What a fantastic performance by the San Diego Chargers in Saturday's AFC Wild Card 23-17 overtime win against the visiting Indianapolis Colts.
Darren Sproles, Mike Scifres, Antonio Gates, the Charger defense...so much credit to go around the whole team. It was great to see balance in that way - it wasn't just a huge offensive performance, or a shut-down "D" but all sides contributing. Scifres, the punter, was perhaps the most valuable player in the game with four punts placed inside the 10-yard line. None were more important than his final punt in the game with around three minutes to go that put the Colts near their own goal line.
It was a mild surprise seeing an effective LaDainian Tomlinson early on. It had me thinking his injury wasn't as severe as some were speculating. However, LT didn't last long in the game and it looks like he may be out this week. Thankfully there was Darren Sproles ready and waiting for his chance. The multi-dimensional Sproles totaled over 300 all-purpose yards before breaking off the winning touchdown run.
Gates also staged a great return. During the week his status appeared more doubtful than Tomlinson, based on practice reports. I'm sure his ankle sprain gave him fits but it was hardly noticeable as he played one of his top games of the year with a number of receptions that he stretched into first downs.
Almost overlooked was the job coordinator Ron Rivera's defense did against the Colts. With the exception of a mental lapse changing personnel (which Peyton Manning exploited with a long touchdown pass), the Chargers didn't allow the Colts passing attack to do to much damage on the scoreboard.
So that makes it a five-game win streak heading to Pittsburgh for the Divisional playoff game next weekend. Fans will recall the close 11-10 loss on the Steelers home field back in November. One would like to think the Chargers would have perhaps a better chance this time around as they appear to be playing their best football of the season now. A few months ago the club was mired in a funk that started at the beginning of the season and lasted nearly all fall.
Historians will note San Diego's 2-0 all-time playoff record at Pittsburgh. The first win was during the strike-shortened 1982 season. Dan Fouts led a comeback win with 333 yards and three TD's, countering Terry Bradshaw's 325-yard, two score output. What gets overlooked about this game is that it was the last home playoff game of the Chuck Noll era. It would be another decade before Pittsburgh hosted a playoff game, in Bill Cowher's first season of 1992.
The second-ever playoff meeting between the Chargers and Steelers is the more famous game of course. This being the 1994 AFC Championship game. Similar to this year, it was a game going in that very few people gave the Chargers a chance to win. The Steelers made their Super Bowl rap video and the rest was history. Stan Humphries used some brilliant play-action passing and Dennis Gibson's goal-line breakup of a Neil O'Donnell pass gave the Bolts a 17-13 upset win before Super Bowl XXIX.
Will the Chargers continue the playoff magic at Heinz Field? I think they have a great chance of it so long as they avoid turnovers. The weather is expected to be very cold and the Steelers defense is very stout. However, there is some doubt surrounding Ben Roethlisberger's health. Regardless, it should be a very hard-fought contest.
Keywords: San Diego Chargers
