No LT? No Rivers? No problem: Undermanned Chargers stun Colts 28-24

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 1:24 p.m. January 13, 2008 | Barry Wilner (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

[sofaman]

INDIANAPOLIS – Even without LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers, the Chargers made sure the Indianapolis Colts won't repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Now San Diego must make sure it doesn't repeat its last performance at New England.

That will be especially difficult without an injured L.T., who departed in the first half with a bruised left knee, and starting quarterback Rivers, who went out in the third quarter with a damaged right knee in the Chargers' stunning 28-24 victory Sunday.

With Billy Volek at quarterback and Michael Turner as the main runner, San Diego went 78 yards on eight plays, with Volek sneaking in from the 1 with 4:50 remaining for the lead. The Chargers' big-play defense then held on downs at its 7, and stopped Indy again in the final moments to preserve their eighth straight win.

To make it nine in a row and advance to their second Super Bowl – the other was a loss to San Francisco after the 1994 season – the Chargers will need all the resourcefulness they showed at Indianapolis. Being undermanned against undefeated New England hardly is an enticing prospect.

Still, with All-Pro cornerback Antonio Cromartie getting an interception and fumble recovery, and linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips plaguing Peyton Manning, the Chargers showed they have the ability to throw off any offense. Maybe even the most prolific attack in NFL history.

The Chargers didn't come close against the Patriots in Week 2, falling 38-14. That was the beginning of a slide to 5-5 for San Diego, but the Chargers (13-5) are rolling now.

[sofaman]

I agree with you on Tony Dungy. A thorough gentleman.

[tiredoflaundry]

LOL! It was a heck of a game !

[microgood]

You and me, both. We ave 3 ex-Chargers on the Pats .. Seau, Harrison (the cheap shot specialist) and Wes Welker. Great team, no question.

The Chargers did roll over the Colts defense today, though. It was pretty impressive. Rivers is fearless.

[tiredoflaundry]

oh pooh!

[tiredoflaundry]

I have a sore spot for Coach Dungy!

[sofaman]

Yup, he’s a football player, no question. I’m pleased that we got him rather than Eli “The Whiner”.

[sofaman]

why? Because he left the Bucs? He was fired wasn’t he because they wanted whatshisface, their current coach...

[NordP]

Yeah CHARGERS!!!!!

[NordP]

That would be fantastic for me. I grew up in MN and now live in San Diego. TELL ME how badly I'd like to see Randy Moss miss out on a Superbowl ring. After all those years Cris Carter doing EVERYthing he could possibly do to help, coach, and mentor the little punk to TRY and be an upstanding player/citizen.....yet...HE ONLY PLAYED WHEN HE WANTED TO.

It would be such poetic justice if the Pats were to lose...especially if it were BECAUSE of Randy.

[SamAdams76]

Don’t forget about those never-ending Hobbitt threads! If they have access to Free Republic up in heaven, I might have time to read through them all.

[sofaman]

Hey you! I had to PING you...

[chessplayer]

“I love watching the Mannings lose.”

Not me. I want the Giants to win so the Packers get another home game!

[NordP]

Hi there - what a fun day - so nice and warm here too! Ah....America's Finest City ;-)

[NordP]

Me too - it's NOTHING against him at all....my old Defensive Coordinator (Vikes) - LOVED HIM!!! GREAT MAN

[NordP]

Oh no... the “P” word. (/sarc - I lived in MN for my first 18 years ;-)

[chessplayer]

Interesting playoffs so far. With the lone exception of the Seattle-Washington game, the team that has scored first has lost the game.

[meandog]

The Colts, whose defense couldn't stop a backup q.b., r.b., and injured tight end, didn't deserve to win. Their defense was a joke. If I owned them, I would immediately fire the defensive coordinator and tell the D line (except Freeney), and especially the linebackers, to go looking for new jobs next year.

San Diego, however, may well wish that it did not win as it will face the Pats with a banged up offense next week. I look for a total blowout...the game won't even be worth watching. It will be something on the order of a 52-7 debacle and, even though I absolutely despise New England and believe its defense can be had it might be even worse than that score. (Oh well, at least one of my SEC teams won the national championship.)

[sofaman]

Poetic justice, i such a thing existed in football, would be a Super Bowl, Giants/ Chargers. Eli, The Whiner against Philip with one “L”..

[sofaman]

uh, okay ... sorry that the Chargers p*ssed in your Wheaties, old man.

I'll make a prediction.... Rivers, Tomlinson and Gates will play next week, and the Chargers will play New England a lot tougher than you think.

It's easy to blame the Colts defense, however, the Chargers showed a whole lot of things that they don't normally do...some of which they never do. you can't prepare for what you've never seen them do.

Remember this too...the offensive side of the ball is the Colts strength. The Chargers defense was inspired. Merriman was an beast, Stephen Cooper was incredible, and Antonio Cromartie is scary.

[NordP]

Although I sort of agree with you, no one expected SD to win this one either. Sometimes....it pays to watch and not pre-program an outcome ;-)