San Diego chargers at Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Sunday, November 28, 2010, 8:20 pm EST, TV: NBC
Opening Line: Colts -3
Current Line: Colts -2.5
Opening Total: 51.5
Current Total: 51.5
Money Line: Colts -140 / Chargers +120
The San Diego Chargers (5-5) will try to extend their winning streak to four games and beat the Indianapolis Colts (6-4) for the fifth time in six meetings when the teams meet on Sunday Night Football. The Chargers are coming off a 35-14 rout of Denver on Monday Night Football and have won in their last two trips to Indianapolis. In fact, the underdog has covered the last seven games in this series, winning the last six meetings straight-up.
San Diego has figured out a way to make All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning look mortal in those matchups, as he has a 77.5 career passer rating against the Chargers. The Colts have failed to score more than 24 points in the last five meetings and could struggle again here against the NFL’s top defense, which has yielded just 270.7 yards per game this season.
Indianapolis (-2.5) has scored 24 points or more in four of the last five games yet is 3-2 during that stretch with both losses coming on the road. The Colts lost 31-28 at New England last week despite a furious rally in the fourth quarter that came up just short. Manning connected with wide receiver Blair White on two touchdown passes in the last eight minutes, but his third interception of the game ended the comeback attempt.
While Manning is again an MVP candidate this year, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers is enjoying the best season of his career. Rivers has thrown 10 touchdown passes during the team’s three-game winning streak, and he remains on pace to challenge Dan Marino’s single-season passing record of 5,084 yards. He has performed extremely well lately despite the absence of his top receivers, including tight end Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd. Gates is questionable to play due to a foot injury while Floyd returned against the Broncos and scored a touchdown but tweaked his hamstring and could miss another game.
The Chargers will get wide receiver Vincent Jackson back though after he has sat out the entire season so far due to a contract dispute. Jackson led the team with 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and he gives Rivers another big target against the Colts.
Indy wide receiver Austin Collie is out for the second time in three weeks due to a concussion but running back Joseph Addai hopes to return from a shoulder injury. The Colts have averaged just 69.7 rushing yards in the last three games without Addai, who has averaged 63 yards in two career games against San Diego.
Bettors could see another low-scoring affair here. The UNDER has cashed in four of the last five meetings between the teams. The UNDER is also 3-0 in the last three home games for Indianapolis.
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