SAN DIEGO -- The sack by Tim Dobbins was huge, the field goal by Nate Kaeding clutch and the overtime touchdown run by Darren Sproles spectacular.

But probably none of it happens without the play of a slow-footed, 6-foot-2, 236-pounder who didn't gain a yard or make a tackle.

All Chargers punter Mike Scifres did was keep the Bolts in the game with field position tilted San Diego's way in a 23-17 overtime win in the an AFC wild-card win over Indianapolis on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

"Now that I sit back and look at it, I don't even know if you could dream game like that," Scifres said. "To keep a team backed up like that eventually takes a toll on the offense."

Scifres punted six times for 316 yards, with all six punts inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 52.7 yards a punt -- with a long of 67 -- but even more jaw-dropping was his net average of 51.7.

The Chargers' two first-half touchdowns for a 14-10 lead were both a direct result of field position.

A 50-yard punt to the 4-yard line with no return led to the Chargers having to drive only 44 yards in four plays when they got the ball back to tie the game at 7-7.

A 67-yard punt with a 2-yard return to the 7-yard line led to Chargers having to drive only 45 yards in six plays for a 14-10 halftime lead.

"I know Mike's a great punter, but those were some of the best punts I've ever seen," said long-snapper David Binn, a 15-year veteran who snapped the ball to Darren Bennett before Scifres took over in 2004. "It's amazing when you hear the crowd cheer for his punts. Most fans are going to get a beer during a punt. He's got the best leg in the NFL. He showed what he could do."

The key to the Chargers' comeback, though, was a 52-yard punt that hit at the 1-yard line and rolled out of bounds. When Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was sacked at the 1 on third-and-2 from the 9-yard line, the Colts had to punt out of their end zone.

And once again, that led to Chargers having field position they needed to set up Kaeding's game-tying field goal with 31 seconds remaining in regulation.