QB PEYTON MANNING vs. CHARGERS PASS DEFENSE
We'll go out on a limb and say Manning won't throw six interceptions again. But did you know Manning's career passer rating in five games vs. the Chargers (71.3) is lower than his rating against any other team against which he's thrown at least three passes? He has 11 INTs and 8 TDs.
LT TONY UGOH/RT RYAN DIEM vs. OLBs SHAWNE MERRIMAN/SHAUN PHILLIPS
In the first meeting, Ugoh didn't play and Diem left with an injury. Manning was sacked just twice but faced a lot of pressure. The last time the Chargers were at Indy, Merriman was involved in three sacks (one solo) and also had three tackles for loss.
TE DALLAS CLARK vs. SS CLINTON HART/FS MARLON McCREE
Receivers Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison get most of the attention, but Clark had two 100-yard games in the postseason last year and scored 11 TDs this season. The Chargers have had their problems defending tight ends; Clark's backup had eight catches in November.
SPECIAL TEAMS
As you might have noticed on the second Sunday of November when Darren Sproles scored two return touchdowns in the opening quarter, this is the one area where the Chargers have a big edge. Indy had the worst punt coverage in the league – Hunter Smith ranked 31st in net punting with an average (34.2) about 5 1/2 yards behind Mike Scifres, who was third – and the Colts weren't much better (29th) on kickoffs. Look for the Colts to try some directional kicking today in an attempt to pin Sproles near the sideline. T.J. Rushing was about average on kickoff returns (23.0) but would have been fourth in the league on punt returns (13.5) except he didn't meet the league minimum for attempts. He had a 90-yarder for a TD against Oakland.
source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers
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