Final
Colts QB Manning returns to site of worst game
Nov 22, 2008 - 5:57 PM INDIANAPOLIS (6-4) AT SAN DIEGO (4-6), 8:15 pm ESTSAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- As far as Tony Dungy is concerned, the reason for the Indianapolis Colts' mini-resurgence is simple - no turnovers.
The Colts seek their fourth straight victory Sunday when they visit the San Diego Chargers in a rematch of last season's playoff game won by San Diego.
Not coincidentally, Indianapolis has gone through three straight games without committing a turnover, beating New England, Pittsburgh and Houston.
"We've turned the ball over less and less," Dungy said. "We're getting the ball quick, cutting down on our sacks. We're cutting down on a lot of the long-yardage situations we've been in."
The Colts were far from perfect in last season's regular-season game in San Diego, in fact it turned into the worst game of Peyton Manning's Hall of Fame career.
Manning threw a franchise-record six interceptions in the Colts' 23-21 loss. Remarkably, Indianapolis still had a chance to win until Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal with 1:31 remaining.
San Diego then posted a 28-24 victory at Indianapolis in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Colts (6-4), who have pulled into a four-way tie for the AFC wild card, look to avenge both defeats Sunday and hope Manning doesn't suffer any flashbacks.
Manning has thrown seven TDs during Indianapolis' season-high three-game winning streak.
The Colts' offense is starting to look like the well-oiled unit that fans have grown accustomed to watching in recent years.
Manning engineered four consecutive scoring drives in the second half as the Colts gained a season-high 474 yards. He completed 30-of-46 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
In addition, Joseph Addai snapped out of his season-long slump, rushing for 105 yards and a TD on 22 carries. It marked the first time Addai has surpassed the century mark this season.
"I thought our offense really clicked - maybe for the first time all year," Dungy added. "We got our running game going and that got us some looks at one-on-one coverage on the outside."
While the Colts' five-year run in the AFC South is likely over - undefeated Tennessee still has a four-game lead in the division - they have improved their wild card hopes.
Indianapolis has pulled into a tie with the two wild-card spots with Baltimore, Miami and New England.
The Chargers (4-6) limped back to the West Coast following a bizarre 11-10 defeat in Pittsburgh - the first NFL game to end by that score.
San Diego's season could be on the line Sunday, as it has dropped two games behind Denver in the AFC West. The Chargers do play four of their final six games at home, including the next three.
Philip Rivers passed for just 159 yards - matching a season low - with two interceptions as the Chargers dropped to 0-13 all-time in Pittsburgh during the regular season.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANAPOLIS 3 7 7 6 23
SAN DIEGO 0 10 0 10 20 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 23 YD, 13:18. Drive:
12 plays, 62 yards in 5:40. Key
plays: Manning 26-yard pass to
Wayne on 3rd-and-1 to San Diego 32;
Manning 5-yard pass to Clark on
3rd-and-4 to S
Nov 23 11:24 PM - NFL
FG IND
ADAM VINATIERI 51 YD
INDIANAPOLIS 23
SAN DIEGO 20 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colts 23, Chargers 20 End of Reg.Nov 23 11:24 PM - NFL
FG SDG
NATE KAEDING 47 YD
INDIANAPOLIS 20
SAN DIEGO 20 1:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colts 20, Chargers 20 4th - 1:30Nov 23 11:10 PM
TD SDG JACOB HESTER 1 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 20, Chargers 17 4th - 5:36Nov 23 10:53 PM
TD SDG JACOB HESTER 1 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 20, Chargers 17 4th - 5:36Nov 23 10:53 PM
TD SDG JACOB HESTER 1 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 20, Chargers 17 4th - 5:36Nov 23 10:53 PM- NFL
TD SDG
JACOB HESTER 1 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS
(NATE KAEDING KICK)
INDIANAPOLIS 20
SAN DIEGO 17 5:36 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colts 20, Chargers 17 4th - 5:36Nov 23 10:53 PM - NFL
FG IND
ADAM VINATIERI 38 YD
INDIANAPOLIS 20
SAN DIEGO 10 11:48 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colts 20, Chargers 10 4th - 11:48Nov 23 10:40 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANAPOLIS 3 7 7 17
SAN DIEGO 0 10 0 10 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 23 YD, 13:18. Drive:
12 plays, 62 yards in 5:40. Key
plays: Manning 26-yard pass to
Wayne on 3rd-and-1 to San Diego 32;
Manning 5-yard pass to Clark on
3rd-and
Nov 23 10:29 PM
TD IND DOMINIC RHODES 1 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 17, Chargers 10 3rd - 3:51Nov 23 10:18 PM
TD IND DOMINIC RHODES 1 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 17, Chargers 10 3rd - 3:51Nov 23 10:18 PM
TD IND DOMINIC RHODES 1 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 17, Chargers 10 3rd - 3:51Nov 23 10:18 PM- NFL
TD IND
DOMINIC RHODES 1 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING
(ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
INDIANAPOLIS 17
SAN DIEGO 10 3:51 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Colts 17, Chargers 10 3rd - 3:51Nov 23 10:18 PM - NFL
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANAPOLIS 3 7 10
SAN DIEGO 0 10 10 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 23 YD, 13:18. Drive:
12 plays, 62 yards in 5:40. Key
plays: Manning 26-yard pass to
Wayne on 3rd-and-1 to San Diego 32;
Manning 5-yard pass to Clark on
3rd-and-4 t
Nov 23 9:43 PM
TD IND ANTHONY GONZALEZ 13 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 10, Chargers 10 2nd - 0:38Nov 23 9:38 PM
TD IND ANTHONY GONZALEZ 13 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 10, Chargers 10 2nd - 0:38Nov 23 9:38 PM
TD IND ANTHONY GONZALEZ 13 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING (ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
Colts 10, Chargers 10 2nd - 0:38Nov 23 9:38 PM- NFL
TD IND
ANTHONY GONZALEZ 13 YD PASS FROM PEYTON MANNING
(ADAM VINATIERI KICK)
INDIANAPOLIS 10
SAN DIEGO 10 0:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colts 10, Chargers 10 2nd - 0:38Nov 23 9:38 PM
TD SDG VINCENT JACKSON 39 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 3, Chargers 10 2nd - 4:56Nov 23 9:23 PM
TD SDG VINCENT JACKSON 39 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 3, Chargers 10 2nd - 4:56Nov 23 9:23 PM
TD SDG VINCENT JACKSON 39 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS (NATE KAEDING KICK)
Colts 3, Chargers 10 2nd - 4:56Nov 23 9:23 PM- NFL
TD SDG
VINCENT JACKSON 39 YD PASS FROM PHILIP RIVERS
(NATE KAEDING KICK)
INDIANAPOLIS 3
SAN DIEGO 10 4:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colts 3, Chargers 10 2nd - 4:56Nov 23 9:23 PM - NFL
FG SDG
NATE KAEDING 35 YD
INDIANAPOLIS 3
SAN DIEGO 3 11:43 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colts 3, Chargers 3 2nd - 11:43Nov 23 9:07 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANAPOLIS 3 3
SAN DIEGO 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: IND - FG, ADAM VINATIERI 23 YD, 13:18. Drive:
12 plays, 62 yards in 5:40. Key
plays: Manning 26-yard pass to
Wayne on 3rd-and-1 to San Diego 32;
Manning 5-yard pass to Clark on
3rd-and
Nov 23 9:00 PM - NFL
FG IND
ADAM VINATIERI 23 YD
INDIANAPOLIS 3
SAN DIEGO 0 1:42 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Colts 3, Chargers 0 1st - 1:42Nov 23 8:57 PM
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