The Chargers preserved the win by thwarting two fourth-quarter possessions by the Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning.

The first stand by the Chargers ended at the Bolts’ 7-yard line when outside linebacker Shawne Merriman’s pass rush pressured Manning on fourth-and-goal into an incomplete pass.

The Colts got the ball back one more time, but after one 5-yard completion, the Chargers forced three straight incomplete passes.

In a back-and-forth game, Chargers backup quarterback Billy Volek scored on a 1-yard sneak for a 28-24 lead with 4:50 left in the game. Volek directed an eight-play, 78-yard scoring drive to rally the Chargers with the fifth lead change of the game.

The Chargers played the second half without running back LaDainian Tomlinson. He bruised knee on an 8-yard run suffered midway through the second quarter.

Quarterback Philip Rivers also was sent to the sidelines with a knee injury after throwing a touchdown pass that gave the Bolts a 21-14 lead on the final play of the third quarter.

The Chargers, who overcame deficits of 7-0 to tie the game at 7-7 and 10-7 to take a 14-10 lead, rallied for a third time for a 21-17 lead as time expired in the third quarter.

Rivers hit Darren Sproles for a screen pass that the backup running back and return man scooted with 56-yards down the left sideline. He got to the sideline running behind lead blocks from center Nick Hardwick and guard Kris Dielman.

But after the teams opened the fourth quarter by trading punts, the Colts took a 24-21 lead with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Peyton Manning hit a 55-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

The second half began with the Chargers, maintaining a season-long pattern of halftime adjustments, took a 14-10 lead after taking the second-half kickoff and scoring on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to wide receiver Chris Chambers. The scoring drive covered six plays and 83 yards for a 14-10 lead with 11:33 left in the third quarter.

Indianapolis responded by driving to the Chargers’ 4-yard line, but on third-and-3, safety Eric Weddle made a one-handed intercepted of a tipped ball at the 2-yard line.

Running back Keith Kenton couldn’t catch quarterback Peyton Manning’s middle screen pass, and Weddle pulled in the tipped ball while he as being blocked by Colts center Jeff Saturday.

After the Chargers were forced to punt from their 6-yard line, the Colts moved the ball 50 yards in five plays to score on a 9-yard pass from Manning to wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

The officials initially ruled Wayne went out of bounds before the goal line, but the Colts challenged the call. The call was overturned to give Indianapolis a 17-14 lead with 2:53 left in the third quarter.

The game began with the Colts taking the first lead, 7-0. Indianapolis scored took the game-opening kickoff and moved the ball 76 yards on nine plays to score on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Manning to tight end Dallas Clark.

On the next two possessions, the teams traded turnovers, with Chargers regaining the ball on a fumble by wide receiver Marvin Harrison that safety Marlon McCree recovered at the Bolts’ 22-yard line.

The Chargers responded by tying the game at 7-7 with 8:38 left in the second quarter with a 10-play, 78-yard drive. Rivers completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson on a third-and-8 play.

Indianapolis regained the lead at 10-7 with 5:10 left in the second quarter with a 47-yard field by Adam Vinatieri. The Chargers had forced the field goal after outside linebacker Shawne Merriman broke up a first-down pass and Weddle tackled running back Joseph Addai on a shovel pass for only a 1-yard gain. The two stops led to a third-and-9 incompletion.

The Chargers moved in position to tie the game before halftime, but Nate Kaeding’s try from 48 yards hit the right upright and bounced away with 1:46 left in the half.

After the Colts took possession following the miss, Manning moved Indianapolis into position for a score. But on second-and-10 from the Chargers’ 35-yard line, cornerback Antonio Cromartie intercepted a pass.

Cromartie returned the theft 89 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the officials called the play back for holding on the return with three seconds left in the half. The Chargers protested the call, but Rivers took a knee to end the half with the Colts leading 10-7.

Source: San Diego Chargers News Release