CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / DAVE McKIBBEN : Seau Says Teammates Shouldn’t Be Overconfident About Colts

The Chargers might be six-point favorites Sunday against a team they defeated by 20 points two weeks ago, but linebacker Junior Seau said Thursday his team won’t be overconfident against the Indianapolis Colts.

“There’s no way,” Seau said. “We have nothing to be confident about. We can just be proud of what we’ve accomplished since the 0-4 record. We have a lot to prove to the NFL and a lot to prove to the fans. We haven’t done anything yet.”

Seau, who sat out the first Colt game with a groin injury, said the 34-14 score was misleading.

“You have to remember we had two interceptions at the goal line,” Seau said. “And then we (recovered) three fumbles. So they have their part of turnovers and bad luck. They’re going to come in here with confidence and revenge. That’s the worst thing to have on their side. . . .

“This isn’t a lock game. You ask anyone in the locker room, we know that there was a time where they could have taken charge of the game.”

With the Chargers at 3-4 and only 1 1/2 games behind Denver and a half game behind Kansas City in the AFC West, safety Stanley Richard said, “This is the biggest game we’ve played all season. Now that we’ve got the winning streak going, each game we play is going to be the biggest game we’ve played.

“It’s important that we go out and win this football game, because this is going to be the springboard toward possibly the playoffs.”

Did someone say playoffs?

“That’s something that shouldn’t have come out of my mouth,” Richard said. “You can’t help but think about it, but you have to understand how to get there.”

The Chargers haven’t understood how to do that since 1982.

Charger fans are apparently not getting hysterical over their team’s three consecutive victories. Only 39,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s game, which means less than 3,000 tickets have been sold since Sunday’s victory over Denver.

Richard had high praise for Indianapolis quarterback Jeff George, who is ranked 11th among AFC quarterbacks with a 63.6 rating.

“I compare Jeff George to some of the best, (Dan) Marino and (John) Elway,” Richard said. “Marino, because Jeff George has that same release and a very strong arm. Elway, because he has the ability to get out of the pocket, buy some time and come up with the big play.”

Starting tackle George Thornton rolled his knee early in practice and sat out the rest of the way. Thornton said the knee is stiff and sore, but he expects to play Sunday. Ross said he was pleased with the practices of defensive tackle Blaise Winter and end Leslie O’Neal, who are nursing knee injuries. Ross said he expects both players, who are listed as questionable, to play Sunday.

Seau’s strained groin is improved, but still sore.

“It’s one of those things where I don’t understand this type of injury,” Seau said. “For me mentally, it’s really frustrating. I can’t go full speed ahead and react.

“I want it to go away. I’d like to play at least 95% or get up there. You really don’t play this game 100% healthy.”

Whatever percentage he is by Sunday, Seau said he will be on the field.

“I’m going to be out there every Sunday,” he said. “I get paid for that. I owe it to the fans and I owe it to my players.”

In addition, wide receiver Johnnie Barnes (shoulder) is likely to be placed on injured reserve. Running back Peter Tuipulotu is the probable roster replacement, Coach Bobby Ross said.