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Chargers Oust Indianapolis In OT

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The Associated Press

Published: January 4, 2009

SAN DIEGO - Peyton Manning has his MVP award and nothing more, outdone again in January by the San Diego Chargers.

Speedy little Darren Sproles scooted 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime and the Chargers beat the Colts 23-17 in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night, ending Indianapolis' nine-game winning streak a day after Manning won his third Associated Press NFL MVP award.

Sproles came up big on a night when the Chargers played the final 21/2 quarters without LaDainian Tomlinson, who stood on the sideline in obvious discomfort from a groin injury.

Fifty years after the Baltimore Colts won the first overtime game in league history by the same score over the New York Giants for the NFL title, Indianapolis wasn't so fortunate. It was victimized by Sproles, who rushed 23 times for 105 yards, caught five passes for 45 yards, had 106 yards on four kickoff returns and 72 on three punt runbacks.

The Chargers (9-8) won the overtime toss. Indy's Darrell Reid called heads, but referee Ron Winter's flip came up tails.

Sproles sent the Chargers into the second round of the playoffs, either at Tennessee or Pittsburgh, by finishing off the only series of overtime with his TD run around left end against an exhausted defense for the Colts (12-5).

It was the 25th overtime game in the postseason, including one game in the AFL. The last overtime game in the playoffs was last season's NFC title game, won by the New York Giants and Manning's little brother, Eli, against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

San Diego's Nate Kaeding kicked a 26-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining in regulation, forcing overtime.

After a 25-yard punt return by Sproles, the Chargers moved from the Colts 37 into position for Kaeding's tying kick. Mike Scifres had pinned Indy at its 1 with 2:41 remaining, and on third-and-2, Tim Dobbins sacked Manning at the 1. That forced Hunter Smith to punt from deep in his end zone.

Philip Rivers completed passes of 10 and 11 yards to Antonio Gates before two incompletions. Sproles gained 8 yards on third down.

Manning threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne in the third quarter to give the Colts a 17-14 lead through three periods.

The Colts went without a huddle and snapped the ball before the Chargers appeared ready on the play. Wayne had no trouble getting behind cornerback Antonio Cromartie and outraced the rest of the defense to the end zone. It came on a third-and-9 play.

The Chargers had a chance to go ahead on their next possession, but Sproles fumbled into the end zone, where Raheem Brock recovered.

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