Stout defense puts Peyton in his place
By: JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | ∞
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning shakes hands with Chargers Drayton Florence after the game.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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INDIANAPOLIS ---- The Chargers were staring at the wrong end of one of the NFL's most talented gunners.
"But nobody blinked,'' center Nick Hardwick said. "The defense did a great job."
The Chargers were clinging to a 28-24 lead with about three minutes to play in Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game. Quarterback Peyton Manning had his Colts poised at the Chargers 9, after marching from his 23 for a potential game-winning drive.
"He's probably one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, but we like to feel we have a strong defense," linebacker Shaun Phillips aid. "And any time you put us on the field, we can't look at the fact it is Peyton Manning throwing the ball or Marvin Harrison catching the ball. We worry about what we do and do it the best we can do."
Linebacker Shawne Merriman said the chatter among his teammates was precise.
"Just make a play," Merriman said. "We've been in that situation before."
But few quarterbacks have the skill, confidence and options that Manning enjoys. So with the RCA Dome rocking, it looked like the Chargers were about to get rolled.
Safety Clinton Hart disagreed.
"He doesn't have that much field to move around," Hart said. "The guys can only go so far, so the red zone is tough. When he has a lot of field, he can do a lot of things."
The defense did its thing for four consecutive downs to help secure Sunday's trip to New England.
On first down from the 9, Joseph Addai tested the middle of the line's interior. Bad choice, as he was swallowed by Phillips and Quentin Jammer after 2 yards.
Next was a pass to Addai that fell incomplete, with Drayton Florence supplying the coverage. With the 2-minute warning near, Manning tried to hit Addai only to have his pass deflected by Phillips' finger tips.
"That wasn't the difference-maker," Phillips said. "The difference-maker was the 45, 50 guys on the field that left it all on the field."
The Colts were left with a fourth down and anxious fans seeing a bid for back-to-back Super Bowl titles evaporating. But Manning, with another shot, is still dangerous.
Manning looked to Addai on a short route again, but just when he readied to deliver the ball he felt the heat and hand of Merriman, who had blasted around the right side.
"I just dove as hard as I could and tried to sweep him," said Merriman, whose pressure was enough to likely alter Manning's pass. "When he got up, he looked back and said, 'Who the hell hit me?' "
The Colts got one more opportunity in the game's final 90 seconds, but advanced the ball just 5 yards from their 32. While the Chargers offense got most the backslaps for revealing its depth in the unlikely win, don't overlook the defense.
Quarterback Philip Rivers didn't.
"Our defense never got frustrated. They just kept playing and they came up with two stands there in the last three minutes that are as good as they get,'' he said. "That was a huge team win."
All because the defense didn't fire blanks.
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Rivers is still a kid! wrote on Jan 13, 2008 11:52 PM:Why msut Rivers try an taunt the Colts Fans! He is so imature! He should have just walked away as a winner! That is why the Chargers will always be seen as the Ghetto Team! Crooks id with them!
Jose wrote on Jan 14, 2008 1:07 AM:Great win over a solid team and excellent QB in Peyton Manning. Did anyone notice some questionable officiating going on in the Colts game? That holding call on Eric Weddel durng Cromartie's INT run back for a TD..ticky tacky and really didn't look like it...like Shannon Sharpe said on the NFL Primetime channel.."it was a homie call." Also, the call on Clinton Hart for pass interference when the pass was uncatchable (plus Hart didn't even touch the receiver), rediculous. How about when the refs first called a "roughing the passer" penalty on Indy and then picked up the flag because Rivers was out of the pocket...how about an unnessary roughness call, instead? Don't like refs to pick up their flags after they've thrown them down. Be sure of yourselves before making a call, refs you've got replay if you mess up. Interesting thing to think about: If the Cromartie INT TD wasn't called back and Kaetting's FG was on the score might've read 38-24. Last thing: Drayton Florence...watch yourself. You got burnt at least twice that I noticed for big first downs. You then seemingly half-assed pursued Anthony Gonzalez on his way for a TD that, in my opinion maybe, should never have been. McCree was alone on that play and Florence slowed up as if he figured McCree was on the scene and his services weren't needed. Fundamentals in football: play until the whistle blows and until then, you give 100% effort not 15%! It looked like a major assumption and failure on Florence's part. Can't let that happen against the Pats. Good thing Florence slightly tipped the ball (or did he?) on the final 4th and 5 drive of the game for Indy when Dallas Clark failed to catch the ball. If he had caught that pass, the Colts might've been the ones heading to Foxboro. You're a lucky guy Drayton Florence. You really should work your alertness and hustle or you could easily earn the nick name Burnt Toast if you continue to slow up or let guys get behind you. Go Bolts!!
Northernmost Bolthead wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:43 AM:Rivers didn't taunt Colts fans. When he was cursed, he simply grinned and said "Thank you, I appreciate the support". Very biblical.
Where's BLUEHAIR, who ran the "Fire Norv Turner Website"? Come out, come out, wherever you are....
ktchargers wrote on Jan 14, 2008 11:19 AM:For P.R., Now your team won a big game.
It's time for you to grown up and be
professional! You don't get nothing from jawing the fans...Beside you look like a stupid kid that got spoiled since day one when he was born
For D flo.... Now I know why you lost starting job and you will never be
Go Chargers
Markus wrote on Jan 14, 2008 11:53 AM:Don't waste you breath "Northenmost". All the AJ/Rivers/Norv/Jammer haters (and most are of the same camp) are cowering in a bunker, shivering, desperately searching for escape. And you know they will be rooting for the PATS, even if only inwardly, to prove their position. It's sad really. Rooting against your own team. Even their dogs won't sit at their feet anymore.
But shouldn't we be preaching solidarity in the face of such a daunting task?
All will be forgotten if you can just answer the following questions:
Has Norv performed?
Was keeping Turner 1 more year correct?
Was losing Donnie significant?
Keeping Rivers over Brees?
Drafting Cromartie, McNeal, Merriman, Sproles, Hardwick, Rivers, Turner, Weddle, Legadu, Wilhelm, FA's Gates, Dielman, Cooper... tell me when to stop, please
Leo wrote on Jan 14, 2008 12:25 PM:Big Ups to the Chargers. That's the Indy defense we are all used to seeing. I hope merriman and company are ready for the Pats.
They were dismanteled in week two and that was without Rodney harrison and Seymore.
Rivers may be able to heal in time but I don't think that LT will be doing much cutting against the underated pats defense. Just ask anyone of the Jaguars
19-0 is in their sights and they all have something to prove....Before the season stated I told everybody that would listen."They're going to be scarry" You know what....THEY ARE!
NostraBoltus wrote on Jan 14, 2008 3:22 PM:In todays NFL offenses are going to put up points with all the rule changes thats just the way it is. One good sack by Lights Out & Brady could snap like a toothpick, "poof" there goes New England`s season. 14.5pts is ridiculous this game will be close. Final score 28-27 With Merriman turning the lights out on New Englands season. Philip Rivers, keep up the smack I think it`s funny. If you don`t like it tune into the chess channel
Long Board Spikemann wrote on Jan 15, 2008 5:38 AM:As big Dan repeatedly said in a past movie "Don't hold nothing back now"!
Turn on the CHARGER POWER GRID>>>>>
"GO Chargers"
Boltgal #43 wrote on Jan 15, 2008 8:49 AM:LB SPKMN
I'm on, OPB are you on?
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