A tough loss -- but a justified one for the Colts</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> SAN DIEGO -- On a night filled with head-scratching frustration and dagger-through-the heart disappointment, Tony Dungy ultimately came to one conclusion: Justice was served. The 23-21 loss his Colts suffered to the Chargers didn't feel good, not good at all. But it felt right -- in some sick, twisted way.</p> "It's a game we probably didn't deserve to win," Dungy said, "and we didn't."</p> That's because the Colts who showed up to play Sunday night at Qualcomm Stadium did not -- other than a hard, tenacious effort by the defense -- resemble the defending Super Bowl champions. These were not your Dungy Colts. These were not your Peyton Manning Colts. Instead, these were your Rod Dowhower Colts, circa 1986, a throwback to the days when mistakes were the norm and the team seemed more interested in acquiring the top pick in the draft.</p> Consider on this night:</p> •Manning throwing a career-high six interceptions (three to Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie), setting a franchise record in the process.</p> •Adam Vinatieri, one of the best clutch kickers in NFL history, missing two field goals, including the 29-yard chip shot that would've given Indianapolis a one-point lead with 1:31 left.</p> •The special teams allowing two touchdowns by San Diego return specialist Darren Sproles -- a kickoff return and a punt return, both in the first quarter.</p> •Dungy calling a dumb final timeout with 1:34 left before Vinatieri's last field goal attempt. That final timeout handcuffed Manning when he got the ball back with 22 seconds left because he had no way to stop the clock.</p> Yet despite all that, the turnovers and errant kicks and special-teams breakdowns and all the rest, the Colts still -- remarkably, incredibly -- had a chance to win after rallying from a 23-0 deficit.</p> </div></p>
What's scary about this game is how close the Colts were to winning despite the injuries and Peyton Manning having a bad game. It's a testament to how good their defense is.</p>
The Colts were close because Rivers has been struggling and LT is not quite as dominant as last season. Many of those interceptions were also on the receivers.</p> I didn't want Moorhead to get placed on IR (just cut) but he was hurting the team with his drops and route running.</p> Peyton is sure having a good season without Harrison though.</p>
