Chargers’ offensive line trumps Colts struggling defense

INDIANAPOLIS - Colts defensive lineman Raheem Brock said before Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers that he and his teammates would need to put pressure on Philip Rivers if they wanted to win the game. They didn’t. \nRivers didn’t get sacked once in three quarters before leaving the game at the end of the third quarter after injuring his knee. His replacement, Billy Volek, also stayed on two feet, and the Chargers beat the Colts for the third time in the teams’ last three meetings.\nColts coach Tony Dungy said after the game that his team struggled not just in getting to the quarterback, but more simply in trying to get the Chargers away from their offensive game plan. \n“We didn’t do a good job getting those guys stopped, no question about it,” Dungy said. “They had an excellent game plan, and they played well.”\nThe offensive line was certainly tested Sunday in the Chargers’ 28-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Not only were they dealing with blitzes and stunts, but the big men up front also had to deal with a fluid backfield. \nAll three running backs and two different quarterbacks each relied on an offensive line that until now has not allowed a sack in two full games. However, Chargers offensive guard Kris Dielman said losing Rivers and LaDanian Tomlinson to injury did not change the way the offensive line executed their game plan. \n“It sucks when you lose someone like LT, but you can’t think about it in the middle of a game,” Dielman said. “It’s still the same blocking assignments, same calls. Just go out there, open some holes up and let the other guys get through.”\nChargers coach Norv Turner said after the game that his offensive line’s play keyed the team’s offensive success. \n“It starts with our offensive line,” Turner said. “To come in here – and with this defensive front – and to manage the game, and allow us to run the ball ... Our guys handled it well.”\nThough the running game struggled – the Chargers had 99 total rush yards split between five players – the passing game flourished. Rivers finished 14-of-19 for 264 yards, three touchdowns and an interception through three quarters. Volek went 3-of-4 for 48 yards in place of Rivers when the Decatur, Ala., native left with a knee injury, and the backup snuck over Chargers center Nick Hardwick for what would turn out to be the winning score late in the fourth quarter. \n“Billy’s a capable quarterback,” Dielman said. “Billy’s a professional, and he came in and did the job he was supposed to do.”\nDielman – who played collegiately at IU and was just selected to his first Pro Bowl this year – said it felt “awesome” to be back in the Hoosier state. \n“I love Indiana, man,” Dielman said.\nThe only real struggle for the Chargers’ offensive line all game was with penalties – they struggled with false starts and at least once caused a delay of game when Hardwick failed to hear Rivers count out of the shotgun due to crowd noise. \nHowever, Dielman credited good game-planning, execution and teamwork for San Diego’s win Sunday, which puts them one trip to New England away from their first Super Bowl since 1995.\n“We’ve got two great O-line coaches that got us prepared right,” Dielman said. “We’ve got a great center in Nick Hardwick, who got us in the right protection, you know, called out the right guys. And then you’ve got four badasses that are up front sitting there, doing our job like we’re supposed to.”\nThen he corrected himself: “That’s five badasses.”