AFC Wild Card Live-Blog: Colts @ Chargers, 2nd Half

Saturday, January 03, 2009


Colts start at the 26. Manning hits Reggie Wayne for 31, airing it out on the right side to start. All the way up to the Chargers' 43. The next pass goes to Addai for nine yards, and Addai gets stopped for a loss on a 3rd and not much. 4th and 1....going for it...and Peyton throws incomplete. Big, big stop.

Sponge on the break. I haven't heard "Wax Ecstatic" in years, and we get that over Manning Face.

Wow. That was an Andy Reid Moment. - Mal

"My hair says ENERGY!"

Sproles gets stuffed, but takes it for a few yards on the next pass from Rivers. 3rd down rifle to Chambers for the first down, despite the pass interference on the Colts. Sproles rushes for some more, 3rd and 2 is incomplete for Chambers. Fair catch of the punt at the Indy 9.

Manning starts out with a short slant to Marvin Harrison. Addai gets the first down at the 23. He goes deep for Wayne, but Cromartie has him covered. 2nd down after an encroachment, incomplete.

Manning catches the Chargers' defense not even set -- hikes the ball, and hits Reggie Wayne right in stride. TOUCHDOWN, COLTS! 17-14 after the kick. "You Dropped A Bomb On Me," indeed. Just made the entire 11 look silly.

Chargers start on the 20 after Sproles takes a knee on the kick. Six-yard pass to the fullback, Jacob Hester.

Did anyone else notice Norv is wearing glasses now? Like it makes him look any smarter. Acrobatic catch by Chambers on a classic floater back foot throw by Rivers.

"He can't run a lick, but he can move enough just to keep the play alive." - John

At about midfield, and Sproles gets back to the line of scrimmage. The next carry gets him past the first down marker and at the 40. Michael Bennett is in for Sproles, and he barrels through for another first down within the 30. 2nd and 10. Rivers rifles it to Leagdu Naane at the 10. First and goal, nowhere to go for Darren. Sproles gets the next pass, tries to get into the end zone, and the ball is loose in the back of the end zone -- TOUCHBACK, fumble recovered by the Colts!

This Geico ad is now officially getting on my fucking nerves. Cromartie drops a sure pick. He wants that one back right now bad. 3rd down pass is also nearly picked, too. Sproles brings the punt return out to the 45, with a break of Steppenwolf. Sproles gets 9 yards on the carry, going to the Indy 47.

"I love it when they say, 'running backs who try to get small.' He doesn't have to try." - Al on Sproles. Freeney gets his second sack of the night. (MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!) Rivers, on 3rd and 13, rushes 12 yards of those 13 on his own. 4th and 1....Rivers sneaks....and he's got the 1st at the 33 after they measure it.

Rivers aims deep for Chambers in the end zone.....and it's picked off by Antoine Bethea, who runs it out, but there's a chop block by an Indy defender. Peyton will have the ball again.

Got to love Phillip Rivers going Favre with that pass. - 49er16

But he's having a lot of fun out there! Colts start at the 20, swing out to Clark, but there's a tripping call for 10 yards, and that'll be moved back. Goes back to Clark for four yards. Manning slings it to Wayne at the 31 for a first down. Addai grabs four yards. Another first down to Dallas Clark.

Norv looks like my high school principal with the glasses.

Rhodes shoves his way in with his shoulder for a first down in Chargers' territory on 3rd and 2. Cason nearly comes up with the pick on 1st and 10, but it hit the ground first. Manning rolls out, throws it away, and there's a holding penalty. 2nd and 20 gets nothing on the Addai carry. Chargers' D holds as Manning throws incomplete, and the penalty for holding is declined.

Bolts start at the 27 after the punt goes out of bounds. Sproles gets 17 after the catch on the pass out from Rivers. Sproles up to the 49 on the next carry. Another Rex Grossman-style pass from Rivers, and he's lucky that didn't get picked like the last one. Pass out to Bennett, and it's marked just slightly short of the first down....what, really. That's a first down, apparently.

Rivers aims downfield for Naane, and he underthrows him just slightly with double coverage. And down goes Rivers on 3rd down, Robert Mathis gets his second of the day.

That was ingenious Golden Globes advertising, NBC. I'd watch Salma Hayek's Golden Globes in HD.

Scifres punts it again in great field position. Colts start at their own 2, and we get "The Final Countdown."

Addai rushes for six to get out of the end zone. Next carry isn't much. 3rd and 2. Rush on....and DOWN GOES PEYTON AT THE ONE YARD LINE!

Sproles takes a very good punt back to the Colts' 36. Rivers hits Gates for a first down. Another first down to Gates at the 21. Rivers rolls out, can't find anyone, throws it away. Sproles rushes, gets it inside the 10, but short of the first. Colts' time out. Kaeding's on the field. Field goal is up and good, 17-all.

Colts start at the 19 after the kickoff. Short pass to Addai, and they're playing for OT, it looks like. Jyles Tucker is down. Indy gets an extra time out thanks to the injury, because SD is out of them. Manning throws out to Addai again, and the Colts burn another TO. Incomplete, and a kneel, we go to OT. Bolts win the toss.

Sproles brings the kick out to the 25. Raheem Brock is there to stuff him on the first down carry. Rivers throws it away after rolling out on 2nd down. Short out to Sproles -- and he gets past the first down marker on 3rd and 11. Bennett comes in for six yards and the rush. Sproles gets nailed in the backfield, and there's a flag for holding on Indy, for an automatic first down.

Sproles to midfield with 2 yards. Rivers to Gates, who drags tacklers with him for the first down. He loses the ball, but falls right on it. Mathis bull-rushes Rivers and he throws it at the feet of Hester to avoid grounding. 3rd and 8...Chambers on the outside against Jennings, and they call defensive holding. Another automatic first down. And another first down on a Sproles carry, they've called a face mask!

Mighty Mite gets nailed at the 24, loses a couple of yards. Sproles takes the carry, goes outside....AND RUNS ALL THE WAY IN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! CHARGERS WIN, 23-17! Sproles had more than 300 yards on the day, but none more important than those last 24.

Thanks for joining me tonight. See y'all tomorrow!

74 Comments:

Wow. That was an Andy Reid Moment.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:55:00 PM  

S2N

either youre psychic or there is a different delay being used, because the end of half plays appeared on the blog before I saw them on telecast

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:55:00 PM  

JG - jumped the gun. I thought the Chargers were going to let them run out the clock.

Signal to Noise said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:55:00 PM  

Am I to assume that s2n is gonna live blog all 11 playoff games?

That would be a new record ladies and gentlemen.

The Rabbi said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:56:00 PM  

Can we get a barber to the sideline for Mr. Manning?

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:57:00 PM  

Aw, come on Reggie youre supposed to yell at the QB after a play like that

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 9:58:00 PM  

For you lip readers out there, Norv just said "son of a b****".

Stay classy, San Diego.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:01:00 PM  

Stephen - probably not. I go to a party for the Super Bowl every year and this probably won't be any different. The rest of 'em? We'll see.

Signal to Noise said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:02:00 PM  

Damn it! Who changed the teleprompter! You know he'll read anything!

(/tired of the stay classy San Diego references so I'm changing it to an underrated Anchorman quote)

The Rabbi said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:03:00 PM  

"I have man to man on Wayne, gonna try to get him a ball deep" - John

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:07:00 PM  

That TD should get Norv face

"You dropped a bomb on me" as they go to commercial, theyre digging deep fro the music

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:09:00 PM  

Was a replay of the last colts td showing up behind the hyundai commercial on your broadcast?

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:09:00 PM  

I think you should wait a few weeks before playing The Gap Band's "You Dropped The Bomb On Me" as a music bed going to break NBC.

The Rabbi said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:10:00 PM  

There is a lot of crap on NBC. Must (Not) See TV.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:10:00 PM  

"ron Rivera will see Reggie Wayne in his sleep." - Al, those will probably be nightmares

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:12:00 PM  

Did Madden just call Sproles "spry"? He's not Mickey Rooney or Mortimer Duke.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:14:00 PM  

Al: "Rivers just has to dump".

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:16:00 PM  

Manning Face !

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:17:00 PM  

The ball came out before he hit the ground.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:19:00 PM  

"He gets a lean right there, the pull right there, he gets in behind him, stays small and just makes his move." John Madden at 1/3/09 at 7:14 PM......

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:21:00 PM  

Man the Chargers like to talk a lot of smack for a 8-8 team.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:23:00 PM  

The trip to the ER for a broken arm when you fall off the Big Wheel after the jump. They forgot that part.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:31:00 PM  

[b]MARMALARD[/b] likes to talk a lot of smack for a 8-8 [b]MEDIOCRE QUARTERBACK.[/b]

Fixed.

The Rabbi said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:31:00 PM  

"Yellow line, of course, is unofficial." - Al Michaels
Thanks for that info., Al.

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:34:00 PM  

Got to love Phillip Rivers going Favre with that pass.

49er16 said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:34:00 PM  

Phillip Rivers channeling Ryan Leaf with the pass and his reaction after the pick.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:36:00 PM  

John Madden: "Those (Reggie Wayne's fingers) are ten ugly things".

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:40:00 PM  

"It looked like he thres a slider." - John Madden

And am I the only one who saw that tackle by #54 of the Chargers (don't know the name) on Anthony Gonzalez particularly unsettling to watch?

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:44:00 PM  

Or in English, "It looked like he threw a slider."

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:45:00 PM  

Norv Face !

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:46:00 PM  

You can block by holding a face mask, didnt know that

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:50:00 PM  

"Again the yellow line is unofficial." - Al Michaels

No, I am not spamming and copying my previous quote. Someone should think of starting a "The Yellow Line Is Unofficial" Drinking Game.

Wow, forget game of inches, Bennett got that first down by a millimeter.

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:52:00 PM  

How many times can Rivers throw those dangerous passes and not be picked off?

Timeout San Diego, I can already begin to see how this one will end.

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:54:00 PM  

"You can go down the field methodically." - John, Chargers throw deep on next play.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:54:00 PM  

Damn, anyone want to nominate Scifres as an MVP?

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:57:00 PM  

Scifers is the Charger MVP.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:57:00 PM  

Apparently I do, JFein.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:57:00 PM  

I love it that some of the Fox production teams now put up a little graphic saying, "Remember...the yellow line is not official." This must be worth three drinks in JFein's game.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 10:58:00 PM  

So SD just downed that punt at the one, but when the gunner ran down there and downed it, did his body not hit the pilon, which is the end zone? Shouldn't the ball by rule have been ruled a touchback, or am i missing something?

dwhit said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:00:00 PM  

agree about the Golden Globes ad, that would be the only reason I'd watch

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:02:00 PM  

Did the Chargers just come up with a huge defensive stand? Did I miss the Norv Turner firing?

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:02:00 PM  

Superstars of Dance? Why don't they just put it on ice and have regis host it to make it entirely unwatchable.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:04:00 PM  

What are the odds Rivers will throw a deep interception?

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:05:00 PM  

Mal 11:04

dont give them ideas

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:06:00 PM  

Norv's playing for OT ?

WTF ?

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:07:00 PM  

What happened to the Chargers of old that would have blown that drive? Oh wait, there's 31 seconds left, that can still happen.

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:11:00 PM  

Donovan McNabb is in his Minneapolis hotel room wondering what happens if the game ends in a tie?

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:12:00 PM  

Al: "This is going to set up the next drama in the game which is 'heads or tails'"?

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:13:00 PM  

"The next drama here will be heads or tails." - Al

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:14:00 PM  

The ref: "San Diego is charged with their fourth team time out". What the...?

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:16:00 PM  

4th team timeout?

Oaklandfan said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:17:00 PM  

Mal, Oaklandfan - if you are out of time outs and have an injury that requires a time out, it adds another one to the other team's total.

Signal to Noise said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:19:00 PM  

s2n - thx for clarification.

Mal said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:21:00 PM  

Tails never fails.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:21:00 PM  

I can't believe I just saw the Colts play for OT there. Wow.

I wonder how Norv and Co. will find away to choke this game and give us a playoff memory we will never forget?

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:22:00 PM  

If you have an injury under 2:00, you have to take a timeout. If youre out of timeouts on offense its a ten second runoff. The way the ref explained since SD was out of timeouts Indy got an extra one.

There was a game once between Seattle and Cincy where Seattle kept stopping the clock with "injured" players. That is origin of rule.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:25:00 PM  

River got away with grounding there

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:31:00 PM  

@jg The fullback was within the area, so no grounding.

The Colts are self-destructing with penalties.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:33:00 PM  

How come I still hate Phillip Rivers?

49er16 said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:35:00 PM  

The bullshit Chargers. No way on this planet w/ LT out they aren't minced meat next week. Rivers is a neck to add to the misery on this win by the Bolts.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:36:00 PM  

There goes my Super Bowl pick.

49er16 said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:37:00 PM  

#55 of Colts didnt want camera in his face.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:37:00 PM  

I can't believe my eyes!

And yeah, I'm 0 for 2 on my playoff picks thus far (as is most of America, I think).

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:37:00 PM  

I have to hope the Eagles and Ravens pull threw for me.

49er16 said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:38:00 PM  

"First ever playoff win." - Andrea Kremer to Rivers. Um, forget about last year, Andrea?

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:40:00 PM  

Scifres, a punter, on the horse trailer!
Sproles on the trailer two weeks in a row! (and yet no air time with Andrea)

"(Gates is) my primary target every night!" - Phillip Rivers

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:41:00 PM  

49er, you hate him because he got very lucky. The Colt defense forgave him by picking off only one of the 85 million ducks he threw tonight. And either Pittsburgh or Tennessee will expose Rivers next week, guaranteed.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:42:00 PM  

Going back a bit, that was a great call by Al at the end of the game during Sproles' game-winning TD rn.

Justin F. said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:44:00 PM  

We just witnessed the window closing on the Colts Super Bowl era.

Anonymous said...
Jan 3, 2009, 11:45:00 PM  

sing with me people!!!


San Diego
Super Chargers
San Diego
CHARGERS!

questionmark said...
Jan 4, 2009, 12:25:00 AM  

fukkc godman dwinter persno offcial person.

you ar a morna.

studipfrjk fkucing flags.

JFreak said...
Jan 4, 2009, 5:15:00 AM  

Stay classy, JFreak...

JamesCraven said...
Jan 4, 2009, 11:13:00 AM  

Fuck your classiness.

I can be pissed off if I want.

JFreak said...
Jan 4, 2009, 6:39:00 PM  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSWoJ7UQtw

Anonymous said...
Jan 5, 2009, 12:25:00 AM  

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