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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego Chargers 1/4/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
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		<lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:50:42 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:50:42 GMT</pubDate>
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			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Chargers jolt Colts in OT]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Darren Sproles more than filled LaDainian 
Tomlinson's shoes.

Sproles sprinted 22 yards for a touchdown with 8:40 to play in 
overtime, lifting the San Diego Chargers to a 23-17 victory over
the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in an AFC wild card game.

With All-Pro running back Tomlinson forced out of the game early
in the second quarter with a groin injury, the diminutive 
Sproles stood tall, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns 
while catching five passes for 45 yards.

"You know, when your number is called, you have to be ready," 
said Sproles, whose late heroics atoned for a costly fumble at 
the goal line in the third quarter. "You just have to step up 
and help this team."

Sproles also returned four kicks and three punts while amassing 
328 all-purpose yards - the third-highest total in playoff 
history.

"He was unbelievable all night," San Diego quarterback Philip 
Rivers said of Sproles.

The first team to win a division title with a .500 record since 
1985, the AFC West champion Chargers (9-8) won their fifth 
consecutive game to earn a trip to either No. 1 seed Tennessee 
or No. 2 Pittsburgh in next weekend's divisional playoff round.

"Each game we're getting stronger, we're getting better, 
mentally tougher, all the things you need so we can continue 
playing," Chargers coach Norv Turner said.

Rivers threw for 217 yards on 20-of-26 passing and an 
interception for San Diego, which avenged a 23-20 home loss to 
Indianapolis in the regular season, snapped the Colts' nine-game
winning streak and knocking Peyton Manning and company out of 
the playoffs for the second straight season.

Manning completed 25-of-42 passes for 310 yards and one 
touchdown, but other than a long scoring toss to Reggie Wayne, 
he struggled in the second half and barely avoided a safety in 
the final minutes when he was sacked at the 1-yard line.

"It's disappointing to lose a playoff game, especially a game 
you had some chances to win," Manning said. "The Chargers made 
the plays when it counted. Give them credit. It's obviously a 
disappointing loss.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game, a close game. We've 
been winning those fourth-quarter games. Today, the Chargers 
just did a better job executing."

After being turned away twice in the second half on a fumble and
an interception, San Diego finally pulled even at 17-17 on Nate 
Kaeding's 26-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in regulation.

The Chargers won the coin flip in overtime and quickly moved 
downfield, helped by three penalties on the Colts - two for 
holding and a face-mask infraction against Clint Sessions that 
set up 1st-and-10 at the 20-yard line.

Two players later, the 5-6 Sproles darted down the left sideline
and into the end zone, giving San Diego its fourth win against 
the Colts in the last five meetings.

"Obviously, a disappointed group in our locker room," Colts 
coach Tony Dungy said. "We played hard - very hard - but we 
didn't play well enough to win. ... San Diego played great. They
have a lot of talent."

The Chargers, who carried a 14-10 lead into halftime, had to 
overcome a series of blunders in the second half.

Manning caught the defense napping while trying to make multiple
substitutions midway through the third quarter when he found 
Wayne all alone down the left sideline for a 17-14 lead.

San Diego answered right back after the scoring pass, driving 
down the field only to see Sproles fumble into the end zone from
the 1-yard line.  Indianapolis' Raheem Brock recovered in the 
end zone for a touchback.

"There wasn't any doubt in my mind that he was going to make a 
big play that was going to affect this game," Turner said of 
Sproles after the fumble.

On their next possession, the Chargers were on the move again 
before Antoine Bethea picked off Rivers in the end zone to 
thwart another opportunity.

Yet Indianapolis could not deny resilient San Diego, which had 
lost four games in the last 24 seconds this season and became 
the first team in league history to snatch a playoff berth after
starting a campaign 4-8.

"We've been through a lot of adversity, a lot of ups and downs,"
Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips said. "We were on a 
roller-coaster all season. We just had to get it back in order. 
I truly believe our best football is ahead of us."

Manning was perfect on the Colts' first scoring drive, 
connecting on all six passes for 81 yards before Joseph Addai 
capped it with a 1-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 2:59 left in the
opening quarter.

The Chargers slowly turned the momentum in their favor thanks to
the punting of Mike Scifres, who averaged 56.5 yards on four 
boots in the first half, twice pinning the Colts inside the 
10-yard line.

"Without him today I think we have a real hard time winning the 
football game," Kaeding said of Scifres.

San Diego held Indianapolis to a pair of three-and-outs on both 
possessions, setting up two short touchdown drives.

On the first, the Chargers needed just four plays to tie the 
game.  Tomlinson scampered around the left side for 3 yards to 
knot it at 7-7 with 10:15 left in the half but left the game for
good after the score.

After the Colts inched in front, 10-7, on a 43-yard field goal 
by Adam Vinatieri, a 67-yard punt by Scifres again buried 
Indianapolis in the shadow of its goal line.

"The punter, give him credit," Manning said. "We you get backed 
up the idea is to get a first down and try to change your field 
position. We weren't able to do that as much as we would have 
liked."

This time, San Diego needed just six plays to go in front.  
Rivers hit Chris Chambers for completions of 13 and 11 yards to 
set up Sproles' 9-yard scoring run for a 14-10 lead with 42 
seconds to go in the half.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84466-Chargers-jolt-Colts-in-OT</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84466-Chargers-jolt-Colts-in-OT</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:56:21 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Chargers brace for red-hot Colts]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[Indianapolis (12-4) at San Diego (8-8), Saturday, 8 pm EST

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- After squeaking out a three-point win in 
San Diego in late November, the Indianapolis Colts probably 
didn't figure on seeing the Chargers again this season.

Guess again.

The Chargers came back from the dead with four straight wins to 
close the season and will host the streaking Colts in a wild 
card game on Saturday night.

Despite having the worst record of any team in the playoffs, San
Diego earned a first-round home game with a season-ending 52-21 
victory over Denver that clinched the AFC West crown.

"This is obviously history, the way we trailed the division and 
how we've now won it," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "We know 
the expectations we set out with and how high they were at the 
start of the year. All we've done is reopen some of those goal 
and some of those expectations now that we've got ourselves into
January."

In the playoffs for the third straight season, the Chargers will
have their hands full with red-hot Indianapolis, which closed 
out the season with nine consecutive victories, including a 
23-20 win in San Diego on November 23 on Adam Vinatieri's 
51-yard field goal as time expired.

The Chargers, however, have had more success against the Colts 
than most opponents, having won their previous three meetings, 
including a 28-24 playoff victory at Indianapolis last season.

"We know them as well as a division opponent," Chargers safety 
Eric Weddle said. "We've been playing very well since we last 
played them."

San Diego lost four games in the final 24 seconds this season 
but they enter the postseason on a roll. The Chargers have hung 
up 93 points in their last two victories, routing Tampa Bay, 
41-24, before manhandling the Broncos.

The late surge enabled San Diego to become the first in league 
history to snare a postseason berth after starting the season 
4-8. The Chargers also are the first team to win their division 
after trailing by three games with three to play.

"This is obviously history, the way we trailed the division and 
how we've now won it," Rivers said.

Rivers is a big reason for the success. He finished 15-for-20 
with 207 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos, putting 
him over 4,000 yards (4,009) for the season and giving him a 
league-high 34 TD passes.

In the first meeting against the Colts, Rivers more than held 
his own against Indy's Peyton Manning, completed 24-of-31 passes
for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chargers could have some major injury woes to deal with, 
however. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 96 yards and three 
touchdowns but left the game in the fourth quarter with a groin 
injury. Tight end Antonio Gates also suffered an ankle injury.

"I don't know how bad it is, I think it's just a strain," said 
Tomlinson, who was hampered by a knee injury in the postseason a
year ago.

San Diego will need to be in top health to slow down the Colts, 
who capped the season with a 23-0 victory over Tennessee in a 
game that meant nothing to either team.

Manning was perfect in limited duty, finishing 7-of-7 for 95 
yards, including a 55-yard TD toss to running back Joseph Addai.

The pass to Addai put Manning over 4,000 yards for the ninth 
consecutive season, extending his own league record.

"It's always exciting to be in the playoffs and to be in the 
mix," Manning said.

Indianapolis appeared it would be out of the mix after a 3-4 
start that including a pair of narrow victories at Minnesota and
Houston.

However, after a 31-21 loss to then-unbeaten Tennessee on 
October 27, the Colts ran the table to earn their seventh 
consecutive playoff berth.

"It's a little bit of a different feeling than last year," Colts
head coach Tony Dungy said. "We played well and wanted to get 
off to a fast start. I was proud of our guys and the way we

played. I like where we are and we'll be ready to go where ever 
we have to go."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nfl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84003-Chargers-brace-for-red-hot-Colts</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nfl/news/84003-Chargers-brace-for-red-hot-Colts</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:40:46 GMT</pubDate>
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