The Colts were supposed to blow this one wide open by the third quarter. They were supposed to send the RCA Dome out in style. Instead, the defending Super Bowl Champions got served a batch of humble pie by back-up quarterback Billy Volek when he snuck in the go-ahead touchdown with a little over four minutes remaining in the game. It assuredly wasn’t how Peyton Manning had envisioned the game going. It assuredly wasn’t how Norv Turner had envisioned the game going especially after losing LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers to injuries. In the end, however, it was that jumbled mess from San Diego who began packing their bags for New England, not the reigning Super Bowl Champs.

Give both teams some credit. Five lead changes in a game that was one of the finest I’ve watched all season. We had Marvin fumbling, Dallas stumbling, Rivers mumbo-jumbo-ing, and LT left wondering. Where was Bob Sanders? The Defensive Player of the Year was invisible on the field for most of the game with the exception of the injury he sustained. Where was Joseph Addai? 13 rushes for just 43 yards isn’t the kind of balance we are used to seeing from this Colts offense.

Don’t bother giving any credit to the referees. One of the more lopsided games I’ve ever seen called included a phantom holding penalty that negated an interception return for a touchdown and a pass interference call that wasn’t much beyond a tap of the receiver.  There was a point in this game where it appeared as if Norv Turner’s head might explode from screaming so much.

If yesterday’s game is any indication of how gritty this San Diego team will play next week versus the New England Undefeateds, then I think we are in for a good one. Even with the prospect of Rivers or LT not playing, this Chargers team looks like it has no fear. I’m not going to call them the Super Bolts just yet but maybe, just maybe, this team got it’s 2006 swagger back