Don't Be Fooled by Colts & Bolts Records

Returning to San Diego for the second time in seven weeks toface a familiar playoff foe, the Indianapolis Colts, 12-4, meet the San DiegoChargers, 8-8, on Saturday, January 3 in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.

The Colts and Chargers met on November 23 of this past season, as Indianapolis earned a 23-20 last-play victory over San Diego. This will be the sixth meeting between the clubs since December, 2004.

The Colts, the AFC's fifth-seeded playoff team, closed regular-season play last Sunday with a 23-0 victory against Tennessee. The Chargers, the fourth-seeded team as the AFC West champions, bested Denver last Sunday, 52-21.

The hot Chargers closed out the regular season winning their last four games, while the even hotter Colts carry a 9-game regular season winning streak in perhaps the best matchup this Wild Card Weekend.

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) at San Diego Chargers (8-8)

It's almost as if the Colts and Chargers are division rivals.

Saturday marks the fourth time in the past two seasons the teams have met -- with the first three games being decided by a total of nine points.

On November 11, 2007 in San Diego, Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard FG attempt with 1:31 to play in a 23-21 Chargers win.

The teams met last season in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game with the Chargers coming from behind to win 28-24. Billy Volek, subbing for the injured Philip Rivers, scored the game-winner on a quarterback sneak with 4:50 remaining to ice a 28-24 Chargers win in Indianapolis.

Earlier this season (November 23, 2008), Adam Vinatieri kicked 3 field goals, including a 51-yard game-winning field goal as time expired for the Colts 23-20 victory in San Diego.

"It's always a great game against these guys, and it'll be another great game," says Chargers QB Philip Rivers. "You can't ask for anything more in the playoffs."

The Indianapolis Colts, after starting the season 3-4, ran off nine straight victories to end the season as the NFL's hottest team.

It marked the sixth straight season the Colts have won at least 12 games. Peyton Manning finished with 4,000 yards for a record ninth straight season.

The Chargers also rode a winning streak to the postseason, coming from 4-8 to win their last four games and capture the AFC West title, including a 52-21 thrashing of the Denver Broncos in the season finale. For the San Diego Chargers, it is their third straight division title.

"These two teams ... , San Diego and the Colts, I could see them going to the Super Bowl." -- NBC's Madden

The quarterbacks, of course, could be key Saturday night.

Colts QB Peyton Manning just extended his NFL record with his ninth 4,000-yard season. Rivers, the only QB this year with a 100.0 passer rating (105.5), tied New Orleans' DREW BREES for the most TD passes (34), but goes against a unit that allowed only six scoring throws, the fewest ever in a 16-game season.

"Peyton Manning Should Be the MVP of the NFL." -- NBC's John Madden

"Indy-San Diego to me has become one of the real classic matchups in the NFL. Indy is always sort of the favorite. San Diego finds a way to make Peyton Manning look bad, except for this year they finally got over the hump with this team and went on a last second field goal. I think we're going to see four great games but I especially like the two that we have." -- NBC's Chris Collinsworth

Series: Chargers lead the series 15-10; Colts have won 4 of past 6

The overall series stands 15-10 in San Diego's favor, including a 23- 20 Colts victory in San Diego on November 23rd.

In that game, K-Adam Vinatieri booted field goals of 23, 38 and 51 yards, the final one coming at the gun as Indianapolis prevailed.

The Colts survived a late 10-point Chargers rally that tied the contest with 1:30 remaining. QB-Peyton Manning was 32-44-255, 2 TDs, while QB-Philip Rivers was 24-31-288, 2 TDs.

Manning brought the club back from a 10-3 second-quarter deficit, and the Colts led most of the final half. WR Anthony Gonzalez snared a scoring reception, as did RB-Dominic Rhodes. The Chargers out-rushed the Colts, 120-91. DE Robert Mathis had two sacks and a forced fumble.

The Chargers earned regular-season and post-season victories over the Colts in 2007.

In a contest last January 13 featuring six lead changes, San Diego scored the clinching touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to produce a 28-24 Divisional Playoff victory at Indianapolis. The Chargers were directed by QB Philip Rivers (14-19-264, 3 TDs/1 int.) for the first three quarters and by QB Billy Volek for the final quarter. Volek's score proved to be the decisive tally.

On November 11, 2006, in San Diego, Indianapolis fell behind, 23-0, in the first half to San Diego before nearly pulling off a dramatic comeback victory. The Colts tallied 14 fourth-quarter points, but Vinatieri was wide right on a 29-yard field goal in the final two minutes as the Colts fell, 23-21.

NFL 2008 Regular Season Common Opponents

In addition to facing each other this past November 23rd, the Colts and Chargers shared common opponents in the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts defeated both opponents, while the Chargers beat New England but lost to Pittsburgh.

Colts & Chargers in 2008 Comparison

 

NFL 2008 Week 17: San Diego Chargers 52, Denver Broncos 21

In front of a team-record crowd of 69,131, the Chargers scored a season-high 52 points and cruised to a 52-21 win over the Denver Broncos to secure their third-straight AFC West championship.

The Chargers rode a three-touchdown performance from LaDainian Tomlinson, who contributed to a team-record 289 yards rushing against the Broncos. Darren Sproles spelled Tomlinson late in the game and racked up a team-high 115 yards and scored two touchdowns, including one through the air.

Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to set a team single season record (34) and also became the second quarterback in franchise history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season.

San Diego's defense turned in its share of big plays as well, with safety Paul Oliver intercepting a Jay Cutler pass in the end zone and Luis Castillo intercepting another one off a pass that was tipped by Shaun Phillips.

San Diego scored on six of its first seven possessions to lead 24-6 at the half and 34-13 after three quarters.

NFL 2008 Week 17: Indianapolis Colts 23, Tennessee Titans 0

The Colts defeated the resting Titans at home by the score of 23-0. There were no playoff implications in the game.

Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

• - The Colts enter the playoffs with 9 consecutive wins
• - In 2008, the Colts posted their 7th consecutive season with 10+ wins & became 1st team in NFL history with 6 consecutive seasons with 12+ wins
• - The Colts have earned 9 playoff appearances in past 10 seasons
• - In regular season & postseason games, Colts are 7-4 (.636) at San Diego
• - TONY DUNGY is 1st head coach in NFL history to make 10 consecutive playoff appearances
• - Colts are 4-3 (.571) in Wild Card games
• - Club has won 4 of past 5 postseason games
• - In 1 career postseason game against Chargers, QB PEYTON MANNING completed 33 of 48 passes (68.8 pct.) for 402 yards with 3 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 97.7 passer rating. For career, Manning has 7-7 (.500) record in playoffs & has completed 323 of 522 passes (61.9 pct.) for 3,898 yards with 21 TDs & 17 INTs. In 5 Wild Card games, Manning has 11 TDs vs. 6 INTs. Including postseason, Colts are 11-2 (.846) when RB JOSEPH ADDAI has 20+ carries. Addai has 283 total yards in 3 meetings against SD (169 rush, 114 receiving). In past 4 postseason games with Colts, RB DOMINIC RHODES averages 4.9 yards per carry (62 att., 306 yards)
• - Incl. postseason, WR REGGIE WAYNE averages 80.4 receiving yards per game in 5 meetings vs. SD (402 total). Wayne has 7 TD receptions in 12 postseason games. WR MARVIN HARRISON has played in franchise-record 15 postseason games. Harrison leads Colts with 62 postseason catches & 863 postseason receiving yards
• - TE DALLAS CLARK posted 6 rec. for 95 receiving yards (15.8 avg.) in divisional playoff game vs. SD. Colts are 3-0 in playoffs when Clark has 100+ receiving yards
• - DWIGHT FREENEY has 6 career postseason sacks
• - S BOB SANDERS has 2 career postseason INTs
• - DE ROBERT MATHIS tied career-high with 11.5 sacks in 2008. Mathis was selected to 1st career Pro Bowl
• - K ADAM VINATIERI is NFL postseason career leader with 172 points & 41 FGs.

San Diego Chargers (8-8)

• - The Chargers have made the postseason in 4 of past 5 seasons
• - Chargers enter playoffs with 4 wins in row
• - Chargers aim for 2nd consecutive WC win at home (1/6/08 vs. Titans)
• - Head coach NORV TURNER guides team to playoffs for 2nd consecutive season. Turner is 3-2 (.500) in postseason as head coach
• - Including postseason, club has 21-5 record (.807) at home since 2006
• - In 2008, QB PHILIP RIVERS tied for NFL-high with 34 TD passes (DREW BREES) & surpassed DAN FOUTS (33 in 1981) for most TDs in franchise history. In past 4 wins, Rivers has 11 TDs vs. 1 INT & 120.3 passer rating. In past 2 against Colts (incl. playoffs), Rivers has completed 38 of 50 passes for 552 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT & 136.4 passer rating. Team is 2-0 when Rivers has TD pass in postseason play. For career (incl. playoffs), Rivers is 21-5 (.808) as starter at home & has 21 TDs vs. 5 INTs & 93.8 passer rating
• - RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON averages 81.3 rush yards-per-game in postseason at home (245 rush yards, 70 att.) with 3 TDs. Tomlinson has 90+ rush yards in past 2 with 3 rush TDs. RB DARREN SPROLES totaled 244 yards last week (115 rush, 17 receiving, 16 PR, 96 KR) with 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.). In 4 career games vs. Colts (incl. postseason), Sproles has 24.5 PR avg. with 1 PR-TD (2 PR, 49 yards) & 24.8 KR avg. with 1 KR-TD (16 KR, 396 yards)
• - Team is 9-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions
• - In 3 career postseason games, WR CHRIS CHAMBERS averages 92.7 receiving yards per game. WR VINCENT JACKSON had career-high 1,098 receiving yards in 2008. In past 3 playoff games, Jackson is averaging 100 receiving yards per game (18 rec., 300 yards) with 2 TDs
• - Defense has 9 INTs in past 3 against Colts
• - In 3 career games vs. Colts (incl. playoffs), CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE has 4 INTs
• - LB STEPHEN COOPER had 4 INTs in past 4 in 2008
• - DE LUIS CASTILLO has 2 sacks in past 3 postseason games.

PREDICTION: San Diego Chargers 27, Indianapolis Colts 21

Even though their record are miles apart and the Colts are riding a 9-game winning streak, the Chargers have finally turned into the Super Bowl capable team many expected and predicted before the 2008 season began.

There is no doubt that the Colts are the better team all things considered equal. However, all things are not equal as the Chargers have home-field advantage plus a knack for defeating the Colts when it counts.

Three factors will lead the Chargers to victory -- An out-of-this-world Philip Rivers, a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and, yes, the Chargers defense.

In December, Philip Rivers completed 80 of 121 (.661) for 1,054 yards with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. His passer rating for the month, a lofty 120.3 was second in the NFL in December behind only Peyton Manning, who raked up a rating of 130.8.

For his effort, Philip Rivers was named December's AFC Player of the Month on offense. In Week 15 against Kansas City (12/14), Rivers was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after directing a Chargers' fourth quarter-rally for a 22-21 win. In the fourth quarter against the Chiefs, Rivers completed 18 of 24 passes (75.0 percent) for 190 yards with two touchdowns and a 125.3 passer rating.

Tomlinson's compiled 1,110 yards this season depsite a nagging toe injury at the beginning of the season. With three touchdowns in the 2008 regular-season finale against Denver, Tomlinson is fully recovered and peak condition. His reported should not impede his performance against the Colts.

In the event Tomlinson's groin injury is a factor, Darren Sproles should pick up the slack.

Last week against Denver in relief of Tomlinson, Sproles racked up his second-career 100-yard rushing game with 115 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a 13-yard reception.

Sproles has had tremendous success against Indianapolis, including a 56-yard touchdown catch in the Divisional Playoffs and a two-touchdown game during the 2007 regular-season, scoring on a 45-yard punt return and an 89-yard kickoff return. Sproles totaled 2,297 all-purpose yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2008, including 330 yards and 1 TD as a rusher, 342 yards 5 TDs as a receiver, 249 yards as a punt returner and 1,376 yards and 1 TD on kickoff returns.

The Chargers defense has been impressive since Ron Rivera was given control as defensive coordinator midway into the season. The Chargers have become very stingy since then, especially in the second half. Only two of the Chargers last seven opponents have scored more than seven points in the second half against their defense (Colts and Bucs). Under Rivera, the Chargers are allowing just 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards in the second half of the 2008 season, down from the 24.8 ppg and 371.6 ypg prior to his taking over.

For the Colts to win, the differentiating factor will need to be their defense.

They don't need to shut Rivers down, they only need to contain him. Containing Rivers and keeping the Chargers offense off the field will neutralize the home crowd and lead to a Colts' victory.

However, the Colts defense while above average against the pass has shown weakness against the run. Their 18.6 points allowed per game is slightly inflated given their shutout of the Titans in the final week of the season.

Related

NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS RANKINGS

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 WILD CARD WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Saturday, January 3

NFC: Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals, 4:30 PM ET (NBC)

AFC: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers, 8:00 PM ET (NBC)

Sunday, January 4

AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM ET (CBS)

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings, 4:30 PM ET (FOX)

 

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Don't Be Fooled by Colts & Bolts Records - NFL 2008 Playoffs