Chargers Move Into Contention, 26-0 : AFC: San Diego beats Colts for fourth consecutive victory, ties for second in West.
The San Diego Chargers are a “legitimate team.”
That, at least, is the opinion of Indianapolis quarterback Jeff George, who spent much of Sunday’s game trying to avoid the rush of a spirited Charger defense.
The Chargers’ 26-0 victory over the Colts was San Diego’s first shutout in six seasons. The Chargers (4-4) have won four games in a row for the first time since immediately after the 1987 strike, and are tied with idle Kansas City for second place in the AFC West.
Linebacker Gary Plummer is one of only four players who were with the Chargers when they beat Houston, 27-0, toward the end of the forgettable 1986 season.
“That was a case where it was late in the year and guys already had their bags packed,” Plummer said. “It wasn’t a game of any significance.
“That’s the difference between today’s victory and that particular one. It’s huge. We are one game out of first place in the AFC West and with a chance to go out and prove ourselves against the Chiefs (next Sunday at Kansas City).”
The Colts (4-4) struggled after handing the Miami Dolphins their first loss of the season one week earlier. The Colts also lost to the Chargers, 34-14, on Oct. 18 at the Hoosier Dome. It was the second shutout loss of the year for Indianapolis, which was also shutout twice while going 1-15 last year.
San Diego’s defense raced through the Colts’ makeshift offensive line to rough up George and provide a 5-0 halftime lead. Stan Humphries, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 256 yards, connected with Nate Lewis on touchdown pass plays of 17 and nine yards on the Chargers’ first two drives of the second half for a 19-0 lead.
Stanley Richard’s interception midway through the fourth quarter set up a three-yard scoring run by Marion Butts and sent George to the sideline. Butts gained 120 yards in 27 carries, his first 100-yard game since gaining 159 against the New York Jets on Dec. 2, 1990.
The Colts, missing guard Randy Dixon and tackle Zefross Moss on the left side of the offensive line, had only 99 yards of offense and eight first downs.
George, who completed seven of 18 passes for 53 yards, was sacked six times.
“He was getting hit or sacked most of the time and he was just yelling,” Charger defensive lineman Burt Grossman said. “You can sympathize with him. You don’t like to drop back and have three people in your face every down.”
Jack Trudeau replaced George and got the Colts to the San Diego 18 with 1:04 left. But Trudeau fumbled when he was sacked by Grossman. George Thornton of the Chargers recovered.
“Obviously the game was won, but everybody on defense was looking toward keeping the shutout,” Grossman said. “Fortunately somebody got a sack and forced a fumble . . . so we ended up preserving the shutout and keeping them under 100 yards.”
Grossman blindsided George in the end zone for a safety with 10:32 to go in the second quarter.
After the free kick, San Diego moved 50 yards to set up John Carney’s 33-yard field goal.