Colts-Chargers Scouting Report (Source-Boston Globe)

Jim McBride Boston Globe

Colts on offense: His name is Peyton Manning and he's pretty darn good. One of the smartest quarterbacks in the history of the game, Manning has quietly helped engineer Indianapolis's nine-game winning streak. He's had better seasons statistically, but 4,002 yards and 27 touchdowns is nothing to sneeze at. He resembles a traffic cop at the line of scrimmage, waving his arms as he repositions his weapons and calls out blocking assignments. He reads through his progressions quickly and rarely throws high-risk passes. He's not mobile but he has such a quick release he doesn't need to be. His longtime partner in crime, Marvin Harrison, has lost a step but is still a formidable weapon. He has excellent hands and concentration. The top weapons now are receiver Reggie Wayne (he's powerful and smooth with very dependable hands) and tight end Dallas Clark (he's quick and tough). Joseph Addai (he can pound inside and bounce outside) and Dominic Rhodes (he has quick feet and good acceleration) will split the carries but make no mistake, this is a pass-first offense.


Chargers on defense: Manning will feel the heat from linebacker Shaun Phillips. A truly destructive force, Phillips has an excellent combination of speed, strength, and smarts. He uses his speed to burst off the edge and his power to bust through the middle of the big uglies. Either way, collapsing the pocket is his goal. Cornerbacks Quentin Jammer (he's very physical) and Antonio Cromartie (a quick and speedy ball hawk) will make the Colts' receivers work. Safety Eric Weddle (125 tackles) is a punishing hitter.
Chargers on offense: Philip Rivers is the triggerman. A cocky player, Rivers would just as soon get in your face as in your secondary. Though his delivery is a bit unorthodox, Rivers has a very strong arm and can make all the throws. He also has very quick feet, which allow him to buy extra time in the pocket. Rivers will always look to Antonio Gates first and with good reason. The league's premier pass-catching tight end, Gates combines size, speed, and dependable hands into a unstoppable force. Gates is fearless over the middle and so far, only injuries have slowed him. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson (6 feet 5 inches, 230 pounds) has the speed to stretch defenses. He averaged 18.6 yards per catch. The ground game is powered by LaDainian Tomlinson. The future Hall of Famer has been slowed by injuries all season (toe, groin). Despite those woes, he was able to amass 1,110 rushing yards and another 426 receiving. A truly special player, Tomlinson is a fluid runner who moves with power and speed.
Colts on defense: Give yourself a silver star if you knew safety Antoine Bethea was the Colts' leading tackler (126). A throwback tough guy, Bethea has decent cover skills but thrives in run support. He doesn't have the same intimidating presence as fellow safety Bob Sanders, but he's proven to be much more durable. Sanders, when healthy (and that's rarely), is a brutal hitter with a surly attitude. Linebackers Freddy Keiaho (he's smart and aggressive) and Clint Sessions (99 tackles) are the top run stuffers. Ends Dwight Freeney (explosive first step) and Robert Mathis (nonstop motor) are sackmeisters. Special teams: Indianapolis has the game's greatest clutch kicker in Adam Vinatieri. He's got four Super Bowl rings on his fingers and ice water in his veins. When the game's on the line, Vinatieri's your man. He's hit 20 of 25 field goals and all 43 PATs this season . . . San Diego has one of the game's best return men in Darren Sproles. A man of a million moves, Sproles averages 11.3 yards per punt return and 26 yards per kickoff return. He's a scoring threat from anywhere on the field . . . Charger kicker Nate Kaeding has hit 27 of 32 field goals and all 46 PATs.
Miscellany: Manning drove the Colts 35 yards with 1:35 to go to set up Vinatieri's 51-yard field goal for a 23-20 win at San Diego in Week 12 . . . Wayne has 19 catches for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his last three games vs. the Chargers . . . Colts linebacker Gary Brackett (113 tackles) will miss the game with a cracked bone in his right leg . . . Sanders (knee, ankle) expects to play . . . Chargers have won three of the last four in the series and hold a 15-10 edge all time . . . Since November, Indianapolis is allowing opponents 15.1 points per game . . . The Colts secondary set an NFL record by allowing the fewest touchdown passes (six) in a 16-game season.