 with Colts). Dungy (1999-07) has earned nine consecutive playoff appearances (1999-01 at Tampa Bay; 2002-07 with Colts), tying Tom Landry (9, Dallas, 1975-83) for the most consecutive playoff appearances by NFL coaches since 1970.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The overall series stands 14-9 in San Diego's favor, and these clubs met on November 11 at Qualcomm Stadium as the Chargers posted a 23-21 victory. In that meeting, Indianapolis fell behind, 23-0, in the first half before nearly pulling off a dramatic comeback victory. The Colts tallied 14 fourth-quarter points, but K-Adam Vinatieri was wide right on a 29-yard field goal in the final two minutes as the Colts fell. KR-Darren Sproles staked San Diego to an early lead with an 89t KOR and a 45t punt return in the first quarter. K-Nate Kaeding booted a 33-yard field goal in the period as the Chargers threatened to pull away. QB-Peyton Manning (34-56-328, 2 TDs/6 ints.) suffered four first-half interceptions before teaming with WR-Reggie Wayne (10-140, 1 TD) on an 8t pass and RB-Kenton Keith on a 7t pass. LB-Gary Brackett's end zone fumble recovery pulled the Colts within two points early in the fourth quarter.

These teams waged spirited December battles in the RCA Dome during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Indianapolis prevailed in overtime on December 26, 2004, 34-31, and San Diego earned a 26-17 victory on the return trip on December 18. In that contest, after rallying from a 16-point deficit, the Colts surrendered the final 10 points in falling to San Diego. The Chargers controlled the first half in earning a 13-0 lead at intermission. Indianapolis tallied 17 points in the third quarter to take the lead, but K-Nate Kaeding's fourth field goal, a 49-yarder with 6:41 left, put San Diego ahead, 19-17. RB-Michael Turner's 83t burst provided the clinching points with 2:09 left. Manning was 26-45-336, 1 TD/2 ints., while Wayne (10-91) and WR-Marvin Harrison (8-135) had big days. San Diego rushed for 206 yards, and QB-Drew Brees was 22-33-255, 1 TD/2 ints. The loss kept Indianapolis from being then the 2nd team ever with a 14-0 start (Miami, 1972). In the Colts' last series win in 2004, rallying from two 15-point deficits to tie the contest in the final minute of regulation, Indianapolis earned a 34-31 overtime win. In only the fourth contest in NFL history pitting teams with seven or more consecutive wins (Chargers 8, Colts 7), Manning was 27-44-383, 2 TDs/1 int. Manning teamed with RB-James Mungro (3t) and WR-Brandon Stokley (21t) on scoring tosses, the final one coming with :56 remaining to cut the deficit to 31-29. RB-Edgerrin James then tallied on a twopoint rush. K-Mike Vanderjagt's 30-yard field goal 2:47 into overtime decided the contest. Manning's scoring pass to Stokley was his 49th TD toss of the season, breaking the prior NFL mark of QB-Dan Marino (1984). Prior to the 2004 match, the series had been dormant since September 26, 1999, when the Colts earned a 27-19 win at Qualcomm Stadium. In that contest, the Colts snapped a 10-game road losing streak as Manning (29-54-404, 2 TDs/1 int.) rallied the club from a 19-13 fourth-quarter deficit. Manning and Harrison (13-196, 1 TD) hooked up all day as Harrison tied then the club record for single-game receptions. San Diego tallied 16 second-quarter points and held a 19-10 third-quarter lead before Vanderjagt hit a 42-yard field goal and Manning tallied on a 12t rush. The Colts and Chargers have had an unusually active series schedule since the club's 1984 move to Indianapolis. The regular season series was renewed during the 1984, 1986, 1987 (twice), 1988, 1989, 1992 (twice), 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 seasons.

The teams have met once in the playoffs, as the Colts earned a 35-20 wildcard win at San Diego on December 31, 1995.

MANNING, HARRISON, WAYNE AND ADDAI NOTES

QB-Peyton Manning has started the first 160 regular-season games of his career. Manning (3,468-5,405-41,626, 306 TDs/153 ints., 94.7 rating, career; 337-515-4,040, 31 TDs/14 ints., 98.0 rating, 2007) has produced the longest career-opening starting streak by any QB in NFL history, and the longest streak ever by a Colts QB. Manning is only the fifth Colts player with 100+ consecutive starts. He has thrown touchdown passes in 141 of 160 games, for two or more touchdowns in 92 games and for four or more touchdowns in 17 outings. Manning has 25+ touchdown passes in a league-record 10 consecutive seasons, and he has 10 of the 20 20+-touchdown seasons in club history. Manning and Dan Marino are the only players to open a career with 10 consecutive 20+-touchdown seasons, and their streaks of 10 straight trail only Brett Favre (12) for the most consecutive in league history. Manning has 10 consecutive 3,000+ seasons and owns 10 of the 16 3,000+ seasons in Colts history (3, Unitas; 3, Jones). He is the only NFL QB ever to have 10 3,000+ seasons to open a career.

Manning's streak of 10 consecutive 3,000+ seasons is the 2nd-longest streak in NFL history (16, Favre). He also is the only NFL player to have 4,000+ passing yards in six consecutive seasons (1999-04), and his eight 4,000+ seasons are the NFL record (6, Marino). Manning has completed more passes and thrown for more yards and touchdowns in a career-opening 10-year span than any NFL player. Manning (2003, 2004) is a twotime MVP by the Associated Press, and he is an eight-time Pro Bowler (1999-00, 02-07). His six consecutive nominations rank among the best in club history (8, John Unitas, 1957-64; 8, OG/T-Jim Parker, 1958-65; 8, WR-Marvin Harrison, 1999-06; 6, DE-Gino Marchetti, 1959-64).

Manning has amassed three perfect rating games (10/22/00 vs. New England; 11/10/02 at Philadelphia; 9/28/03 at New Orleans), the most by any NFL player since the rating system was created in 1973 (he added a perfect game in the playoffs 1/4/04 vs. Denver). Manning authored his eighth career double-digit victory season in 2007, and he is the club leader in 10+-victory seasons by a quarterback (3, Unitas; 3, Jones). Manning (105) is one of 10 NFL QB with 100+ career starting wins (160, Favre; 148, John Elway; 147, Marino; 125, Fran Tarkenton; 119, Unitas; 117, Joe Montana; 107, Terry Bradshaw; 102, Warren Moon; 101, Jim Kelly).

Manning has teamed with 29 different players for touchdowns and has tossed scoring passes in 30 of the 32 arenas he has played in during regular-season action. The only venues where Manning has appeared and did not toss a scoring pass are the TWADome (2001) and Qwest Field (2005).

Manning (49, 2004) is one of four NFL QBs with a 40+-TD season (50, Tom Brady, New England, 2007; 48, Marino, 1984; 44, Marino, 1986; 41, Kurt Warner, St. Louis, 1999). Manning has seven 400+ career games and ranks among the NFL leaders (13, Marino; 7, Joe Montana; 7, Moon).

Manning had six 4+-TD games in 2004 to tie Marino (1984) for the NFL's best seasonal total. Manning's six 5+-TD games tie Marino's NFL record for most in a career. Manning had 100+ rating outings in 11 of 16 games in 2004. He has had 100+ rating games in 61 career outings, and the Colts are 53-8 in those outings. Manning (121.1, 2004; 104.1, 2005; 101.0, 2006) became the first QB since Steve Young to be the NFL's top-rated player in consecutive seasons, and his three-year span is the best since Young's four-year span from 1991-94. In 2004, Manning set the club seasonal record for passing yards (4,557) and completion percentage (67.6). In 2004, he threw more touchdown passes (49) than 26 other NFL teams scored total touchdowns. With a minimum of 20 attempts per game, Manning has 42 career outings with a 70.0+ completion percentage (1, 1998; 3, 1999; 2, 2000; 2, 2001; 6, 2002; 5, 2003; 6, 2004; 6, 2005; 7, 2006; 4, 2007). Manning has 43 career 300+ games to rank among the NFL leaders (63, Marino; 55, Favre; 51, Dan Fouts; 49, Moon). Manning surpassed Unitas (2,796) for the most completions in club history vs. Houston 9/17/06. He surpassed Unitas (287) for the most touchdown passes in club history at Carolina 10/28/07, and he moved past Unitas (39,768) for the most passing yards in club history at San Diego 11/11/07. Manning (33, 2000; 49, 2004; 31, 2006) has led the NFL in TD passes three times and needs one more title to join Unitas, Favre, Young and Len Dawson for the most seasons as the NFL seasonal touchdown passing leaders. Manning was named the NFL Offensive Player-of-the-Year and NFL All-Pro by the Associated Press for his 2004 regular season performance.

Manning was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player for his play in 2004. It marked the second consecutive season he won the award (sharing honors in 2003 with QB-Steve McNair). Manning joined Favre (1995-97) and Montana (1989-90) as the only players to win the award in consecutive seasons. Favre's three nominations are the most in the history of the award, while Manning is tied for second-most with Montana, Unitas (1964, 1967), Young (1992, 1994), Kurt Warner (1999, 2001) and Jim Brown (1957, 1965) as multiple-winners. Notable players and Hall-of-Famers who won the award once include Elway, Marino, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Walter Payton, Marcus Allen and Lawrence Taylor. Manning is the only NFL player to win the AP MVP honor in addition to gaining MVP honors in the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl.

WR-Marvin Harrison (1,042-13,944, 123 TDs career; 20-247, 1 TD 2007) is an eight-time Pro Bowler (1999-06). His eight straight bids rank with John Unitas (8, 1957-64) and OG/T-Jim Parker (8, 1958-65) for the longest streaks in Colts history. Harrison ranks 4th in NFL career receptions, 5th in career yardage, 3rd in career touchdowns, 2nd in career 100+ games and 5th in career consecutive games with a reception. In 2006, he moved past Art Monk and Andre Reed in receptions, past Monk, Irving Fryar, Steve Largent and Reed in yardage and past Marshall Faulk in consecutive games with a reception. Harrison has receptions in his first 175 career games, the NFL record for most consecutive games to start a career. He was 4-83, 1 TD vs. New Orleans 9/6, moving past Henry Ellard (13,777) into 5th-place in career reception yards. He was 6-87 at Tennessee 9/16. Harrison was 6-53 at Houston 9/23, moving past Cris Carter (13,899) into 4th-place in career reception yards. He was 1-8 vs. Denver 9/30. He was inactive vs. Tampa Bay 10/7 with a knee injury.

Harrison was 3-16 at Jacksonville 10/22. He was inactive for the final 10 regular-season games. Harrison has bettered the club career receiving records of WR-Raymond Berry (631-9,275, 68 TDs). In 2006, Harrison produced his 8th 1,000+ reception yardage season, extending his club record for most 1,000+ and most consecutive 1,000+ seasons. Harrison has 8 of the 17 1,000+ reception yardage seasons achieved in Colts history. His eight total 1,000+ seasons rank among the NFL career leaders (14, Jerry Rice; 9, Tim Brown; 9, Jimmy Smith; 8, Largent; 8, Cris Carter; 8, Rod Smith), while eight consecutive (1999-06) rank among the all-time leaders (11, Rice, 1986-96; 9, Brown, 1993-01; 8, Carter, 1993-00). His eight 1,000+ scrimmage yards seasons are a club record, surpassing RBLenny Moore and RB-Edgerrin James for the most in Colts history. Eight consecutive 1,000+ scrimmage yards seasons (1999-06) are a club record. Harrison's 13,972 career scrimmage yards rank 1st in Colts history.

Harrison was the only NFL player with 10+ touchdown receptions from 1999-06, and he is the only NFL player with eight consecutive 1,000+-yardage and 10+-TD seasons (1999-06). Harrison (14,159) ranks 1st in Colts career total yards (12,449, Moore). Harrison's 123 touchdowns surpass Moore (113) for the most in Colts history. Harrison was 9-109, 2 TDs at Tennessee 10/2/05 and became the 16th NFL player with 100 career touchdowns. He is one of seven players with 100+ career touchdown receptions (197, Rice; 130, Carter; 129, Terrell Owens; 124, Randy Moss; 100, Largent; 100, Brown). Harrison has 28 multiple-touchdown games, including nine 3-TD outings (at Kansas City 12/15/96; at San Francisco 10/18/98; at New England 9/19/99; vs. Minnesota 12/24/00; vs. Buffalo 9/23/01; vs. Miami 11/11/01; at New Orleans 9/28/03; at Detroit 11/25/04; vs. Cincinnati 12/18/06). Harrison (59) ranks 2nd in NFL history in 100+ games (76, Rice). Harrison reached 600 receptions in 102 games, 700 in 114 games, 800 in 131 games, 900 in 149 games and 1,000 in 167 games, the fastest paces to those reception totals (Herman Moore, 600 in 118 games; Rice 700 in 139 games, 800 in 154 games, 900 in 168 games and 1,000 in 181 games were the prior records). Harrison and Rice are the only NFL players with 80+ receptions in eight consecutive seasons.

Manning and Harrison have combined for 107 touchdowns, the most potent touchdown duo in NFL history. Manning and Harrison passed John Unitas and Berry (63) at Tampa Bay 10/6/03 for the club record and passed Jim Kelly and Andre Reed (65, Buffalo) vs. New England 11/30/03 for 3rd-most in NFL history. Manning and Harrison passed Dan Marino and Mark Clayton (79, Miami) vs. Tennessee 12/5/04. They set the all-time NFL record with a 6t connection vs. St. Louis 10/17/05. Manning and Harrison have combined for 898 completions for 12,155 yards, the NFL records for completions and yards between two players. The prior NFL records for completions and yards between two players were 663 for 9,538 yards by Kelly and Reed. Young and Rice had 137 games together and Kelly and Reed had 147 games together, while Manning and Harrison have played in 143 games together.

WR-Reggie Wayne (494-6,984, 47 TDs career; 104-1,510, 10 TDs, 2007) earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl bid with his 2007 performance. Wayne produced a seventh consecutive season with an increase in his reception total, and he became the 16th NFL player to record a 1,500+ reception yardage season. From 2001-07, Wayne recorded 27, 49, 68, 77, 83, 86 and 104 receptions, and he joins WRs-Raymond Berry (1955-61, Colts) and Shawn Jefferson (1991-97, SD/NE) as the only players to increase reception totals over the first seven seasons of a career. Wayne joined WR-Marvin Harrison (1999-02) as the only Colts with 100+ seasonal receptions. Wayne has four consecutive 1,000+ seasons (1,210, 2004; 1,055, 2005; 1,310, 2006; 1,510, 2007), and he joins Harrison (8) as the only Colts with multiple 1,000+ seasons. Wayne has receptions 64 of his last 65 outings (including 32 consecutive games from 2006-07), and in 103 of 109 career outings, including multiple receptions in 77 of his last 80 games. His streak of 81 consecutive starts ranks 2nd on the team (160, Manning). Wayne has 22 100+ career outings, 3rd-most in club history (59, Harrison; 23, Berry), and seven contests with 10+ receptions, 3rd most in club history (16, Harrison; 11, Berry). Wayne had six 100+ games in 2007, tying Harrison for the 3rd-best seasonal totals in club history (10, Harrison, 2002; 9, Harrison, 1999; 8, Harrison, 2000; 7, Berry, 1960; 6, Harrison, 2001, 2003, 2005-06). Wayne has touchdown receptions in 39 career games, T3rd-most in club history (87, Harrison; 56, Berry; 39, Lenny Moore), including nine games in 2007. Wayne and QB-Peyton Manning have combined on 46 touchdown passes, the 2nd-most active combination among active NFL players (107, Manning-Harrison), and the 3rd-best duo in club history (63, John Unitas-Berry). Wayne's 47 career touchdown receptions rank 4th in club history (123, Harrison; 68, Berry; 50, Jimmy Orr).

RB-Joseph Addai (487-2,153, 19 TDs rushing/81-689, 4 TDs receiving, 2,842 scrimmage yards career; 261-1,072, 12 TDs rushing/41-364, 3 TDs receiving, 1,436 scrimmage yards, 2007) produced his 2nd career 1,000+ rushing season in 2007. Addai has six career 100+ rushing games, four in 2007. He was 23-118, 1 TD vs. New Orleans 9/6, 19-136, 1 TD vs. Denver 9/30, 23-100, 2 TDs at Carolina 10/28 and 26-112 vs. New England 11/4 for his 100+ ground games. Addai had rushing scores in the first four games of the season. He earned AFC Player-of-the Week honors at Carolina (23-100, 2 TDs rushing/2-9, 1 TD receiving). Against New England (26-112 rushing/5-114, 1 TD receiving), he became the first Colts player with a 100+/100+ rushing/receiving performance, and it was the 29th such effort in NFL history. His 1,081 rushing yards in 2006 marked the 4th Colts 1,000+ rookie rushing season, and he joined Marshall Faulk (1994-95) and Edgerrin James (1999-2000) as the only Colts RBs to start careers with consecutive 1,000+ rushing seasons. Addai earned Pro Bowl honors for his 2007 performance. Addai has 20+ rushes in 11 career games (Colts are 9-2). He has receptions in 29 of 31 career games, with multiple receptions in 23 contests. He has 100+ scrimmage yards in 12 outings (Colts are 10-2).

In 2007, Indianapolis ranked 2nd in the AFC, 3rd in the NFL in total defense (based on net yards allowed). It marked the club's highest defensive ranking since 1971 (1st) and represented the club's 4th top 10 defensive finish since moving to Indianapolis in 1984 (6th, 1987; T7th, 1995; 8th, 2002; 3rd, 2007). The club has ranked in the NFL's top five defenses eleven times since 1953 (1st, 1961, 1971; 2nd, 1958, 1968; 3rd, 1964, 2007; 4th, 1960; 5th, 1954, 1962, 1965, 1967). The Colts yielded 279.7 yards per game, the lowest seasonal total since 1971 (203.7), and it marked only the 8th seasonal average below 280.0 yards in franchise history (1958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 2007). The Colts (5th on offense; 3rd on defense) were one of two teams to rank in the top five in both offense and defense (New England, 1st, 4th). The Colts ranked 1st in NFL scoring defense, its best showing since 2005 (2nd), and 262 points allowed marked the 2nd-fewest by the club in a 16-game season (247, 2005). Since the 2002 arrival of Head Coach Tony Dungy, the club has four top 10 NFL finishes in scoring defense (1st, 2007; 2nd, 2005; 5th, 2003; 7th, 2002). The Colts tallied 22 interceptions, to rank T2nd in the league, while producing the best seasonal total since 1979 (23) and the highest during its Indianapolis era. The club finished +18 in turnover ratio (37:19), ranking 2nd in the NFL (+24, San Diego). The club's 37 takeaways ranked 2nd in the NFL (48, San Diego), while 19 giveaways ranked 2nd (15, New England). Since Dungy's arrival, the Colts are +61 (187:126), the best ratio in the NFL. Only five teams have more takeaways during that 2002-07 span (195, Baltimore; 191, Carolina; 190, Cincinnati; 190, New England; 188, Chicago), while no teams had fewer giveaways. Indianapolis lost five fumbles in 2007, tying the seasonal-best mark in franchise history (5, 1998). Indianapolis was penalized 67 times in 2007, the fewest infractions in a 16-game season in club history, and it ranked 3rd in the NFL (59, Seattle; 63, NY Jets). It marked the 10th time in Dungy's career that one of his teams ranked among the seven least penalized team (1st, 1997; 2nd, 1999; T2nd, 2005; 3rd, 2000; 2007; 6th, 2001; T6th, 2004; 7th, 1998, 2002, 2006).

HEAD COACHES

TONY DUNGY is 73-23 at the Colts' helm. Dungy joined the Colts on January 22, 2002, after serving as Tampa Bay's head coach for six seasons (1996-01). Dungy's career regular-season record is 127-65, and he has an overall record of 136-73. Dungy became the 35th coach in NFL history to earn 100 career victories with a 38-20 win at Houston on 10/23/05. Dungy became the 20th coach since entering the league in 1970 to win 100 career games. Of those 20, only George Seifert (132), Joe Gibbs (148), Mike Ditka (151), Mike Holmgren (160) and Mike Shanahan (161) reached 100 career wins faster than Dungy's pace of 163 games. Dungy recorded his 100th regular-season victory vs. Tennessee 12/4/05, becoming only the 6th coach to win 100+ regular-season games in the first 10 years as a head coach (113, Seifert; 105, Don Shula; 103, John Madden; 102, Dungy; 101, Gibbs; 101, Ditka). With an overall mark of 80-27, Dungy became the winningest coach in Colts history with a 31-7 win at Carolina on 10/28/07, bettering the prior total of 73 by Shula and Ted Marchibroda. Dungy owns a 103-41 mark since the start of the 1999 season (30-18 at Tampa Bay; 73-23 with Colts), and he is the NFL's winningest coach during that span. He has directed 10 of his 12 teams into the playoffs, while leading Tampa Bay (1999) and the Colts (2003, 2006) to the conference championship game, and his 2006 Colts squad won Super Bowl XLI. Dungy took Tampa Bay to four playoff appearances during his tenure as field general. From 2002-07, Dungy has directed the Colts to 10-6, 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4 and 13-3 records, becoming the only coach in club history to produce 10+ victories and playoff berths in the first six seasons with the team. In 2007, Dungy helped produce the 17th 10+-victory season in franchise history, and he is one of five Colts head coaches to earn double-digit victory totals (6, Dungy; 4, Shula; 3, Marchibroda; 2, Don McCafferty; 2, Jim Mora). Dungy has nine career double-digit victory seasons (10-6, 1997; 11-5, 1999; 10-6, 2000 with Tampa Bay; 10-6, 2002; 12-4, 2003; 12-4, 2004; 14-2, 2005; 12-4, 2006; 13-3, 2007 with Colts), and he was the first coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams. Under Dungy, Indianapolis its sixth consecutive 10+-victory season (2002-07), tying the third-longest streak in NFL history (16, San Francisco, 1983-98; 7, Dallas, 1975-81; 6, Dallas, 1968-73; 6, Miami 1970-75; 6, LA Rams, 1973-78; 6, Dallas, 1991-96; 6, Colts, 2002-07). The Colts have produced a 102-42 regular-season record since 1999, a victory total that leads the NFL. The Colts are the only team to qualify for post-season play eight times in the last nine seasons. Indianapolis has won the AFC South five consecutive seasons and has owned or shared the division lead in 95 of 102 weeks of AFC South existence. The Colts were wire-to-wire divisional leaders from 2005-07. Under Dungy during the regular season, the Colts are 38-10 at home and 35-13 on the road. Dungy (1999-07) has earned nine consecutive playoff appearances (1999-01 at Tampa Bay; 2002-07 with Colts), tying Tom Landry (9, Dallas, 1975-83) for the most consecutive playoff appearances by NFL coaches since 1970. Indianapolis (14-2, 2005; 12-4, 2003, 2004 and 2006; 13-3, 2007) has become the only team to earn 12+ victories in five consecutive seasons, snapping the league mark it had shared with Dallas (1992-95). The Colts own a 69-20 record (counting the playoffs) since the start of the 2003 season and are 55-15 since 2004. Dungy held a 54-42 record as head coach with Tampa Bay, qualifying for the playoffs four times in six seasons. Dungy produced some of the NFL's stingiest defenses during his years at Tampa Bay. His units ranked no lower than 11th during his stay and ranked 6th or higher in four of his last five years. Dungy also served 1981-88 with Pittsburgh, including 1984-88 as defensive coordinator. After serving 1989-91 as DB Coach at Kansas City, Dungy was the defensive coordinator at Minnesota from 1992-95. During his years in Minnesota, the Vikings intercepted an NFL-high 95 passes and made three playoff appearances. The Chiefs made two playoff appearances during Dungy's tenure. At Pittsburgh in 1984, he became the NFL's youngest coordinator (age 28). In five seasons as Pittsburgh's coordinator, the Steelers averaged 24 interceptions and 37 takeaways, while scoring 20 touchdowns. Dungy entered the coaching ranks in 1980 at his alma mater, Minnesota, where he was a quarterback (1973-76). He made the Steelers as a free agent in 1977 and was a member of the Super Bowl XIII title team, then was traded to San Francisco in 1979. Dungy is a native of Jackson, Mich.

NORV TURNER became the 14th Chargers head coach on February 19, 2007. Turner directed San Diego to the AFC West Division title in 2007. Turner is in his third head coaching role, having directed Washington from 1994-2000 and Oakland from 2004-05. Turner posted winning records in four of seven seasons with Washington. He was 9-23 with the Raiders. Turner served as offensive coordinator with San Francisco prior to joining San Diego. He spent 2002-03 as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator with Miami. Turner joined the Redskins after three seasons as offensive coordinator at Dallas, where he was a part of consecutive Super Bowl championships. Prior to Dallas, Turner served 1985-90 with the L.A. Rams, where he oversaw the passing game. Turner played QB at Oregon (1972-74), where he became a graduate assistant in 1975. He coached 1976-84 at Southern Cal before entering the NFL. Turner is a native of LeJeune, N.C.

 

[Despyzer]

If I was basing my knowledge on nothing but the pre-game shows, I wouldn't even know this game was being played today. All of the coverage is Favre and the Cowboys/Giants tilt.

 

[BoltBacker]

If I was basing my knowledge on nothing but the pre-game shows, I wouldn't even know this game was being played today. All of the coverage is Favre and the Cowboys/Giants tilt.

I haven't watched any of the pregame shows today but I don't think that's really surprising. Favre highlights in the snowy tundra are just good TV. DAL is one of the most loved/hated franchises in NFL history and they are playing against the biggest market in the country. DAL/NYG games always get a lot of love even during the regular season and they don't mean anything so you can understand people getting hyped now we are down to the last six teams in the playoffs.I don't mind SD flying under the radar. Everyone was lining up to bash them at the start of the season but they've quited most of their critics. That ML keeps creeping up.

 

[Despyzer]

I don't mind SD flying under the radar. Everyone was lining up to bash them at the start of the season but they've quited most of their critics. That ML keeps creeping up.

They finally got around to covering the game that they are broadcasting on CBS. All four analysts picked the Colts. Three of them predicted a score of 34-17. Marino said 35-14.

 

[Marc Levin]

Colts 38Chargers 16

Just to note Manning has never beaten the Chargers by more then 8 pts ever and that was in 1999. The rest have been either 3 pt Colt wins or Charger wins (including 2 in a row over the Colts). Sure the Colts could beat the Chargers by 22, although pretty much everything points otherwise. The Bolts have won 7 in a row, and over that span have given up the fewest points in the NFL. My guess is it will be a tad closer...

And another from GPN, as usual.This post has me anxious to put a couple units on SD +9. That's just too much in a matchup that is so even like this one, IMO.

Over the past 7 games, all Charger wins, no team has scored more then 2 TDs and 17 total points. In total, the Chargers have surrendered just 9 TDs in 7 games, at a pace of 11.5pts/gm, the best in the NFL.

The Chargers will have a tough time scoring - but so will the Colts. That D aint no joke. I think the original poster had the essence of this game correct. The Colts need to put the game in Rivers' hands in order to promote mistakes and encourage shorter Charger possessions, and the Chargers need to force 4 turnovers somewhere in the game (whether that means picking Manning or forcing fumbles on ST is irrelevant). The Chargers will do very well in this game if they get a couple of short fields - so I will add one more key for the Chargers. Strong punt/kick returns and prevent the Colts from winning the field position battle.The Colts are the most deadly team in the league in the RZ (after the Pats, that is). Turn some early TD opp.s into FG attempts and the Chargers' D will have done a goodly part of their job.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

This game shouldn't be close IMO if Gates is out. Norv running the controls hurts too.Here are my keys to the game:Colts need to put the game into Rivers' hands.Chargers need to force 4 turnovers.What says you?

 

[pizzatyme]

This game shouldn't be close IMO if Gates is out. Norv running the controls hurts too.Here are my keys to the game:Colts need to put the game into Rivers' hands.Chargers need to force 4 turnovers.What says you?

Congrats to the Chargers. The better team won today. GL the rest of the way.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

No Suprise the Chargers won to me. Talking heads gave them no chance all week, despite the numbers and circumstances saying something else. Calling for blowouts and such were laughable.

At some point people are going to have to say Rivers is a damn good QB. 2 years, now 27-8. Won on the road without LT this time.

 

[Despyzer]

No Suprise the Chargers won to me.

It surprised me a little. I wasn't expecting the blowout that most were predicting, but I would have bet on the Colts.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

bump so pizzatyme can keep his crying in one thread

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

bump so pizzatyme can keep his crying in one thread

Congrats to the Chargers. The better team won today. GL the rest of the way.

Some people have class. Some don't.

 

[Mr. PadresLakers]

Your point? My team is the defending World Champions. Let me know when your team accomplishes something!You get excited when your team wins consecutive playoff games. Maybe, if you get lucky, the NFL will start handing out banners for that!!!

I would be very curious as to how this would look if the Chargers were fully healthy.

And if the Colts were fully healthy?

The Colts had injury problems this year. We get it. Are the Colts going to take an ad out during the SB to point out that is why they are not there?FWIW to everyone else, Butch Stearns is not the most airtight source of information. I would take anything he says with a grain of salt.

Well, if the Colts were healthy, you wouldn't even be playing this game against the Patriots

This is probably true. If the Colts had been at full strength, with a healthy set of refs gifting them bad call after bad call, playing against a Chargers team without LT, Rivers, and Gates, the Colts might very well have won . . .

Was this really that funny to you? Man, I bet you're a blast to be around.

Absolutely you have been crying in every Charger related thread since your Colts lost. Get over it already.

Karma smiles upon your QB, your team, and it's fans.I'll remember to send Philip get well wishes on his myspace site!

Ill forgive your ignorance VBD student.