theBIGness
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INDIANAPOLIS – Kevin Burnett and Eric Weddle each returned interceptions for touchdowns and the San Diego Chargers beat the Indianapolis Colts, 36-14, at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday night.
Burnett's 29-yard interception return gave the Chargers an early three-point lead they never relinquished and Weddle's 41-yarder keyed a huge second half for San Diego, which won its fourth consecutive game.
Peyton Manning threw two first-half touchdown passes as the Colts trailed, 16-14, at halftime.
The Colts' defense limited Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers much of the game, and didn't allow a San Diego offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Indianapolis remains tied with Jacksonville for first place in the AFC South at 6-5, with the Jaguars losing to the New York Giants, 24-20, Sunday. San Diego also is 6-5, a game behind Kansas City in the AFC West.
Some thoughts on the game:
• The Chargers forced four turnovers and the Colts forced none, with Weddle's 41-yard return midway through the third quarter giving San Diego a 26-14 lead.
• The loss was the first for the Colts at home this season and their first at Lucas Oil Stadium in a meaningful game since Week 3 of 2007. They lost to the New York Jets at home in December of last season in a game played after they clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
• The Colts were very much in the game at halftime, trailing 16-14. But a 50-yard field goal by kicker Nate Kaeding pushed the lead to 19-14, and two drives after Weddle's touchdown return, the Chargers scored their first offensive touchdown of the game to take a 33-14 lead.
• The Colts' defense has played well at home all season and that continued Sunday. They held the Chargers to three first-half field goals and on the first drive of the second half, a goal-line stand held San Diego to another field goal. That kept the Colts in the game despite two first-half interceptions by Manning, including one that as returned for a touchdown. San Diego didn't score an offensive touchdown until 11:26 remained.
• Rivers didn't throw a touchdown pass, but he also did a good job evading the Colts' rush and made no critical errors.
• The Colts controlled momentum through much of the first quarter, but trailed 10-7 at the end of it because Burnett intercepted Manning and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown with two minutes remaining.
• When Manning was intercepted by linebacker Stephen Cooper on the Colts' third possession, Manning had been intercepted on three of the Colts' last four possessions. That included a game-clinching interception in a loss to the New England Patriots last week.
• The Colts were still in the game after two early interceptions because of an impressive opening drive. They moved 78 yards on 12 plays to open the game, taking a 7-0 lead with 9:16 remaining in the first quarter when Manning passed four yards to tight end Jacob Tamme.
• Wide receiver Blair White, a rookie free agent from Michigan, has been a big reason the Colts have stayed competitive despite the absence of tight end Dallas Clark and wide receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie. He has three touchdown receptions in the last two games, and his six-yard touchdown at the end of the first half pulled the Colts to within two, 16-14.
• The Chargers lost wide receiver Vincent Jackson early in the second quarter. A contract holdout who missed the first 10 games of the season, he sustained a calf injury and it was announced shortly thereafter he wouldn't return. He did not catch a pass in the game.
• The Colts played without running back Joseph Addai, linebackers Clint Session and Gary Brackett, safety Bob Sanders and Collie.
• Manning has thrown nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions against San Diego since a loss in San Diego during the 2007 regular season.
• The Colts scored on their final drive of the half. It was the fifth consecutive game the Colts had scored in the final two minutes of the half.
Burnett's 29-yard interception return gave the Chargers an early three-point lead they never relinquished and Weddle's 41-yarder keyed a huge second half for San Diego, which won its fourth consecutive game.
Peyton Manning threw two first-half touchdown passes as the Colts trailed, 16-14, at halftime.
The Colts' defense limited Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers much of the game, and didn't allow a San Diego offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Indianapolis remains tied with Jacksonville for first place in the AFC South at 6-5, with the Jaguars losing to the New York Giants, 24-20, Sunday. San Diego also is 6-5, a game behind Kansas City in the AFC West.
Some thoughts on the game:
• The Chargers forced four turnovers and the Colts forced none, with Weddle's 41-yard return midway through the third quarter giving San Diego a 26-14 lead.
• The loss was the first for the Colts at home this season and their first at Lucas Oil Stadium in a meaningful game since Week 3 of 2007. They lost to the New York Jets at home in December of last season in a game played after they clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
• The Colts were very much in the game at halftime, trailing 16-14. But a 50-yard field goal by kicker Nate Kaeding pushed the lead to 19-14, and two drives after Weddle's touchdown return, the Chargers scored their first offensive touchdown of the game to take a 33-14 lead.
• The Colts' defense has played well at home all season and that continued Sunday. They held the Chargers to three first-half field goals and on the first drive of the second half, a goal-line stand held San Diego to another field goal. That kept the Colts in the game despite two first-half interceptions by Manning, including one that as returned for a touchdown. San Diego didn't score an offensive touchdown until 11:26 remained.
• Rivers didn't throw a touchdown pass, but he also did a good job evading the Colts' rush and made no critical errors.
• The Colts controlled momentum through much of the first quarter, but trailed 10-7 at the end of it because Burnett intercepted Manning and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown with two minutes remaining.
• When Manning was intercepted by linebacker Stephen Cooper on the Colts' third possession, Manning had been intercepted on three of the Colts' last four possessions. That included a game-clinching interception in a loss to the New England Patriots last week.
• The Colts were still in the game after two early interceptions because of an impressive opening drive. They moved 78 yards on 12 plays to open the game, taking a 7-0 lead with 9:16 remaining in the first quarter when Manning passed four yards to tight end Jacob Tamme.
• Wide receiver Blair White, a rookie free agent from Michigan, has been a big reason the Colts have stayed competitive despite the absence of tight end Dallas Clark and wide receivers Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie. He has three touchdown receptions in the last two games, and his six-yard touchdown at the end of the first half pulled the Colts to within two, 16-14.
• The Chargers lost wide receiver Vincent Jackson early in the second quarter. A contract holdout who missed the first 10 games of the season, he sustained a calf injury and it was announced shortly thereafter he wouldn't return. He did not catch a pass in the game.
• The Colts played without running back Joseph Addai, linebackers Clint Session and Gary Brackett, safety Bob Sanders and Collie.
• Manning has thrown nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions against San Diego since a loss in San Diego during the 2007 regular season.
• The Colts scored on their final drive of the half. It was the fifth consecutive game the Colts had scored in the final two minutes of the half.
