Chargers dominate on defense to beat Colts and clinch playoff berth
🏈 Chargers 20, Colts 3 — FINAL
The Chargers clinched their first AFC playoff berth since the 2018 season in a three-interception, seven-sack 20-3 effort against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night.
L.A. put on an impressive defensive performance against the Nick Foles-led Colts, who went 0 for 10 on third down.
Michael Davis, Derwin James Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. had interceptions for the Chargers. James was ejected in the first half for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit on the Colts’ Ashton Dulin. The wide receiver was later diagnosed with a concussion.
Justin Herbert completed 24 of 31 passes for 235 yards, with an interception. Chargers running back Austin Ekeler had 67 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and wide receiver Keenan Allen made 11 catches for 104 yards.
Foles completed 17 of 29 passes for 143 yards for a Colts team that was held to 173 total yards.
Austin Ekeler touchdown gives Chargers 20-3 lead
🏈 Chargers 20, Colts 3 — 8:20 left in the fourth quarter
Austin Ekeler scored his second touchdown of night and his 16th of the season on a one-yard run to extend the Chargers’ lead in the fourth quarter.
The run capped a 12-play drive for 88 yards that moves the Chargers ever closer to clinching their first playoff berth since the 2018 season.
After the Chargers stopped the Colts on fourth-and-one from their 12-yard line, Joshua Kelley picked up 11 yards on a run up the middle before Justin Herbert connected on a 26-yard pass to Mike Williams. Another pass to Williams for 16 yards coupled with a 16-yard run by Ekeler spurred the Chargers’ methodical march to the end zone.
Chargers stop Colts on fourth down after Justin Herbert fumble
🏈 Chargers 13, Colts 3 — 14:17 left in the fourth quarter
The Chargers escaped potential disaster when the offensively barren Colts failed to convert on fourth-and-one in the red zone. The Chargers stopped Nick Foles on a QB sneak to regain possession after losing the ball on a fumble minutes earlier.
Colts defensive end Kwity Paye recovered a fumble by Justin Herbert after the Chargers quarterback was sacked by DeForest Buckner and Daye Odeyingbo on third down. Despite getting the ball at the Chargers’ 21-yard line, Indianapolis failed to cut into the Chargers’ lead.
The Colts are zero for eight on third down tonight.
Prior to the Herbert fumble, Chargers punt returner DeAndre Carter botched a catch when the ball went through his hands. Luckily, Deane Leonard was out of bounds when he jumped on the ball, ruling the play dead and allowing the Chargers to keep possession.
Asante Samuel Jr. interception helps Chargers extend lead
🏈 Chargers 13, Colts 3 — 6:01 left in the third quarter
An interception by Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. eventually led to a 21-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker to extend L.A.’s lead.
Samuel returned the interception 11 yards to the Indianapolis 26, but the Chargers ran into issues in the red zone, with Justin Herbert thwarted on third down as he was chased out of the pocket and forced into an incomplete pass.
Colts quarterback Nick Foles, filling in for the struggling Matt Ryan, has thrown three interceptions tonight. Michael Davis and Derwin James Jr. picked off Foles in the first quarter. The Chargers have sacked Foles four times.
Herbert has completed 21 of 27 passes for 192 yards, with an interception. Foles is nine of 17 for 65 yards.
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has 10 catches for 103 yards. Austin Ekeler has 30 yards and touchdown on 11 carries.
Chargers tack on a field goal to take 10-3 halftime lead
🏈 Chargers 10, Colts 3 — HALFTIME
Cameron Dicker kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to extend the Chargers’ lead at halftime.
The Chargers missed out on a touchdown when Justin Herbert connected on a laser of a throw to Keenan Allen, who couldn’t stay in bounds after making a sprinting catch near the sideline.
Herbert has connected on 15 of 19 passes for 145 yards, with an interception. Allen has seven catches for 77 yards.
Colts quarterback Nick Foles completed nine of 16 passes for 65 yards, with two interceptions.
Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. ejected from game for illegal hit
🏈 Chargers 7, Colts 3 — 4:21 left in the second quarter
Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. was ejected from the game after he hit Colts wide receiver hit Ashton Dulin while leading with the crown of the helmet. A few minutes after James’ ejection, Chase McLaughlin kicked a 46-yard field goal to get the Colts on the scoreboard.
James was called for a 15-yard personal foul (unnecessary roughness) and was disqualified when the top of his helmet made contact with head/neck area of Dulin. The Colts receiver left the game for the locker room and sustained a concussion on the play.
James also appeared to be injured, going into the sideline medical tent. He later left the field for the locker room.
Austin Ekeler touchdown puts Chargers on the scoreboard
🏈 Chargers 7, Colts — 8:41 left in the second quarter
Austin Ekeler scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a strong drive for the Chargers after their first three possessions went nowhere.
The 13-play, 70-yard drive started off promising with the Justin Herbert connecting with Keenan Allen on third down on a 15-yard pass.
After Herbert was sacked for an 11-yard loss, a 16-yard catch on third down by Mike Williams kept the drive alive. Williams then picked up 18 yards on a short side-armed throw by Herbert around DeForest Buckner. Williams shimmied his way through the Colts’ defense and into the red zone to help set up the touchdown.
Herbert has completed nine of 12 passes for 89 yards, with one interception.
Allen has made five catches for 39 yards.
Three early interceptions in scoreless Chargers vs. Colts contest
🏈 Chargers 0, Colts 0 — 5:41 left in the first quarter
Chargers defensive backs Michael Davis and Derwin James Jr. have each picked off Colts quarterback Nick Foles in the first quarter of a scoreless game that has already featured three picks.
Three plays after Davis’ interception kicked off the pick party on a 30-yard interception return, Colts rookie safety Rodney Thomas II intercepted a Justin Herbert pass intended for Keenan Allen that deflected off the hands of linebacker Zaire Franklin.
On the ensuing possession, James picked off a pass intended for Parris Campbell, managing to get his knee down just before sliding out of bounds.
Both teams went three-and-out on their first possessions.
NFL readers Q&A: When will Chargers’ schedule be finalized?
The Chargers currently hold an AFC wild-card playoff spot with three games remaining. As the season winds down, Chargers beat writer Jeff Miller addresses fans’ concerns and questions:
When will we know the date and time for the Chargers-Broncos game? Trying to plan a trip.
Fred Edgecomb, Buckeye, Ariz.
Miller: During the final four weeks of the season, games can be flexed as late as six days before kickoff. So, in this case, the day/time don’t have to be set until the Sunday or Monday before to the game, meaning Jan. 1 or 2.
Why Colts scare Chargers: They’ve blown big leads but also get them
The Chargers on Monday night will make NFL history.
No team has played an opponent that is coming off a defeat in which it blew a 33-point lead.
That’s what Indianapolis did Saturday, going up 33-0 at halftime only to lose at Minnesota 39-36 in overtime.
“You know that in the NFL, sometimes things happen,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said Thursday. “Every week in the NFL, something like that happens.”
Well, not every week. At least not something such as a league-record 33-point collapse.
Chargers winning without Derwin James, and could be even better with safety returning
He has raved about his defense’s performance and energy over the past two weeks, the Chargers seizing control of their postseason fate behind consecutive smothering efforts.
Coach Brandon Staley particularly noted Monday how the unit has been versatile enough to match up against the very different offensive styles of the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.
Also of note: The Chargers have done this without one of their best performers on defense, a player recognized specifically for both his energy and versatility.
How much more improved might the Chargers be when Pro Bowl safety Derwin James Jr. returns?
“We expect to play better with one of the top players in the league out there,” Staley said. “I think that that will be a great infusion of leadership, production and energy.”
Inactives for Chargers vs. Colts on Monday night
No surprises for the Chargers’ inactives for tonight against Indianapolis: running backs Sony Michel and Isaiah Spiller, offensive tackle Storm Norton, wide receiver Michael Bandy, safety JT Woods and quarterback Easton Stick.
Larry Rountree III was elevated from the practice squad this afternoon and will be the third running back behind Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley.
How a need to succeed fueled Austin Ekeler’s Rocky Mountain climb to the NFL
He arrived as the underdog — undrafted but hardly unloved by the Chargers — facing odds nearly as tall as he was, well, not so tall.
Back then, approaching six years ago now, Austin Ekeler was 5 foot 8 5/8.
Today, the Chargers list him at 5-10.
He’s still 5-8 5/8.
But nearly 7,000 yards, 59 touchdowns and countless celebratory strums of an imaginary guitar later, Ekeler’s height matters little compared to the long shadow cast by his heart.
Chargers look to clinch playoff spot, but Colts will not break easily
INDIANAPOLIS — After a season of uneven performances, the Chargers’ defense has leveled off — and leveled up — over the last two weeks.
The group has been so good that it has impacted not only the opposition’s offense but also its own offense.
“It’s not even so much what they did but how they did it,” center Corey Linsley said. “Just the energy they’ve had. You can feel it. They’ve had this attitude that they won’t be denied. That breeds so much confidence in the rest of us.”
Behind smothering defensive efforts in victories over Miami and Tennessee, the Chargers went from outside the playoffs to the brink of clinching a berth in what felt like just a few snaps.
Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Chargers (8-6) and the Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1) match up heading into their game at 5:15 p.m. PST at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Monday. The game will be shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ and NFL+.
When Chargers have the ball
Last weekend, Indianapolis historically collapsed in the second half against Minnesota. The Vikings’ comeback included winning the third quarter 14-3.
This is notable given how little the Chargers have produced coming out of halftime. They haven’t managed a third-quarter touchdown since Week 5, scoring only nine points — on three field goals — over the last nine third quarters.
“I need to help get the team in a better rhythm with some of the play calls,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “At times, you’re looking for a big play — and maybe too aggressive at times, maybe not aggressive other times. So it’s just finding that play script to help get the guys in a rhythm.”