11 a.m., KCNC-4
Regular-season records: No. 3 seed Chargers went 11-5 and won the AFC West title. Indianapolis was 13-3 and won the AFC South.
Point spread: Indianapolis by 9 1/2.
Last meeting: San Diego held on to beat the Colts 23-21 on a Sunday night game on Nov. 11.
Hash marks: The Colts lost that game in November on a short field-goal attempt by usually reliable kicker Adam Vinatieri. . . . The Chargers went to Indianapolis in December 2005 and knocked off the Colts 26-17, ending the 13-0 Colts’ shot at a perfect season. That was the last time San Diego was at the RCA Dome.
Colts win if: They take control early and get their fans in the game. This is a very loud, difficult place to play, and it is a difficult place to mount a comeback. If the Colts take a double-digit lead early, this game is toast.
Chargers win if: They harass Peyton Manning all game. The Chargers have a swarming pressure defense, and if their linebackers, led by Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, wreak havoc on Manning and allow NFL interception leader Antonio Cromartie to make plays, San Diego pulls off the upset.
Bet you didn’t know: You knew, but you probably forgot that Manning could have been a Charger. The Colts had the No. 1 pick in the draft in 1998 and the Chargers had the No. 2 choice. Manning and fellow quarterback Ryan Leaf were considered similar prospects. After a debate, the Colts went with Manning and the Chargers snapped up Leaf. Manning is on his way to a Hall of Fame career and Leaf was a classic bust.
Colts player on the spot:
Safety Bob Sanders. The newly minted NFL defensive player of the year will be in charge of halting the Chargers’ big offense and keep ing this from becoming a shootout.
Chargers player on the spot: Quarterback Philip Rivers. He was terrible in the first half against Tennessee last week but turned it on in the second half. The wishy-washy Rivers has to be on all game Sunday.
Key matchup: Colts receiver Reggie Wayne against Chargers cornerback Cromartie. These are two big-time players, and whoever wins the matchup will help their team win the game.
Prediction: Indianapolis 34, San Diego 31.
