RANDOM OBSERVATIONS : COLTS @ CHARGERS, SECOND HALF EDITION

by Davey, Blown Coverage

The Colts as expected have their work cut out for them with all of the injuries but their special teams might as well come out wearing Chargers jerseys in the second half. San Diego is leading by 16 and that unit has cost Indy exactly 16 points up till now. Not a coincidence if you ask me.

Either way, it should be an interesting second half. The Chargers might have a nice lead right now but they're coached by Norv Turner, meaning that no lead is safe. I guess that's why I had picked Indy to win tonight, because the other team is coached by Norv Turner. You always have to factor that into the decision...

• Indy has a 4th down near midfield but they take the gamble and go for it early in the 3rd quarter. Manning finds Aaron Moorehead for a big first down and I guess that when your eyes are so big, it becomes a lot easier to see the ball and catch the pass.

• Never mind what I said about it being a big first down. Manning gets picked off by Matt Wilhelm and that is interception number 5 if you are keeping track at home. Amazing really.

• Michaels and Madden treat us to this exchange when the ref makes a call on a penalty. Al: "I think he went to the Ed Hochuli School of Bicep Build-up". John: "Yeah, he doesn't have the guns that Eddie does". Make of that what you will..

• Don't look now but the Colts are chipping away at this lead. Kenton Keith finds the endzone and after Manning finds Brian Fletcher for the 2-point conversion, it's suddenly a 23-15 lead for San Diego. Manning has thrown 5 picks but his team is still down only 1 score. San Diego's offense has been that lethargic this evening..

• And the Chargers continue to let Indy back into the game. Rivers drops back to pass from his own endzone but the ball slips out of his hands and Gary Brackett falls on it for a touchdown and at least the ball didn't roll around on his ass this time. The 2-point conversion is failed and San Diego suddenly has a slim 23-21 lead.

• Dwight Freeny is the latest Colt to go down. Freeny was carted to the locker room with some injury and if this keeps up, Indy's going to line up Andrea Kramer somewhere before the game is over.

• So much for Aaron Moorehead's streak of catching passes. Manning throws a deep ball for Moorehead right in his arms but Moorehead drops it and the Colts have to punt. It looked a bit like pass interference, but when you're Aaron Moorehead, you're not going to get the benefit of the doubt by the officials.

• Philip Rivers might not live to see tomorrow. Rivers is picked off for the second time by Clinton Session and that is Rivers' 3rd turnover on the night. Indy takes over with a chance to take the lead midway through the 4th quarter.

• Something just strikes me again. Indy was down 23 at one point, Manning has thrown 5 picks and he only has 2 viable options out there on offense. Yet, they're still a field goal away from winning. That's the power of Norv Turner folks...

• What. The. Hell. The Colts marched deep into Chargers territory and they settle for a short, chip shot field goal for Adam Vinatieri and Vinatieri misses. This is the type of field goal that he'll make 99 out of a 100 times and somehow he shanks it. There's under 2 minutes left and the Chargers are amazingly still clinging to a 2 point lead. Somewhere, Mike Vanderjagt just slit his wrists...

• The Colts get the ball back with very little time left on the clock and Peyton Manning will try to launch some deep passes here. He takes a few shots but gets picked off by Clinton Hart and that will do it. San Diego escapes with a 2 point win but I would not be happy right now if I'm a Chargers fan.

• To recap. Indy was missing 4 main guys on offense and had some more injuries throughout the game. Manning threw 6 picks. Joseph Addai could not rush the ball. San Diego had 2 returns for touchdowns and Adam Vinatieri missed 2 field goals and Indy still almost won this game. Norv almost came through tonight. Almost...