San Diego Help Themselves And 72 Dolphins
San Diego's future looked a little brighter today as they forced Indianapolis' unbeaten season to come to an end - 26-17.
The Chargers went ahead on a field goal by Nate Kaeding with 6:42 left after the Colts fought back to cover a 16-0 deficit with a field goal and two touchdowns in a six-minute spell during the third quarter. Then Michael Turner clinched it with an 83-yard touchdown run after Luis Castillo sacked Peyton Manning to knock the Colts out of field-goal range.
The win keeps San Diego, now 9-5, alive for an AFC wild-card spot and prevented Denver from clinching the AFC West. It also allowed the Colts (13-1) to rest starters for the final two games of the season, as they already clinched home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs.
The Champagne celebrations started again by members of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team to complete a season undefeated.
The Colts will be happy to know that the last team to start 13-0 and lose, the 1998 Denver Broncos, went on to win the Superbowl.
Dungy admitted that his team had been outplayed.
