Sports Betting..... San Diego Chargers - NFL Teams Page...

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.

The San Diego Chargers are feeling positive about Antonio Gates' chances of playing against the Washington Redskins. Gates practiced on Friday after injuring his foot last week in the win over the Buffalo Bills.

Gates was questionable, but appeared to be fluid during practice.

"It was basically the same as yesterday - it got a little bit better," Gates said. "I think it's still going to be a game-time decision for us."

After sitting out midweek practice, Gates returned on Thursday and Friday.

"I tested it out and basically I'm going to wait until and see how it feels," said Gates, the team's top receiver with 56 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. "We'll just decide from there to see if it's sore or I have any pain.

Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Friday that it would be a game-time decision for them. "He did some work out here today," Schottenheimer said. "It was positive."

Gates no longer needs to wear the walking boot his foot has been encased in since he was hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Neither is he limping any more.

For those of you football betting, San Diego are -3 on the spreads, giving up three points to the well organised Redskins.

Wade Phillips' San Diego run defense is ranked No. 3 in the NFL. It's young, it's good with linebackers Merriman, Phillips (Shaun) and defensive ends Castillo and Olshansky.

But Wade Phillips wants to be an NFL head coach and isn't shy in discussing his desire. This off-season, he hopes the market for head coaches could be considerably bigger - after there were no takers last time around.

"I've been a successful head coach, and not many guys can say that," said Phillips, who went 47-36 in stints with the Bills, Broncos and Falcons.

The Chargers' previous team was 4-12 and out of the playoffs. But last year's squad flipped to 12-4 and advanced to the play-offs for the first time in nine years.

"How many guys can come in and in their first year go to the playoffs?" Phillips asked. "I've done it six times as a head coach and a defensive coordinator. I feel like I've got something to offer."

"I think because you get fired, sometimes it carries a stigma that you didn't do good enough and I don't think that was the case," said Phillips. "They don't realize you were 29-19 (with the Bills) which was one of the top records in the NFL.