NFL Capsules: Chargers beat Colts 23-17 in OT

SAN DIEGO - Peyton Manning has his MVP award and nothing more, outdone again in January by the San Diego Chargers.

Speedy little Darren Sproles scooted 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime and the Chargers beat the Colts 23-17 in an AFC wild-card game Saturday night, ending Indianapolis' nine-game winning streak a day after Manning won his third Associated Press NFL MVP award.

Sproles came up big on a night when the Chargers played the final 2 1/2 quarters without LaDainian Tomlinson, who stood on the sideline in obvious discomfort from a groin injury.

Fifty years after the Baltimore Colts won the first overtime game in league history by the same score over the New York Giants for the NFL title, Indianapolis wasn't so fortunate. It was victimized by Sproles, who rushed 23 times for 105 yards, caught five passes for 45 yards, had 106 yards on four kickoff returns and 72 on three punt runbacks.

"It's disappointing to lose a playoff game," Manning said. "We certainly had some chances to win, but give them credit. We had chances to put the game away, but we just didn't do it."

The Chargers (9-8) won the overtime toss. Indy's Darrell Reid called heads, but referee Ron Winter's flip came up tails. Sproles sent the Chargers into the second round of the playoffs, either at Tennessee or Pittsburgh, by finishing off the only series of overtime with his TD run around left end against an exhausted defense for the Colts (12-5).

San Diego's winning drive was aided by two defensive holding calls, the second against Tim Jennings on third-and-8. On the next play, Colts linebacker Clint Session was whistled for grabbing Sproles' facemask. Sproles scored on the next play, shedding a defender at the 5-yard line.

Sproles' TD run sent Qualcomm Stadium into bedlam. It was San Diego's fifth straight win; the Chargers needed the previous four victories to secure the AFC West title with an 8-8 record.

Last season, the Chargers pulled off a 28-24 upset at Indianapolis in the divisional round after Philip Rivers and Tomlinson both went out with knee injuries.

This was the fourth time the teams met in two seasons and the sixth time in five years. The Chargers have won four of the six.

San Diego got its first sack of the game at a key time, when Tim Dobbins dropped Manning at the Colts 1 on third down with 2 minutes left, forcing a punt and giving the Chargers the ball at the Indy 38.

Nate Kaeding kicked a 26-yard field goal with 31 seconds left to force overtime.

It was the 25th overtime game in the postseason, including one game in the AFL. The last overtime game in the playoffs was last season's NFC title game, won by the New York Giants and Manning's little brother, Eli, against Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

Another star for the Chargers was Mike Scifres, whose booming punts continually pinned the Colts deep in their territory. Scifres punted six times for an average of 52.7 yards, including a 67-yarder.

Still, Manning caught the Chargers napping on a 72-yard touchdown play that for a while seemed like it was going to stand as the winner.

Facing third-and-5 from the Colts 28, Manning quickly lined up and took an immediate snap that caught cornerback Antonio Cromartie so flat-footed he was looking at the Chargers' bench when receiver Reggie Wayne went speeding past him and safety Paul Oliver. Wayne caught Manning's pass at the Chargers 45 and was gone for a 17-14 lead.

The Colts came up with two turnovers in the end zone. Sproles was hit at the 2-yard line and fumbled into the end zone late in the third quarter, with Raheem Brock recovering.

Rivers kept San Diego's next drive alive with a 13-yard scramble followed by a 1-yard sneak on fourth down, but then overthrew Chris Chambers in double coverage and was intercepted in the end zone by Antoine Bethea.

The teams traded TDs early, with Indy's Joseph Addai scoring on a 1-yard run late in the first quarter and Tomlinson scoring on a 3-yard run early in the second quarter. The Colts went ahead 10-7 on Adam Vinatieri's 43-yard field goal midway through the second period before Sproles' 9-yard run just before halftime put the Chargers ahead 14-10.

Manning was 25-of-42 for 310 yards. Rivers was 20-of-36 for 216 yards, with one interception.

Manning, Colts going home for the winter

SAN DIEGO - Peyton Manning and the NFL's hottest team entering the playoffs are going home for the winter.

The Indianapolis Colts' nine-game winning streak - and their season - came to an end when Darren Sproles' 22-yard run at 6:40 of overtime gave the San Diego Chargers a 23-17 victory Saturday night in their first-round playoff game.

Manning overcame two knee surgeries to put together perhaps his best year, guiding the Colts on their winning streak after a 3-4 start put their postseason hopes in jeopardy. The Colts wound up with their sixth straight 12-win season.

Manning's efforts this season were good enough for a third MVP award, and he certainly did his share against the Chargers. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown, a 72-yard throw to Reggie Wayne midway through the third quarter that put the Colts ahead 17-14.

But they wouldn't score again.

So it's the Chargers who advanced to next weekend's second round at either Tennessee or Pittsburgh after putting an end to the Colts' season for the second straight year.

Manning completed 90 of 110 passes for 1,054 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions in the last four games of the regular season. Overall during the Colts' winning streak, he was 209-for-290 for 2,248 yards and 17 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

With the NFL's 31st-ranked pass defense, the Chargers didn't appear to have what it takes to contain Manning and the explosive Indianapolis offense. But they did enough to hold the Colts to two touchdowns and a field goal.

The Colts led 17-14 lead late in the game and forced a punt, but Mike Scifres pinned them at their 1-yard line with 2:41 left, and they were unable to get the first down that would have salted away the victory. On a third-and-2 play, Manning was sacked for the only time, by Tim Dobbins, back at the 1, forcing Hunter Smith to punt from the end zone.

The Chargers took over at the Colts 37 after a 26-yard punt return by Sproles, and were able to get into position for Nate Kaeding's 26-yard field goal to send it to overtime.

The game was the fourth between the teams in the last two seasons and their second straight playoff matchup. San Diego won a 28-24 decision last January at Indianapolis after Rivers and Tomlinson went out with knee injuries before losing at New England 21-12 in the AFC championship game.

The Chargers lost all five games they played against playoff teams during the regular season, including a 23-20 setback to the Colts on Nov. 23 in San Diego when Adam Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

Manning threw a career-high six interceptions against the Chargers last season, yet still almost brought the Colts back from a 23-0 deficit. San Diego escaped with a 23-21 win only because Vinatieri pushed a 29-yard field goal wide right with 1:31 left.

-- John Nadel

Warner, defense, lead Arizona past Atlanta 30-24

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals have consecutive home playoff victories - 61 years apart.

Kurt Warner opened with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald and connected with Anquan Boldin on a 71-yard scoring play as the Cardinals beat Atlanta 30-24 Saturday before a raucous, towel-waving crowd.

It was the franchise's first home playoff game since the then-Chicago Cardinals beat Philadelphia to win the NFL championship in 1947.

"A lot of people coming into this game said we were the worst playoff team ever to get in," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "... I think we rallied around that."

Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan was intercepted twice, was tackled in the end zone for a safety and fumbled the ball away on a botched handoff. That fumble was returned 27 yards by Antrel Rolle 52 seconds into the second half to put Arizona ahead for good.

Everyone knew the Cardinals could pass, but a stout defense and effective running game were a bonus.

"You have to really give credit first to their defense," Falcons guard Harvey Dahl said. "They did an outstanding job. They were flying all over the place."

Atlanta's 60 yards rushing represented a season low.

"We couldn't run the ball," Falcons wide receiver Roddy White said. "We had to throw it around a little bit more than we're used to. Things like that kind of put us behind the 8-ball."

Arizona's Edgerrin James outgained Atlanta's Michael Turner, the NFL's No. 2 rusher.

"They controlled the line of scrimmage," Falcons coach Mike Smith said of the Cardinals' defense.

James, who has made it known he will not be back with the Cardinals next season, carried 16 times for 73 yards. Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards in the regular season, had 42 yards in 18 attempts.

Warner, in the playoffs for the first time since leading St. Louis to a second Super Bowl in 2001, was 19-of-32, 13-for-17 in the second half, for 271 yards. He was intercepted once.

"I hope this gives us a lot of confidence," Warner said. "I knew we thought we could win this game. Hopefully we can parlay this into some more confidence and know we can win wherever we have to go."

Arizona will play at either the New York Giants or Carolina Panthers next weekend. Arizona has played both teams this season, losing 27-23 at Carolina on Oct. 26, and 37-29 at home to the Giants on Nov. 23.

Ryan, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, completed 26 of 40 passes for 199 yards and two scores.

"I think you have to remember what we did as a team this year and we did some things well," Ryan said. "We made some strides as a team as the year went on. But you have to use this as motivation. You don't want to be here."

The Cardinals went 9-7 to win a weak NFC West and make the playoffs for the first time in a decade. After clinching the division, they were blown out by Minnesota and New England in the two weeks preceding their regular-season finale victory over Seattle.

Atlanta (11-5) finished a game behind Carolina in the tough NFC South and came in a winner of five of its last six. But from the start Arizona showed that, at least on this afternoon, it belonged in the postseason.

"A lot of people in Atlanta were giving us no chance," Arizona safety Adrian Wilson said. "There was a lot of talk in the paper from them about how it was a blessing for them to come out here - but it's not sweet out here."

Antonio Smith's tackle of Ryan for a safety put Arizona ahead 30-17 with 12:37 to play.

The Falcons, who rebounded from a 4-12 season to make the playoffs, made it close after that. On fourth-and-6, Ryan connected with Jerious Norwood for 28 yards to Cardinals 26. That led to Ryan's 5-yard scoring pass to Roddy White that cut it to 30-24 with 4:15 left.

But Warner completed passes to Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Stephen Spach, then the Cardinals ran out the clock.

When it was over, Whisenhunt ran along the front row of the stadium, exchanging high-fives with fans. The Cardinals didn't sell out the game until Friday, but the throng was loud and boisterous throughout.

Ryan's first pass of the playoffs was intercepted by Ralph Brown, leading to Warner's 42-yard TD to Fitzgerald on a flea-flicker. Early in the second quarter, Warner threw short to Boldin, who beat safety Lawyer Milloy and ran down the sideline on a 71-yard scoring play.

Boldin hurt his left hamstring on the play. He played the next series, then left for good.

Atlanta scored twice in the final 2:55 to take a 17-14 halftime, then got the ball on the second-half kickoff.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was the disruptive force on the crucial fumble.

"I just jumped the snap count, man," he said. "I needed to make a play. We needed a spark. We were down and that was the play that turned this whole thing around."

Dockett hit Turner just as Ryan was trying to hand off the ball. The ball bounced off Turner's forearm and into the hands of Rolle, who raced to the end zone.

The Cardinals mustered their first extended drive of the game later in the third quarter. Moving the ball with James' running and Warner's short passes, Arizona used up 7:43, going 76 yards in 14 plays. Warner's 14-yard pass to Breaston on third-and-3 set up Tim Hightower's 4-yard run that made it 28-17.

Notes: The Falcons had the ball for 21:19 in the first half, the Cardinals had it for 21:21 in the second. ... It was a nice day outside but the Cardinals kept the roof closed at University of Phoenix Stadium. The stadium is far louder with the roof closed. ... Each team was without a starting defensive end because of injuries, Jamaal Anderson for Atlanta and Travis LaBoy for Arizona. ... Arizona is 13-4 at home since Whisenhunt became coach.

-- Bob Baum

Ryan throws 2 INTs in 30-24 loss to Arizona

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Atlanta's Matt Ryan opened the regular season by throwing for a touchdown on his first pass.

He opened the playoffs with an interception.

For the first time this season, Ryan looked like a rookie. And it came at the worst possible time for the Falcons in a 30-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

"I don't think it was nerves or anything like that," Ryan said. "It was just a poor throw, a poor decision. The guy (Ralph Brown) made a good play. In games like this, hopefully we're in them in the future, you can't make those kind of mistakes."

It was the first of two interceptions for Ryan, who completed 26 of 40 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He also was charged with a fumble on a botched handoff that the Cardinals returned for a momentum-swinging touchdown.

"I thought Matt would like to have some throws back," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. "But this is a new experience for him. This is a new experience for our entire football team."

Ryan, Atlanta's first-round pick last spring, had a superb debut season. He joined Baltimore's Joe Flacco as the only rookie quarterbacks since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to start all 16 games and lead their teams to the playoffs.

But Ryan didn't have the same command against the Cardinals, especially on his first pass. Trying to find receiver Roddy White, Ryan threw the ball right to Brown. Four plays later, Arizona took a 7-0 lead on a 42-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald from Kurt Warner, a veteran who outplayed Ryan.

"You can't do that, especially in games like this," said Ryan, who threw another interception in the third quarter.

Ryan wasn't the only Atlanta player who had a long day in the desert.

The Falcons were flagged six times for 52 yards and gave up a safety on a sack. Their defense also conceded 71- and 42-yard touchdown passes. And their powerful running game sputtered, producing a season-low 60 yards on 24 carries.

After Ryan's opening interception, the Falcons recovered and rallied for a 17-14 halftime lead, surging ahead on a 2-yard pass from Ryan to tight end Justin Peelle with 23 seconds to go in the second quarter.

Leading by a field goal and taking the ball to start the second half, the Falcons seemed poised to take control with their running attack.

Instead, the Falcons melted in the glare of their first postseason appearance since 2004 - and it started with a seemingly routine running play.

On the second snap of the third quarter, Ryan and running back Michael Turner muffed a handoff. Arizona tackle Darnell Dockett appeared to jar the ball loose, and safety Antrel Rolle plucked it out of the air and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to put the Falcons in a 21-17 hole.

Several Falcons said they thought Dockett might have been offside.

"I'm not going to say he was early, but I think he was early," Atlanta guard Harvey Dahl said. "It just makes it tough. He made a great play. It wasn't a penalty because they didn't call it."

Ryan was charged with a fumble on the poor exchange.

"That was a big, big play in the football game," Smith said.

The Falcons never recovered. They fell behind 30-17 before Ryan capped a nine-play, 58-yard march with a 5-yard touchdown pass to White with 4:15 to go.

Arizona ran out the clock and Ryan and his offense never had a chance for a last-minute miracle.

"It's tough to win when you're minus on the turnover ratio," Smith said. "The three turnovers, I thought, were very, very big."

-- Andrew Bagnato

Surprising Dolphins face improved Ravens

MIAMI - Six weeks into the season, the Miami Dolphins still looked a lot like a punch line.

They were 2-4, last in the AFC East and licking their wounds after being manhandled by the Baltimore Ravens. That defeat made it 22 losses in 25 games, and as coach Tony Sparano bemoaned deficiencies in blocking and tackling, it seemed the rebuilding project under the new Bill Parcells regime might take several seasons.

Now, Miami is the NFL's most improbable playoff entrant and three wins from the Super Bowl. With a rookie coach, a castoff quarterback and a roster low on star power, the Dolphins (11-5) have won nine of their past 10 games to claim the AFC East title and make the postseason for the first time since 2001.

Their reward in the first round Sunday: another crack at Baltimore.

This is a rematch in more ways than one, because the Ravens (11-5) are making their third trip to Miami in 13 months. The Dolphins earned their only victory of 2007 by beating Baltimore 22-16 in overtime; the Ravens exacted revenge by winning 27-13 on Oct. 19.

Everyone agrees the Dolphins have improved greatly in the past 2½ months. Blocking and tackling are no longer problems, the offense has become a model of efficiency and the defense can be stingy for long stretches.

Baltimore is better, too. Starting with the victory at Miami, the Ravens have won nine of their past 11 games.

"Everybody talks about the Dolphins being on this ride," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis says. "We don't care about the Dolphins' ride. We're on our own ride."

At the wheel for the Ravens is rookie Joe Flacco, who in the past 11 games has thrown only five interceptions with 13 touchdown passes. He has helped the Ravens win by such scores as 34-3, 36-7, 41-13, 27-7 and 29-10.

"Where they've grown the most is at the quarterback position," Sparano says. "He has total command of the entire playbook. He can keep the play alive, kind of Tony Romo-like. I just see a completely different kid back there right now from the first time we played."

To the astonishment of Miami fans, Flacco has apparently benefited from the tutelage of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who went 1-15 in his only season as Dolphins head coach last year.

The Ravens gave an emotional Cameron the game ball after their October victory in Miami. Baltimore mounted four long scoring drives, allowed Flacco plenty of time to throw, scored on an interception return and even stuffed the Wildcat, Miami's variation of the single wing that has produced eight touchdowns this season.

Against the Ravens, the Wildcat netted 4 yards in five plays, but they figure they'll see it again Sunday. The Dolphins gained 55 yards in 10 plays from the formation in Sunday's showdown victory over the New York Jets.

"They have expanded that package," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh says. "It looks more and more like the complete package, so it's tougher to defend than it was earlier in the year."

While Miami's trickery failed to work in the earlier meeting, Baltimore was physically superior in that game, bruising more than just the Dolphins' egos.

"That's kind of their M.O.," Miami cornerback Andre Goodman says. "They do their best to intimidate you. They did a good job of it the first game. But this is a different team."

It's a team that belongs in a fantasy league, considering the storybook nature of the Dolphins' transformation. Leading the turnaround has been quarterback Chad Pennington, released by the New York Jets in August and now the AP Comeback Player of the Year.

The Dolphins are the year's comeback team - their 10-game one-year improvement matches the best in NFL history. While a soft schedule has made it easier for them to hide flaws, they're no longer a laughingstock.

"We went from the outhouse to the penthouse," says linebacker Joey Porter, the AFC sacks leader.

Porter and his band of overachievers will be underdogs Sunday, even playing at home, because doubts persist that Miami belongs in the postseason. Only 11 Dolphins have started a playoff game. One is Pennington, who led the Jets to the postseason three times.

"The playoffs are a little bit more emotional. The electricity in the crowd is a little higher. The play on the field is a little faster," Pennington says. "It's just different, because now you're playing for that special prize."

The Dolphins contend they can overcome postseason inexperience by drawing on what they've learned in recent weeks. They came from behind in the race for a playoff berth by winning their final five regular-season contests, four on the road, and four by a touchdown or less.

"Before, it was win or go home," Sparano says. "It's still win or go home."

-- Steven Wine

Reid, Childress reunite when Eagles play Vikes

MINNEAPOLIS - Their bushy mustaches look about the same, and their approaches to building and organizing their teams are similar. Heck, most of their team's fans want them fired, too.

But Andy Reid and Brad Childress have different personalities and divergent styles, and this branch of the NFL's coaching tree has several variations and twists.

"He's maybe a little bit more, if you can imagine this, flat line than I am," Childress said. "Hard for you to see that, right?"

The football staff at Northern Arizona University in 1986 spawned four future NFL head coaches. The bond formed between Reid and Childress during that season together in the high desert of Flagstaff and the high-scoring Big Sky Conference was strong enough that, 13 years later, Reid chose Childress as his offensive coordinator when he was hired to lead the Philadelphia Eagles.

Childress' chance to be in charge at Minnesota came seven seasons later, and he has guided the NFC North champion Vikings to a wild-card game at the Metrodome on Sunday against Reid and his old team.

"Well, I wish I wasn't seeing Brad in the first round," Reid said, "but I am proud of him."

Childress was the offensive coordinator at NAU, and Reid was the line coach. Future NFL head coaches Bill Callahan and Marty Mornhinweg, now Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, were also assistants with the Lumberjacks that year. Reid cracked the NFL in 1992 with Mike Holmgren and the Green Bay Packers and brought Childress with him to Philadelphia after his old buddy spent eight seasons running the offense at the University of Wisconsin.

They've shared plenty of anecdotes and advice about coaching, and their families remain friendly. Despite their attempts to downplay the personal significance of this game, it's surely a source of pride for them - especially considering the hurdles their teams have cleared to get here, as well as the public skepticism they've endured about their ability and performance.

Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who spent four years on Reid's staff, recalled Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson telling him he had "the greatest job in the NFL" because of the latitude and trust he had from the boss to lead the defense. Frazier said he feels the same way working under Childress.

Childress adopted much of Reid's practice schedules, philosophies and routines, both during the season and not, and hired his head athletic trainer (Eric Sugarman) and strength and conditioning coach (Tom Kanavy) away from Philadelphia, as well as other support staffers. The expertise of both Reid and Childress is on offense; Reid was one of Brett Favre's many quarterback coaches in Green Bay, and down the road in Madison, Childress was drawing up plays for Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ron Dayne.

The comparisons quickly turn to contrasts, though.

"Once you start talking about personal aspect, they are nothing like," said Vikings offensive lineman Artis Hicks, who played four years for the Eagles. "They are night and day."

Reid?

"He hardly talks. You've got to punch him, threaten him, or do something to get him to say a couple of words," Hicks said. "When he does talk, of course you take heed."

Childress?

"He's a psychology major, so he's always challenging you," Hicks said, adding: "You can kind of get caught up in that fog and that haze, and it's good to engage in a conversation where you have to be snapped out of it and be a thinking man for a change."

Reid has a sense of humor. He quipped this week, "I thought you said ‘fat line' for a second," when asked about Childress' claim that Reid is more "flat line" than him. But he's a lot less likely to elicit a laugh in public than his buddy. After a rather uptight first season in Minnesota, Childress loosened up and frequently fires off dry one-liners at his news conferences.

After describing Reid's competitive nature on the racquetball court, Childress zinged this at Reid and his oversized frame: "If you're calling hinders, I could probably beat him. But he's a hindrance on the racquetball court, period. Good athlete, though."

Then, pointing to the length of the Eagles' injury list after Thursday's practice, Childress feigned disgust: "That's Belichick-esque." New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is notorious for his manipulation of the injury report.

There is also the difference in game plan preference. Though the Vikings would be foolish not to use NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson as much as possible, Childress has always been a run-first coach. Though Reid's strategy has been fueled by the success of quarterback Donovan McNabb, he would much rather pass the ball.

Another longtime assistant under Reid, John Harbaugh, became head coach of the Baltimore Ravens this year. With a rookie quarterback in Joe Flacco, the Ravens were also a run-oriented offense.

"That's what they have chosen to do. That's their little wrinkle to the thing," Reid said.

So what about those mustaches? Who has the more distinguished look?

"Maybe Childress, because he's bald up top so his mustache probably means more to him," Hicks said.

The game on Sunday against his friend and former colleague certainly means a lot more.

-- Dave Campbell