No Tomlinson. No Rivers. No problem.

Backup Volek helps Chargers jolt favored Colts

Billy Volek hands off to Michael Turner on the winning fourth-quarter drive when the backup QB marched the Chargers 78 yards. (Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS - Another year, with another team, this doesn't happen. The Chargers are supposed to be front-running surfsiders who fold up like a beach umbrella when fortunes turn against them.

"That's been mentioned a few times this year to me and suggested a few times, and I think we've put that thing to rest," said coach Norv Turner, after San Diego had come from behind four times yesterday to knock off the defending NFL champion Colts, 28-24, before 56,950 in the final game in their circular corral, earning a rematch with the unbeaten Patriots in Foxborough next weekend for the AFC title. "I think that one's done."

It was the Chargers' eighth straight victory and it was the biggest upset in the league since the Patriots grounded the top-seeded Bolts a year ago. It was a jarring shock for Indianapolis, which was a 9-point favorite and was coming off a bye week with everybody healthy.

"There are a lot of disappointed guys in there, including me," said coach Tony Dungy, who may not be back next season. "But you have to give a ton of credit to San Diego."

Even though the Chargers had won their meeting in November (and eight of their previous 11 visits here), they were decided underdogs. "Nobody gave us a shot," said quarterback Philip Rivers, whose mates had been all but dismissed after a 1-3 start. "All the preview shows were saying: 'Can't wait for Indy vs. New England.' "

Everything went wrong for the Chargers yesterday, yet they kept bat tling. LaDainian Tomlinson, the league's best running back, went down with a knee injury in the second quarter after just seven carries. Rivers, who completed 14 of 19 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns (including a go-ahead 56-yarder to Darren Sproles on his final play), went out with a knee injury at the end of the third quarter. A spectacular 89-yard interception return by Antonio Cromartie just before halftime was nullified by an iffy holding call away from the play. And a 48-yard field goal attempt by Nate Kaeding hit the right upright and bounced askew.

But San Diego kept coming, kept making huge plays. Billy Volek stepped in for Rivers and scored the winning touchdown on a sneak with 4:50 to go. Michael Turner took over for Tomlinson and ran for 71 yards on 17 carries. And when the Colts drove to within 7 yards of the lead touchdown with 2:16 to go, the San Diego defense harassed quarterback Peyton Manning into three straight incompletions, then another three on his last-gasp bid half a minute later.

"Did a good job getting it down there," said Manning, who was 33 of 48 for 402 yards and three touchdowns (and two damaging interceptions) after completing his first 14. "Just couldn't finish it, and that was certainly disappointing."

More disappointing was the performance of the Indianapolis defense, which couldn't make plays when it had to, even with Rivers and Tomlinson on the sideline and tight end Antonio Gates (two catches, 28 yards) playing on a sprained left big toe.

"We didn't get them stopped," said linebacker Gary Brackett. "Third-down conversions, either we got a penalty or we just didn't get them stopped. Any time you let them stay on the field they start to figure out things offensively and they move the ball and that is what they did today."

Whenever they had to, the Chargers were able to march down the field - their scoring drives were 78, 83, 74, and 78 yards. And right after Manning stung them with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Gonzalez to put the Colts ahead, 24-21, with 10:07 to play, Volek countered crisply with three completions, including a 27-yarder to Legedu Naanee that brought the ball to the Indy 15.

"I know what my role is," said Volek, who'd completed three passes for 6 yards all season. "The No. 1 guy gets banged up, I have to go out and keep things moving." So when Turner was denied just short of the goal, Volek barged in on the next play. "It's just a game," he shrugged. "Eleven-on-11. I've been doing this for 20-some years. Just go out and make plays."

That's been Manning's specialty, and he moved his comrades down the field smartly, completing a killer pass to tight end Dallas Clark on fourth and 5 at the visitors' 34 which, with a facemask penalty tacked on, put the ball on the 9.

That's when the San Diego defense threw a blanket over Manning, with linebacker Shawne Merriman chasing him into an incompletion on fourth down. "I just dove as hard as I could and tried to sweep him," said Merriman. "He looked back like, who in the heck hit me?"

Thus did one title dream end and another resume. A year ago, the Chargers were the ones walking slack-jawed off the field, wondering what had hit them. Now, they get another shot to beat the Perfect People. "Seventeen have tried and it hasn't happened yet," acknowledged Rivers. "We believe it can happen."