Playoffs? Are you talking about playoffs?

San Diego, Ca

Philip Rivers had lost only twice in his career at Qualcom Stadium until Sunday. With time expiring, one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, Adam Vinatieri booted the game winner through the uprights from 51 yards out to propel his Colts to a 23-21 victory. Just one year ago Vinatieri missed a 29 yard boot with 1:31 left on the clock allowing San Diego to hold on to a 23-21 win. You just had to know he wouldn't miss twice. This was Vinatieri's 22nd game winning field goal in the last minute of the game or overtime, this however was his longest of such kicks. The Chargers had taken three in a row from Indianapolis, including a 28-24 upset in the divisional round of the playoffs that ended Indy's season. The Colts (7-4) were lead to their 35th game winning drive by Peyton Manning, winning their fourth straight to stay in contention for the wild-card race. Manning threw two TD's on 32 of 44 passing with 255 yards. 

Chargers quarterback Rivers threw for 288 yards and two scores on 24 of 31 attempts with no interceptions. The two time league MVP Manning was picked once by Quentin Jammer. The Chargers played decent football most of the game, even on defense. The bolts recorded one sack and one pick. It was only after stopping the Colts three times from a first and goal on the one that Dominic Rhodes beat linebacker Stephen Cooper for a 1 yd TD near the end of the third to give them a 17-10 lead. After Vinatieri scored converting a 38 yd field goal the Bolts went right back to work. Rivers then hooked up with rookie running back Jacob Hester for a 1 yd score and then Nate Kaeding scored a 48 yd field goal to tie it with 90 seconds remaining. LaDainian Tomlinson summed up the rest,

"I told Darren (Sproles) that we gave them too much time because Peyton has done it over and over again. They know what plays they are going to call. They know how they are going to get it done."

The Chargers now 4-7 remain two games behind first place Denver 6-5, after they were upset earlier in the day 31-10 by the 3-8 Oakland Raiders. In any other division San Diego would be playing for next year. In the AFC West, the gutter of the NFL this year, the Chargers still have a chance. Norv Turner noted truthfully, they are they only 4-7 team in the league that still has a chance. Next Sunday they host Michael 'The Burner' Turner, LT's former back-up and the Atlanta Hawks. Turner was third in the league in rushing with 1,088 yds and LT was tied for 12th with 770 yds on the ground going into Sundays games. Norv Turner's team is running out of time with only five games remaining. The Bolts also signed DE Keith Grennan from the practice squad and dropped S Tra Battle from the 53 man active roster. 

Reading, Pa

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley suffered a broken bone in his left leg follwing a slip at his home. Billingsley apparently slipped on a patch of ice outside of his home. The result was a spiral fracture of his left fibula, the smaller of the two shin bones. The bone that is in his landing leg will be in a cast for two weeks after a successful surgery on Saturday. The surgery was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Nueman, who inserted a plate in the ace's leg. Dodgers team website reports that Billingsley will be recovered in time to resume throwing bullpen sessions in spring training and should be able to start the 2009 season as scheduled. After his performance last year, emerging as the ace of the staff with 16 wins, I predicted him to be our opening day starter barring a possible huge free agent signing. I wouldn't mind Billingsley having an extra days rest if we landed C.C. Sabathia.