Mattie T’s In-game blog (Wild Card Weekend: Colts vs. Chargers)

Big story all day has been on the condition of LaDainian Tomlinson’s groin injury. It appears that Tomlinson will give it a go tonight, but we are unsure on how much he’ll be used during the game.

Tomlinson is on the bike as we speak, so this will be a story that will be followed closely throughout this game.

Chargers win the coin toss, so we are ready to rock!

1st quarter:

What groin injury? Tomlinson’s 1st run goes for 13 yards.

Rivers is sacked on 3rd down by Robert Mathis, which kills their opening drive.

Wow. NBC just flashed a stat that Peyton Manning completed over 80 PERCENT of his passes in December.  That is absolutely incredible!

Since New England is out, i think that Anthony Gonzalez could be the most dangerous slant receiver in the playoffs. He can do a lot of 3rd down damage & keep drives alive for Indianapolis.

First big penalty is assessed on San Diego, as pass interference is called against Marvin Harrison. Chargers’ defense has led the NFL in pass interference, which obviously can’t happen often tonight against Peyton Manning & the Colts.

Manning just missed Wayne on a deep ball that would’ve set the Colts up with 1st & Goal.

Instead, Manning throws an incompletion that’s dropped by Reggie Wayne, which ends their 1st possession.

Actually missed the Chargers’ offensive series as i went to go get some pizza, but it looks like the Colts were able to stop them at midfield.

The crowd noise is playing a factor early, as Indianapolis has two false starts on offense.

Manning hits Anthony Gonzalez for a huge 35-yard gain. Peyton is killing San Diego early on with play-action passes. Right as i say that, Indy goes play-action again & Gonzalez hauls down a 17-yard grab to set up 1st & Goal.

2 plays later, Joseph Addai takes a draw 2 yards into the end zone for the game’s first score. Indianapolis goes 80 yards in a little over 5 minutes to take a 7-0 lead.

Little-but-powerful Darren Sproles gets a 13-yard gain on 3rd & 9 for a first down. Sproles could play a big role tonight if Tomlinson is limited due to his groin injury.

2nd quarter:

So far, San Diego hasn’t been able to get into Indianapolis territory as the Colts’ defense has done a great job on 3rd downs.

The Chargers will start a possession inside Colts’ territory for the first time tonight…let’s see if they can take advantage.

All of Rivers’ 4 passes have gone to Antonio Gates, but no downfield plays since Gates is playing with an high ankle sprain.

Rivers hits Gates once again on a 30-yard pass, which sets up 1st & Goal.

One play later, Tomlinson runs in for a 3-yard touchdown. The game is now tied 7-7 with 10:15 left until halftime.

Another grab by Anthony Gonzalez..he’s having a HUGE 1st half so far with 6 catches for 97 yards.

Nice end-around by Dallas Clark, who gains 15 yards & gives Indianapolis a 1st down.

Adam Vinatieri’s 43 yard FG try is good, which gives the Colts a 10-7 lead with 6:46 left until halftime.

So far the Colts are doing something that they failed to do in last year’s AFC Divisional Playoffs, which is getting pressure on Philip Rivers. Indy forces a 3 & out and will get the ball back.

What a punt by Mike Scifres, which booms 67 yards & pins the Colts inside their own 5.

Close play by Reggie Wayne, who juggled the ball but might’ve had control of it as he stepped out of bounds. Tony Dungy has decided to challenge the call, which was ruled as an incomplete pass. Call stands, so the Colts lose a timeout.

Bad punt by Hunter Smith, as the Chargers will once again start a drive inside Colts’ territory.

San Diego once again takes advantage, as Darren Sproles rushes for the go-ahead 11-yard touchdown. Chargers lead 14-10 after Kaeding’s extra point with 42 seconds until halftime.

Special teams blunder for the Colts, as Chad Simpson coughs it up on a kickoff return & recovered by the Chargers.

The play is overturned though, so Indianapolis gets new life.

That takes us to halftime, with San Diego leading 14-10. Shouldn’t be too big of a concern for Indianapolis, as 5 of their current 9 straight wins came when the team was either tied or trailing at halftime.

3rd quarter:

Manning starts out the Colts’ 1st possesion of the 2nd half by hitting a wide-open Reggie Wayne for a 31-yard gain.

4th & 1 and the Colts are going for it. No good, as Manning is forced to throw on the run. San Diego now takes over on downs with good field position. This could be the defining drive of the game, as another touchdown would give them their biggest lead.

Doesn’t happen, as Scifres once again pins Indianapolis deep into their own territory.

GREAT play by Manning, as he stops the Chargers from making a substitution & hits a wide-open Reggie Wayne down the left sideline for a go-ahead 65 yard touchdown. Colts now lead 17-14 with 8:10 left in the 3rd quarter.

No LaDainian Tomlinson so far in the 2nd half…he’s been a big non-factor in each of the Chargers’ last two playoff trips.

Sproles & now Michael Bennett are busting off nice runs, as the Chargers are trying to tie or re-take the lead which presents for a pretty exciting 4th quarter.

Nice spin move by Philip Rivers, as he hits Legedu Naanee for an 11-yard gain to set up 1st & goal.

WOW….Darren Sproles coughs up what looked to be the go-ahead touchdown at the 1-yard line, which is recovered by the Colts in the end zone for a touchback. Norv Turner is going to challenge this, but replays show that Sproles lost the ball before his knee hit the ground. This call should stand & might cost San Diego this game.

No challenge, so Indianapolis will take over. Wow, what a huge turn of reversal!

Antonio Cromartie just misses an interception, as the ball is deflected off Dallas Clark.

Chargers once again get good field position, as the 3rd quarter is winding down.

That ends the 3rd quarter, with Indianapolis leading 17-14. If past history has any indication on tonight’s game, then we should be in for a classic finish.

4th quarter:

Down goes Rivers…Dwight Freeney has had himself a big game tonight with 2 sacks.

Rives tries to scramble for the 1st down, but is just short. Decision time for Norv Turner with 4th & 1 coming up.

Chargers almost commit a delay of game penalty, but this spot is very close. chain gang comes out & says 1st down!!!!!!

On the next play, Rivers is picked off in the end zone as San Diego wastes yet another chance to put points on the board.

Antoine Cason nearly comes up with a huge interception, but the ball hits the ground & is ruled incomplete.

Colts are faced with 3rd & 25 after two holding penalties, which will give San Diego a shot to either tie or take the lead with 5:58 left.

Marcus McNeill looks like he got away with a facemask on Dwight Freeney during Darren Sproles’ 16-yard catch, but no flags.

Rivers almost throws another costly pick, as his pass for Vincent Jackson (who has NO catches in the game) is tipped.

Michael Bennett is close to a 1st down and gets it by a hair!

Another dangerous pass by Rivers, as he throws into three Colts defenders while trying to hit Noonee for a big play downfield.

Down goes Rivers! Mathis gets a big 3rd down sack, so it looks like Indianapolis will now get a chance to kill out the clock. Scifres is doing his absolute best to keep San Diego in the game, as he pins the Colts’ inside their own 2-yard line. Chargers have 2 timeouts left plus the two-minute remaining to try & stop the clock so that they can get the ball back.

Big, big 3rd down coming up here for the Colts. San Diego just used their final timeout, so the only way they can stop the clock is via the 2-minute warning.

Manning gets sacked at the 1, so the Chargers will have great field possession with no timeouts left with a chance to tie or win the game!!!! Keep it locked right here for a classic finish!

Sproles returns Hunter Smith’s punt to the Indy 38, which gives Philip Rivers 1:48 to work with.

On 1st down, Rivers scrambles to his right & throws the ball down to the ground. Looks like San Diego wanted a screen pass to Sproles, but Indy read it well.

Nice catch by Antonio Gates, which results in a 1st down.

Another catch by Gates, which puts the ball at the 21 yard line with 53 seconds remaining. I think one more play will be run here before Nate Kaeding comes out to try & tie the game.

Rivers is unable to find any open receivers, so he throws it out of bounds. 46 seconds remaining on 3rd & 10.

Sproles ALMOST gets the 1st down, but now they are going to bring out Kaeding for a 26-yard game-tying FG attempt.

It’s good, as the game is tied 17-17 with 31 seconds remaining. Peyton Manning has 2 timeouts left at his disposal to use as he will try to get Indianapolis into FG range for Vinatieri.

Simpson’s kickoff return takes 7 seconds off the clock, so Manning now has 24 seconds left.

Colts call timeout after a 6 yard catch by Joseph Addai, which sets up 2nd & 4 with 16 seconds left.

1st down by Addai, as Indianapolis calls timeout with 8 seconds left. Manning tries to hit Reggie Wayne downfield, but the pass is overthrown & incomplete. 1 second is now remaining, as the Colts kneel down which will force a sudden-death overtime.

Overtime:

Chargers win the coin toss & will get the ball first to start overtime.

The last NFL overtime in the postseason took place in last year’s NFC Championship Game, where the Giants beat the Packers 23-20 at Lambeau Field to advance to Super Bowl XLII.

Rivers throws another pass to the ground, which sets up a big 3rd & 11.

Sproles with another huge 3rd down pickup as he takes the screen pass from Rivers & gets the first down. His speed has been a problem for the Colts’ defense tonight.

Antonio Gates fumbles, but is able to recover it & give San Diego a first down.

Rivers is just able to elude a sack by Robert Mathis on 1st down inside the Colts’ 45.

Big 3rd & 8 coming up here, as the Colts could be 1 play away from getting Peyton Manning the ball back.

Facemask penalty called on Clint Session, which puts San Diego into FG range for Kaeding.

Sproles ends it with a 22-yard touchdown run, which gives the Chargers a dramatic 23-17 overtime win & a trip to either Tennessee or Pittsburgh depending on what happens tomorrow.

Postgame:

Another wild playoff win by San Diego, who beats Indianapolis for the 2nd straight year despite LaDainian Tomlinson riding the bench for most of this game & NO CATCHES from their leading receiver, Vincent Jackson. Game ball goes to Darren Sproles for his heroic effort in relief of an injured Tomlinson, as Sproles rushed 23 times for 105 yards & scored two touchdowns.

My Super Bowl pick to win it all is now dead and so is my playoff bracket…..son of a bitch!!!!!!!!!!!