Darren Sproles came off the bench to lead San Diego to a thrilling 23-17 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Indianapolis see Super Bowl hopes end after letting slip 17-14 lead
The San Diego Chargers overcame an injury to LaDainian Tomlinson to record a heart-pounding 23-17 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
A thrilling AFC wildcard clash was settled just over six minutes into extra time when Darren Sproles found the end zone on a 22-yard run.
The running back finished off the 75-yard drive having been thrown into the game when Tomlinson hurt his groin scoring a touchdown early in the second quarter.
Nate Kaeding's field goal with 33 seconds left on the clock had saved the game for San Diego after the Colts had looked set to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
Caught cold
Newly-crowned NFL MVP Peyton Manning's had caught the hosts cold with a clever 72-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne.
The quarterback called a quick count and then lobbed the ball to his wide open receiver who galloped away uncontested to give the visitors a 17-14 lead.
However, Sproles' 26-yard punt return set up Kaeding to tie the scores before the replacement tail back proved a more than adequate understudy by getting the game-winning TD.
"I just saw the green grass outside and I just went for the score," Sproles, who finished with 105 yards on 23 carries, said afterwards.
All-round contribution
The diminutive tailback also had 178 yards on four kick-off and three punt returns, while contributing 45 yards on five catches.
Tomlinson had managed a touchdown before leaving the game, his three-yard run cancelling out Joseph Addai's one-yard effort for the Colts in the opening quarter.
Adam Vinatieri's field goal put Indianapolis ahead again but Sproles found the end zone for the first time on a run of nine yards that made it 14-10 to San Diego at the break.
For so long it appeared Manning, who finished 25-of-42 for 310 yards, had settled the game with his pass to Wayne only for the Chargers to stun their opponents in a sensational finish.
