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11-23-2008, 03:57 PM
Colts, Bolts Have Another Go-round
Nov 23, 12:05 AM (ET) Email this Story
By BERNIE WILSON
SAN DIEGO (AP) -Peyton Manning had more than his fill of the Chargers last season, from his franchise-worst, six-interception game in the rain in San Diego to a playoff loss to the Bolts in the final game in the RCA Dome.
This year, he could help determine whether the stumbling Chargers make it back to the postseason.
Manning and the resurgent Indianapolis Colts (6-4) visit Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday night for yet another game against the Chargers (4-6), who've so underachieved that the ever-honest LaDainian Tomlinson feels time is running out.
While Manning and the Colts have won three straight to at least get themselves into wild-card contention, the Chargers have lost three of four and are two games behind Denver in the AFC West with six to play.
Tomlinson feels the season slipping away for the Chargers, who made it to the AFC championship game before losing to New England.
"I really do. We are two games back. We're not out of it but its like, the blown opportunities we keep on talking about, we could have been easily tied with Denver right now," Tomlinson said. "And whenever you keep blowing opportunities, then at some point, as they say, opportunities don't come about anymore. It's like when the opportunity comes, you open the door and take it. If you don't, it passes you by and goes to someone else.
"I wouldn't go that far to say we are done because anything can happen in six games. It does look slim, but we're not done yet."
The Chargers could be 2 1/2 games back by kickoff if the Broncos win their home game against Oakland.
This will be the fifth game in as many seasons between the Colts and Bolts. San Diego has won three straight, including a 28-24 upset in last season's divisional playoffs.
A year ago, Manning was intercepted six times - three by Antonio Cromartie - and almost brought the Colts all the way back from a 23-0 first-half deficit. But Adam Vinatieri pushed a 29-yard field goal attempt wide right with 1:31 left and the Colts lost 23-21.
"That's a one-time deal, I'm sure," San Diego QB Philip Rivers said of Manning's six-pack of picks.
Manning considered it a bizarre game.
"You never know quite what's going to happen here late in the season, but it's an important game for both teams," he said. "Both teams are fighting and hanging in there in the AFC, and that's why I think it'll be a good ballgame."
That was a coming-out game for Cromartie, who was making his first career start because cornerback Quentin Jammer was injured. All three of his pickoffs were in the first half. Cromartie's third interception was a beauty, as he reached up with his right arm and pulled the ball to his chest in one motion as he was falling backward.
"To tell you the truth, I don't remember nothing. Last year was last year. This is a whole different year," Cromartie said.
He does know this: After leading the NFL with 10 interceptions last year, Cromartie has only two this season.
Where have all the pickoffs gone?
"I don't know the answer to that one," Cromartie said. "We've dropped a few. I mean, we've got to take advantage of the challenge that we do have. Once we start doing that, then the turnovers start coming," Cromartie said.
The Chargers led the NFL with 30 interceptions and 48 takeaways last year. With six games left, they have only six pickoffs and 10 takeaways.
"They've dropped off a lot," Jammer said. "We just haven't taken advantage of our opportunities to get to the quarterback, we haven't taken advantage of our opportunities when we get our hands on balls to intercept. So that contributes to the interception numbers not being there."
Jammer said the key to Manning's six interceptions in the game last November was pressure. Back then, the Chargers had outside linebacker Shawne Merriman. But "Lights Out" made it through only one game this year before deciding to have season-ending knee surgery.
And here comes Manning.
"Nobody's getting to him right now, so he's back to picking people apart," Jammer said. "The thing you've got to do is try to get to him, sack him a couple of times, force him to make some errant throws."
After starting 3-4, the Colts have beaten New England, Pittsburgh and Houston.
Manning isn't making much of the winning streak.
"There's no time," he said. "It's just on to the next opponent. We're still beat up, still have some key players that have been injured and haven't been playing. When that's the case, you're always going to be fighting and grinding and having to step up in certain spots. That's going to be the case from here on out, it seems like. We're still just trying to fight and scratch our way and hopefully can find a way to get a win this week, but it'll be tough."
The Chargers expect the same thing.
"They're playing the way they're supposed be playing," Cromartie said. "We've just got to prepare ourselves to play how we're supposed to play, and contain a player like that."
With Tennessee at 10-0, the Colts are all but out of the race for the AFC South title they've won five straight times. They might be without oft-injured safety Bob Sanders, last season's NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"It's going to be a lot tougher this go-around," Jammer said. "We've beaten them the last three times and they obviously they don't want that to happen again."
Nov 23, 12:05 AM (ET) Email this Story
By BERNIE WILSON
SAN DIEGO (AP) -Peyton Manning had more than his fill of the Chargers last season, from his franchise-worst, six-interception game in the rain in San Diego to a playoff loss to the Bolts in the final game in the RCA Dome.
This year, he could help determine whether the stumbling Chargers make it back to the postseason.
Manning and the resurgent Indianapolis Colts (6-4) visit Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday night for yet another game against the Chargers (4-6), who've so underachieved that the ever-honest LaDainian Tomlinson feels time is running out.
While Manning and the Colts have won three straight to at least get themselves into wild-card contention, the Chargers have lost three of four and are two games behind Denver in the AFC West with six to play.
Tomlinson feels the season slipping away for the Chargers, who made it to the AFC championship game before losing to New England.
"I really do. We are two games back. We're not out of it but its like, the blown opportunities we keep on talking about, we could have been easily tied with Denver right now," Tomlinson said. "And whenever you keep blowing opportunities, then at some point, as they say, opportunities don't come about anymore. It's like when the opportunity comes, you open the door and take it. If you don't, it passes you by and goes to someone else.
"I wouldn't go that far to say we are done because anything can happen in six games. It does look slim, but we're not done yet."
The Chargers could be 2 1/2 games back by kickoff if the Broncos win their home game against Oakland.
This will be the fifth game in as many seasons between the Colts and Bolts. San Diego has won three straight, including a 28-24 upset in last season's divisional playoffs.
A year ago, Manning was intercepted six times - three by Antonio Cromartie - and almost brought the Colts all the way back from a 23-0 first-half deficit. But Adam Vinatieri pushed a 29-yard field goal attempt wide right with 1:31 left and the Colts lost 23-21.
"That's a one-time deal, I'm sure," San Diego QB Philip Rivers said of Manning's six-pack of picks.
Manning considered it a bizarre game.
"You never know quite what's going to happen here late in the season, but it's an important game for both teams," he said. "Both teams are fighting and hanging in there in the AFC, and that's why I think it'll be a good ballgame."
That was a coming-out game for Cromartie, who was making his first career start because cornerback Quentin Jammer was injured. All three of his pickoffs were in the first half. Cromartie's third interception was a beauty, as he reached up with his right arm and pulled the ball to his chest in one motion as he was falling backward.
"To tell you the truth, I don't remember nothing. Last year was last year. This is a whole different year," Cromartie said.
He does know this: After leading the NFL with 10 interceptions last year, Cromartie has only two this season.
Where have all the pickoffs gone?
"I don't know the answer to that one," Cromartie said. "We've dropped a few. I mean, we've got to take advantage of the challenge that we do have. Once we start doing that, then the turnovers start coming," Cromartie said.
The Chargers led the NFL with 30 interceptions and 48 takeaways last year. With six games left, they have only six pickoffs and 10 takeaways.
"They've dropped off a lot," Jammer said. "We just haven't taken advantage of our opportunities to get to the quarterback, we haven't taken advantage of our opportunities when we get our hands on balls to intercept. So that contributes to the interception numbers not being there."
Jammer said the key to Manning's six interceptions in the game last November was pressure. Back then, the Chargers had outside linebacker Shawne Merriman. But "Lights Out" made it through only one game this year before deciding to have season-ending knee surgery.
And here comes Manning.
"Nobody's getting to him right now, so he's back to picking people apart," Jammer said. "The thing you've got to do is try to get to him, sack him a couple of times, force him to make some errant throws."
After starting 3-4, the Colts have beaten New England, Pittsburgh and Houston.
Manning isn't making much of the winning streak.
"There's no time," he said. "It's just on to the next opponent. We're still beat up, still have some key players that have been injured and haven't been playing. When that's the case, you're always going to be fighting and grinding and having to step up in certain spots. That's going to be the case from here on out, it seems like. We're still just trying to fight and scratch our way and hopefully can find a way to get a win this week, but it'll be tough."
The Chargers expect the same thing.
"They're playing the way they're supposed be playing," Cromartie said. "We've just got to prepare ourselves to play how we're supposed to play, and contain a player like that."
With Tennessee at 10-0, the Colts are all but out of the race for the AFC South title they've won five straight times. They might be without oft-injured safety Bob Sanders, last season's NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"It's going to be a lot tougher this go-around," Jammer said. "We've beaten them the last three times and they obviously they don't want that to happen again."