NFL Playoffs Round 2...Chargers vs Colts

The Chargers and Colts will square off for the second time this season. In the first meeting, the blitzing San Diego defense gave Peyton Manning fits. He Threw a whopping six...that's right SIX interceptions. Yet somehow, the Colts were in position to win that game with a field goal in the final minutes, with Adam Vinatieri you figure he makes it. Somehow, he missed. But that was then and this is now. The Colts for the first time since early in the season have every player on the practice field. That includes WR Marvin Harrison and TE Dallas Clark. The Chargers on the other hand, will probably be without arguably the best TE in the league, Antonio Gates. The question for San Diego will be how much will the offense suffer without Gates? The answer...a lot. Antonio Gates is Phillip Rivers' favorite target, and the teams leading receiver with 75 receptions. Which means, that for San Diego to win, WR Chris Chambers must have a great game. The playoffs are the reason why San Diego pulled the trigger to bring in Chambers. The bad news is, they brought him in so he can have big games when defenses would double team Gates, not to fend off double teams by himself. Chambers is a very good receiver, however he does get alligator arms when trying to catch passes over the middle, and defensive player of the year, safety Bob Sanders will be looking to decapitate anyone who comes his way.
Indy is better in almost every major statistical category than San Diego. More overall yards on offense, more passing yards, on average they give up less yards both passing and rushing. The only category San Diego has an advantage is rushing yards per game with 127. However the leading tackler for the Colts is a DT, Gary Brackett with 116 tackles! Which means bad things for Ladanian Tomlinson, the NFL's leading rusher. This one will be closer than some people think, but I'm taking the Colts 27-21.