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[h1]Colts ready to face familiar foe, turn tables on Chargers[/h1]
Associated Press
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]The Colts will have to figure out a way to keep Shawne Merriman off Peyton Manning's back.[/td] [/tr][/table]
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts pride themselves on consistency.
But when they play San Diego, they usually look like somebody else. The scoring efficiency drops, the mistakes compound and the lapses have created someforgettable moments.
It's a trend Indy must change Sunday if it hopes to defend its Super Bowl title.
"I think they've definitely had our number the last couple of times we played them, but I don't think that will be the case Sunday,"middle linebacker Gary Brackett said.
Of all the nondivision teams, other than New England, the Colts (13-3) may know the Chargers better than anybody. Sunday's divisional-round playoff gamemarks the fourth meeting between these teams since 2004, with San Diego holding a 2-1 edge.
[table][tr][td]
[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Donald Miralle / Getty Images[/td] [/tr][tr][td]Antonio Cromartie had three of the Chargers' six interceptions against Peyton Manning, including this one-handed grab.
» Watch Cromartie's amazing interception
» Watch highlights from the Chargers' victory[/td] [/tr][/table]
And it doesn't take a genius to figure out a winning formula: Stop LaDainian Tomlinson, block Shawne Merriman and figure out how to make plays againstSan Diego's stingy defense.
Recently, the script has been problematic.
In December 2005, San Diego's last visit to the RCA Dome, the Colts were 13-0 and trying to maintain their quest for perfection. The Chargers (12-5)relentlessly pressured two-time league MVP Peyton Manning and used a long touchdown run from Michael Turner to seal a 26-17 victory.
Indy returned to San Diego in November, and the result was worse. Manning, nicknamed Perfect Peyton by former Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf, threw afranchise-record six interceptions, Darren Sproles returned a punt and a kickofffor a touchdown in the first quarter and Mr. Clutch, Adam Vinatieri, pushed a29-yard field goal wide right with 1:31 left. San Diego 23, Indy 21.
Of course, one reason for the Colts' poor play two months ago was because they weren't themselves. Receivers Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez, tight end Dallas Clark, left tackle Tony Ugoh and linebackers Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler were all out with injuries.
Indy also lost three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney and right tackleRyan Diem during the game because of injuries. All but Freeney, who is on injuredreserve after having foot surgery, are expected to play on Sunday.
But the Colts understand that having a full cast does not necessarily mean they'll be heading to their third AFC championship game since 2003.
"Not at all," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said when asked if injuriesalone explained the loss. "Look we turned the ball over, we gave up touchdowns on special teams, we gave up a lot of things that game. We've got toplay better than that this week."
What's the problem?
Some contend that Indy struggles against 3-4 defenses, which the Chargers use heavily. The track record against other 3-4 teams, such as New England andPittsburgh, adds credibility to the premise.
[table][tr][td]
[table][tr][td]
Wild-card round
Saturday, Jan. 5
» Seattle 35, Washington 14
» Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 29
Sunday, Jan. 6
» N.Y. Giants 24, Tampa Bay 14
» San Diego 17, Tennessee 6
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 12
» Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET
» Jacksonville at New England, 8 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 13
» N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. ET
» San Diego at Indianapolis, 8 p.m. ET[/td] [/tr][/table]
[/td] [/tr][/table]
The Patriots and Steelers eliminated Indy from the playoffs in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the Colts have lost 10 of their past 11 against the Steelers and are3-5 against the Pats since Tony Dungy arrived in 2002.
Dungy, however, does not believe its merely the defensive front that causes problems.
"I don't know that we've had trouble with the 3-4, we've had trouble with teams that play the 3-4 who have good players and can have fourguys come in at any time without having to blitz and still be in man coverage," Dungy said. "There are a lot of variations of it, and it can causeyou problems."
Which is one reason the Colts spent part of their bye week cramming.
Dungy wanted his team to focus on basics last week without wasting time preparing for three possible opponents, but made part of the lesson a refreshercourse on the basics of playing the 3-4.
"If you look at the teams we've lost to in the past, some of them have been 3-4 teams, and they aren't going to change when they come inhere," Saturday said. "But I always think it's the personnel and we know them pretty well."
The extra time may help them contend with more than just Merriman and ShaunPhillips, too, because a win could set up a rematch with New England.
But given the matchups, and the Colts' recent struggles against San Diego, Indy knows it will require more than a little fine-tuning to get ready thisweek.
"We played poorly in all phases the last game and we fought in the second half," Brackett said. "If it proved anything, it's that we haveto start fast and that's what we want to do Sunday."
Associated Press
[table][tr][td]
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts pride themselves on consistency.
But when they play San Diego, they usually look like somebody else. The scoring efficiency drops, the mistakes compound and the lapses have created someforgettable moments.
It's a trend Indy must change Sunday if it hopes to defend its Super Bowl title.
"I think they've definitely had our number the last couple of times we played them, but I don't think that will be the case Sunday,"middle linebacker Gary Brackett said.
Of all the nondivision teams, other than New England, the Colts (13-3) may know the Chargers better than anybody. Sunday's divisional-round playoff gamemarks the fourth meeting between these teams since 2004, with San Diego holding a 2-1 edge.
[table][tr][td]
» Watch Cromartie's amazing interception
» Watch highlights from the Chargers' victory[/td] [/tr][/table]
And it doesn't take a genius to figure out a winning formula: Stop LaDainian Tomlinson, block Shawne Merriman and figure out how to make plays againstSan Diego's stingy defense.
Recently, the script has been problematic.
In December 2005, San Diego's last visit to the RCA Dome, the Colts were 13-0 and trying to maintain their quest for perfection. The Chargers (12-5)relentlessly pressured two-time league MVP Peyton Manning and used a long touchdown run from Michael Turner to seal a 26-17 victory.
Indy returned to San Diego in November, and the result was worse. Manning, nicknamed Perfect Peyton by former Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf, threw afranchise-record six interceptions, Darren Sproles returned a punt and a kickofffor a touchdown in the first quarter and Mr. Clutch, Adam Vinatieri, pushed a29-yard field goal wide right with 1:31 left. San Diego 23, Indy 21.
Of course, one reason for the Colts' poor play two months ago was because they weren't themselves. Receivers Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez, tight end Dallas Clark, left tackle Tony Ugoh and linebackers Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler were all out with injuries.
Indy also lost three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney and right tackleRyan Diem during the game because of injuries. All but Freeney, who is on injuredreserve after having foot surgery, are expected to play on Sunday.
But the Colts understand that having a full cast does not necessarily mean they'll be heading to their third AFC championship game since 2003.
"Not at all," Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday said when asked if injuriesalone explained the loss. "Look we turned the ball over, we gave up touchdowns on special teams, we gave up a lot of things that game. We've got toplay better than that this week."
What's the problem?
Some contend that Indy struggles against 3-4 defenses, which the Chargers use heavily. The track record against other 3-4 teams, such as New England andPittsburgh, adds credibility to the premise.
[table][tr][td]
[table][tr][td]
Wild-card round
Saturday, Jan. 5
» Seattle 35, Washington 14
» Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 29
Sunday, Jan. 6
» N.Y. Giants 24, Tampa Bay 14
» San Diego 17, Tennessee 6
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 12
» Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET
» Jacksonville at New England, 8 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 13
» N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. ET
» San Diego at Indianapolis, 8 p.m. ET[/td] [/tr][/table]
[/td] [/tr][/table]
The Patriots and Steelers eliminated Indy from the playoffs in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the Colts have lost 10 of their past 11 against the Steelers and are3-5 against the Pats since Tony Dungy arrived in 2002.
Dungy, however, does not believe its merely the defensive front that causes problems.
"I don't know that we've had trouble with the 3-4, we've had trouble with teams that play the 3-4 who have good players and can have fourguys come in at any time without having to blitz and still be in man coverage," Dungy said. "There are a lot of variations of it, and it can causeyou problems."
Which is one reason the Colts spent part of their bye week cramming.
Dungy wanted his team to focus on basics last week without wasting time preparing for three possible opponents, but made part of the lesson a refreshercourse on the basics of playing the 3-4.
"If you look at the teams we've lost to in the past, some of them have been 3-4 teams, and they aren't going to change when they come inhere," Saturday said. "But I always think it's the personnel and we know them pretty well."
The extra time may help them contend with more than just Merriman and ShaunPhillips, too, because a win could set up a rematch with New England.
But given the matchups, and the Colts' recent struggles against San Diego, Indy knows it will require more than a little fine-tuning to get ready thisweek.
"We played poorly in all phases the last game and we fought in the second half," Brackett said. "If it proved anything, it's that we haveto start fast and that's what we want to do Sunday."
