Tagged As: NFL, Playoffs, Steelers, Titans, Colts, Chargers

Peyton Manning continued his NFL MVP performance with a 25/42, 310 yard, 1 Touchdown game, but the Indianapolis Colts lost for the second postseason in row to the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers won 23-17 in overtime thanks to the legs of backup running back Darren Sproles and punter Mike Scifres.

Sproles ran for 105 yards, caught five passes for 45 yards, returned four kickoffs for 106 yards, and three punts for 72 yards. Sproles ran in two touchdowns, including the 22-yard game winner in overtime. For the second straight year LT was hampered by injuries in the playoffs, giving Sproles, a diminutive running back, the chance to have the game of a lifetime.

It is not often that a punter gets much mention during a playoff game unless his punt is being blocked, but Scifres boomed six punts down the field for an average of 52.7 yards and pinning the Colts inside their own 20 each time. Colts running back Joseph Addai went so far as proclaim the punter the MVP of the game.

Addai ran into the end zone from a yard out for the first score of the game, but did little else, finishing with 44 yards on 16 carries. Just as Sproles accounted for just about every aspect of the Chargers offense, Manning was the heart, sole, and arm of the Colts. Unfortunately before he hit Reggie Wayne for a 72-yard touchdown pass thanks to some major blown coverage in the third quarter, the Chargers had already scored twice.

LT managed to score the first touchdown before his groin became too painful to make a difference and Sproles had taken over with a nine-yard touchdown to end the first half.

Penalties punished the Colts, as nine times they were flagged and the Chargers took advantage, taking advantage of two calls in overtime to win the game on the opening drive.

The Indianapolis seemed to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and failing to establish a run game to force the Chargers defense to think about dropping back into coverage to keep the MVP quarterback from winning the Colts 10th straight game.

The Colts had two quarters to put the game out of reach for the Chargers, but Indianapolis failed to capitalize on any drives after the Wayne touchdown with 8:10 left in the third quarter. Eventually Philip Rivers managed to take advantage of Antonio Gates over the middle and to lead to the game tying 26-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in the fourth.

Instead it was the Chargers with timely plays overcoming two turnovers to win their fifth straight game. The Chargers will have to play their next game away from Quallcom in either Nashville against the Tennessee Titans or in Pittsburgh against the Steelers.

NFL Playoff Tickets