Bolts shock the Colts

INDIANAPOLIS – The RCA Dome was painted blue and white one last time Sunday afternoon, but the Indianapolis Colts failed to depart the 24-year old stadium on a winning note, losing 28-24 to the visiting San Diego Chargers. The Colts simply couldn’t stop the Chargers – not even their backups. \nSan Diego lost star running back LaDanian Tomlinson to a leg injury in the first half and played the fourth quarter without starting quarterback Philip Rivers after he suffered an knee injury that relegated him to the sidelines. Adding fuel to the injury fire, All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates was a question mark heading into Sunday’s battle with a toe injury. The prolific receiver played, but finished the game with just two catches for 28 yards.\nIt was instead backup quarterback Billy Volek and the duo of Darren Sproles and Michael Turner that led the Chargers down the field for the winning score, ending with a quarterback sneak over center by Volek. The Colts had two chances to respond, including one inside the red zone just before the two-minute warning. But the Chargers defense closed up late, and the Colts attempt to defend their Super Bowl title fell two games short. Peyton Manning’s fourth-down pass floated inches over the extended hands of tight end Dallas Clark. \nAfter the game, Colts coach Tony Dungy said he and his team were disappointed, but he gave credit to San Diego for fighting through their injuries. \n“You have to give a ton of credit to San Diego,” Dungy said. “They came in with some real adversity ... and they find a way to make the plays to win it.”\nTomlinson, considered by many to be the league’s premier back, never got going before leaving the game for good at halftime.\nChargers coach Norv Turner said his team knew what they would have to do to beat the Colts on the road. \n“No one thought it was going to be easy,” Turner said. “We knew some things wouldn’t go our way, but we didn’t let that deter us.”\nSan Diego nearly took the lead into the half, when a Manning pass sailed over wide receiver Reggie Wayne and into the hands of Pro Bowl cornerback Antonio Cromartie – who intercepted Manning three times when the two teams met in the regular season. Cromartie returned the pick for a touchdown with three seconds left in the half, but a hotly disputed holding call on cornerback Eric Weddle erased the score, and the score stood at 10-7 going into the half. \nThe first quarter passed rapidly as both teams looked to establish a running game and benefit from solid passing. Not a single pass hit the ground in the opening frame, and the only incompletion from either team came on a Marlin Jackson interception after Rivers hoisted a pass to the sideline off his back foot. \nManning didn’t misfire on a pass until Indianapolis’ third drive over halfway through the second quarter. However, Manning ended a promising drive in the fourth quarter with an interception. His pass deflected off the hands of running back Kenton Keith and fell into the crook of Weddle's arm on San Diego’s two-yard line.\nThe Colts struggled in the red zone all day long, something Manning and Dungy both admitted affected the outcome of the game.\n“We got down there a few times, had some giveaways, and that’s what they thrive on,” Dungy said. \nDungy’s future with the team has been called into question recently, with rumors circulating that he might not return to the Colts next season. When asked if he wanted Dungy to return, Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez simply responded, “Absolutely.”\nManning, who has played more years for Dungy than any other coach in his career, elaborated only slightly: “That’s hard for me to think about.”