Chargers 28, Colts 24

Lightning strikes: Bolts knock off defending champs

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- After handing New England a huge gift, the San Diego Chargers believe it's time to give the unbeaten Patriots something else: a challenge.

And, oh yeah, a loss.

By defeating Peyton Manning and the defending champion Colts 28-24 on Sunday, undermanned San Diego removed New England's biggest road block to the Super Bowl. Not that the Chargers are intimidated by facing the 17-0 Patriots in the AFC title game next weekend.

Despite having LaDainaian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers on the sideline, the Chargers won their eighth straight game. Of course, that's not even half of what New England has achieved.

"Seventeen have tried and it hasn't happened," quarterback Philip Rivers said of New England's perfect record. "We think it can happen."

But San Diego must avoid a repeat of its last performance at New England, when it was routed 38-14 in Week 2. That was the beginning of a slide to 5-5 for San Diego, but the Chargers (13-5) are rolling now.

"A lot has happened since then," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "We'll definitely start all over on the preparations. It's like it's a new team."

Also an undermanned team. L.T. departed in the first half on Sunday with a bruised left knee, and Rivers went out in the third quarter with a damaged right knee. Both said they hoped to be ready for the Patriots, and coach Norv Turner said they are "questionable."

"That's the true measure of a team," Tomlinson said. "Guys stepped up and got it done."

Those guys included Billy Volek at quarterback and Michael Turner as the main runner. Led by those subs, San Diego went 78 yards on eight plays, with Volek sneaking in from the 1 with 4:50 remaining for the lead. The Chargers' big-play defense then held on downs at its 7, and stopped Indy again in the final moments to preserve San Diego's eighth straight win.

To make it nine in a row and advance to their second Super Bowl -- the other was a blowout loss to San Francisco after the 1994 season -- the Chargers will need all that resourcefulness again.

"I'm pretty sure we'll be huge underdogs, but it's still going to be fun, just to get the opportunity," Tomlinson said. "All the rest of the teams have had their opportunity to play New England, and we'll get another opportunity to do so in the AFC Championship Game. What a better way to go back there."

RECAP:
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29522&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2007&week=POST19