The Chargers rallied from a 17-14 fourth quarter deficit behind an outstanding defensive effort, punter Mike Scifres and the
all-purpose assault by Darren "Tank" Sproles to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, 23-17 in overtime.
Sproles played the key role in the Chargers AFC Wild Card win over Indianapolis, recording 328 all-purpose yards, third-most
in an NFL Playoff game.
Carrying the workload for an injured LaDainian Tomlinson who contributed with a few runs and a TD in the first half,
Sproles recorded his second-straight 100-yard game (105 yards on 23 carries) and scored the decisive touchdown on a
22-yard run to defeat the Colts.
San Diego Chargers 23 Indianapolis Colts 17 Overtime - Saturday, January 3, 2009
After trailing 7-0 and 10-7, the Chargers rallied and led 14-10 at the half.
LaDainian Tomlinson, who played sparingly in the first half, scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter to
knot the score at 7-7. Tomlinson was limited to 25-yards rushing on 5 carries before his early exit.
In the third quarter, the Colts caught the Chargers off-guard while substituting defenders and made them pay with a
72-yard TD pass from Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne. The quick snap pass play gave Indianapolis a 17-14 lead with 8:10
remaining.
On the ensuing drive, the Chargers looked as if they would respond with a TD of their own.
Starting from their own 20, the Chargers drove down to the Colts 9-yard line on 11 plays, gaining 78 yards
in the process and taking 6:05 off the game clock. However, Sproles then fumbled the ball on the Colts 2-yard line.
The Chargers defense shut the Colts down the rest of the way as the Colts high-powered offense led by Peyton Manning
did not produce any more points. A key defensive stand came late in the fourth quarter when Tim Dobbins sacked of
Manning at the Colts own one-yard line. It was Dobbins' first career sack and it couldn't come at a more opportune time.
The sack allowed Chargers QB Philip Rivers and the offense enough time for a final drive in regulation.
Sproles returned the ensuing punt to the Colts 38. Philip Rivers drove the Chargers 30-yards and 7 plays
consuming only 1 minute and 17 seconds to the Colts eight-yard line.
Nate Kaeding’s 26-yard field goal tied the game with 31 seconds remaining and, thus, forcing overtime.
The Chargers won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive. Two costly penalties by the Colts on
consecutive plays (defensive holding and face-mask) advanced the Chargers from the 40, where they had
third-and-8, to the 20. Sproles was then tackled for a 2-yard loss. The Chargers went right back to Sproles,
who this time, broke thru the Colts defensive line for 22 yards and crossed the goal line to win the game.
The 22-yard touchdown run capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
Sproles finished the night with 328 all-purpose yards, the third-most ever by a player in an NFL Playoff game.
Another key to the Chargers victory was the punting of Mike Scifres, who had a record-breaking night.
Scifres landed all six of his punts inside the 20, the highest number and percentage of punts landed inside the 20 in
a playoff game in NFL history. Scifres also averaged an NFL Playoff-record 51.7 net yards per punt (min. 5 punts)
against the Colts, who managed just six punt return yards vs. the Chargers. As a result, the Colts were forced to
start drives at the 10, 19, 3, 7, 9 and 1 yard lines following his punts.
Chargers upset Colts in overtime, 23-17. Darren Sproles accounted for 328 all-purpose yards in the win
Chargers - Colts Score by Quarters
Indianapolis Colts
7
3
7
0
0
17
San Diego Chargers
0
14
0
3
6
23
Colts - Chargers Scoring Drives
Team
Qtr.
Time
Scoring Play
Drive
Score
Colts
1
2:59
J.Addai 1 yd. run (A.Vinatieri kick)
[9-81, 5:02]
7-0
Chargers
2
10:15
L.Tomlinson 3 yd. run (N.Kaeding kick)
[4-44, 2:18]
7-7
Colts
2
6:46
A.Vinatieri 43 yd. Field Goal
[8-42, 3:29]
10-7
Chargers
2
0:42
D.Sproles 9 yd. run (N.Kaeding kick)
[6-45, 2:19]
10-14
Colts
3
8:10
R.Wayne 72 yd. pass from P.Manning (A.Vinatieri kick)
[5-91, 1:32]
17-14
Chargers
4
0:31
N.Kaeding 26 yd. Field Goal
[7-30, 1:17]
17-17
Chargers
OT
8:40
D.Sproles 22 yd. run
[10-75, 6:20]
23-17
Indianapolis Colts vs San Diego Chargers Final Statistics 1/3/2009 at Qualcomm Stadium
The Cardinals defense was sensational, limiting Michael Turner to 42 rushing yards,
harassing Matt Ryan and scoring points on its own with a TD and safety. The offense was also strong as Edgerrin James
led a revitalized Cardinals ground game while Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald made big plays in the passing game.
The Baltimore Ravens had the Miami Dolphins and Chad Pennington under pressure throughout the game as they forced
four interceptions, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed.
Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:
American Football Conference
1. Tennessee Titans (AFC South Division champion)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North Division champion)
3. Miami Dolphins (AFC East Division champion)
4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West Division champion)
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Baltimore Ravens
National Football Conference
1. New York Giants (NFC East Division champion)
2. Carolina Panthers (NFC South Division champion)
3. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North Division champion)
4. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West Division champion)
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Philadelphia Eagles
NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 10
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans - 4:30PM ET
NFC: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers - 8:15PM ET
Sunday, January 11
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - 1:00PM ET
AFC: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - 4:45PM ET
NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS WILD CARD WEEKEND RESULTS
Saturday, January 3
NFC: Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
AFC: San Diego Chargers 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
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