The Chargers have finally found it is takes to win in the playoffs and are heading to Foxboro next Sunday as they advance to the AFC Championship game. After a hard fought battle against the defending champs Indianapolis Colts, the Chargers will again head out on the road and will look to avenge their losses against the powerful New England Patriots.

The media, however, continues to doubt the legitimacy of the San Diego Chargers as Super Bowl contenders. This is a team that has beaten up on the Colts and has beaten the Patriots in Foxboro before. The Chargers will not go into the game next Sunday feeling like they don't deserve to be on the same field as the Pats. They won't be over their heads. But the betting line is already at around 15 1/2 points with the Chargers being the underdogs. And all the media talking heads are already crowing New England as a 19-0 team.

I guess the Chargers winning 48 games (counting the playoffs) in the past four years doesn't mean much right? I guess winning all those games with two different quarterbacks isn't impressive? And nevermind mentioning the fact that the team has gone through two different coaching staffs in two years and find themselves right back in the playoffs. And not only that, but they've won two playoff games in a row.

Keep doubting the Chargers. Keep giving them no respect. They'll use it as fuel to their fire and they'll walk into Foxboro with a chip on their shoulders and something to prove.

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It is not a coincidence that the Chargers have beaten the Colts in their last two meetings; San Diego matches up really with Indianapolis. When you look at the defending Super Bowl Champions, it obviously starts with the guy under center Mr. Peyton Manning. Manning is a guy with great pocket awareness, excellent football IQ, and possesses a hot release. Manning has never really destroyed great 3-4 defenses like the Patriots and Chargers because those defenses can disguise the rusher much easier. The recipe for success against the Colts is to pressure Manning and play some good coverage to keep the ball in Manning’s hands. He isn’t a guy like David Gerrard or Vince Young who can take off and pick up a first down with their feet. The Chargers’ secondary is going to be coming into the game with high confidence because they know that even with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in the game, they can still cover those guys man-to-man. Let’s not forget Dallas Clark who has been excellent for the Colts. He is similar to Antonio Gates in that he can run really well with a tight end-sized body and as a result he’ll line up in a variety of formations. But the Chargers’ have big and athletic linebackers who can really run; Wilhelm and Phillips will need to pick Dallas up at times and I am confidant that they are up for the task because they’ll be able to run him down and they have the size and power to make the tackle. The Chargers also have excellent special teams and the Colts have a pretty bad group. And obviously the Chargers can score just as many points as the Colts as both teams were top 5 in scoring during the 2007 regular season. Overall, I do not see the Chargers overly matched this Sunday and expect the team to win a close one on the road.

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Watching the Chargers hang on for a win against the Colts left people with a somewhat dumbfounded and fatigued feeling. Here was a game in which just about anything that could happen did happen. Interceptions galore, crazy referee calls, terrible Quarterback play (both sides of the ball), sub-par running back play (both sides of the ball), and some huge special teams plays.

If you're a football fan in general, you'll never forget that game and as a Charger fan, you'll hope to never experience a game like that again.

In the Chargers locker room after the game, the players shared (anonymously) some of their feelings to Yahoo Sports reporter, Michael Silver:

"We have the best running back in football, and yet we don't sense a commitment to the running game," one veteran said Sunday night. "Last year, teams put eight in the box against us, and we ran anyway – and found a way to be successful. That set up the play action, which fueled our passing game. This year, it seems like we run because we're supposed to; it balances out our passing attack. But it's not like being physical at the point of attack and running the ball is our personality."

Meanwhile, eight days ago in Minneapolis, the Chargers' once-vaunted defense got pushed around and gave up 296 rushing yards – to one player, the Vikings' Adrian Peterson. "A lot of guys were wondering how we could sit back and play zone all game while he was doing that to us," another Chargers veteran said. "It's like Cottrell is going to do it his way, and that's the only way he knows, and he won't come off of it. If you look at it, he's been fired from his last two jobs, and guys are questioning whether he's the right man for this one."

"Norv's not going to give you a Knute Rockne speech," said one Chargers player, "so you're going to have to find a different way to get yourself up. Look at it this way: We had a lot of young guys who came straight from college and then played for Marty. In some cases, they had eight consecutive years of a coach screaming at you and telling you what to do and how to do it. Now you're all of a sudden supposed to be a professional and do it on your own? Also, a lot of the key veterans who were here before (Donnie Edwards, Randall Godfrey, Keenan McCardell) are gone now. So it's going to be an adjustment."

"I'm happy with a win, of course, and it puts us in first place, but we know we've still got a long road ahead," All-Pro nose tackle Jamal Williams said. "You've got to understand, we got a new coaching staff. They've got to get used to us, too, and it takes time. But we've all got to get it together, man. It's not last year. I'm tired of hearing guys say that – 'Last year, last year.' That's over. We need to figure out who we are now."

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There is a new league leader in town, and his name is Antonio Cromartie. Six interceptions on the years puts Cromartie on top of the list among ballhawks. Cromartie was dominant in his first career start Sunday night; three interceptions and four credited passes defended is impressive enough, even without mentioning the Chargers were playing against Peyton Manning and the Colts.

"I was going up against the best quarterback in the NFL, Peyton Manning. For me to pick off three passes is a great accomplishment. But I feel like now I just have to keep my stride going, keep my confidence going, and be consistent throughout the rest of the season."

Starting in place of an injured Quentin Jammer, Cromartie and the Chargers defense probably expected Peyton Manning to test the coverage against Reggie Wayne. Little did Manning know, Cromartie is the most athletic, and more importantly opportunistic, defensive back on the Chargers roster:

"With it being my first start, I think he was trying to come after me. I was just trying to hold my own and have fun."

"With Jammer being down, it was my opportunity to come out and play football like I'm supposed to and get in a comfort zone."

All game long the Colts tested Cromartie. They knew he would need to be handled if they were going to have success. Cromartie was double-teamed on kick converage which freed up other players like Kassim Osgood. Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne went deep on a number of occasions to try and draw interference flags against Cromartie.

All of these tactics were only partially successful, and its a speaks volumes to Cromartie's poise and confidence that he kept his head in the game and remained focused for six minutes.

At this point if Cromartie hasn't earned a starting job then what more does he have to prove? When he was coming out of college I compared him to Shawne Merriman. I felt that Cromartie could bring playmaking ability to the secondary in a similar way that Shawne Merriman brought playmaking to the linebackers.

Quentin Jammer has a job waiting for him once healthy, but certainly the Coaches should entertain the idea of going with Cromartie as the opposite starter.

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How do you stop the Colts? The obvious answer is to stop Peyton Manning from getting the offense in rhythm (easier said than done). Not only is Indianapolis playing well on offense (like they always do), but their defense this season is much improved. Collectively, the Colts are a very good team, an elite team. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory, the Colts week in and week out draw the very best out of their opponents, yet continue to put together impressive winning streaks.

If there is a chink in the Colts’ armor then it would be their special teams units; specifically, their coverage units. The Colts score fast and they score often, and as a result they find themselves in lots of kickoff situations. Injuries to their linebacker corp have caused the Colts to promote some of their special teams guys into starting roles. There is a domino effect when you lose starters on defense and replace them with special teams standouts. Recently, the Colts have struggled in kick coverage and if they start to score points against a weakened Chargers defense, it’ll be up to the Chargers’ special teams units to keep the game in reach.

Here's Tony Dungy on the Colts' special teams performance:

We’ve got to do a better job. They are outstanding with their coverage units. They’ve got a lot of speed, they’ve got kickers that hang the ball high and put it directionally and they’ve covered really well. Darren Sproles is their return guy and a tough guy to tackle and take a lot of pride in it. And with their formula of running the ball with Tomlinson, playing defense; field position does become critical. And we’ve got to cover better. We talked about it this morning that we’ve got to kick the ball directionally the right way, kick it with good height.

The trickle down effect we’ve had with the injuries is showing on our special teams. (LB) Tyjuan Hagler and (LB) Rocky Boiman are starting so you’ve got to replace them on special teams. You get someone hurt and those backup guys go in and know they’re not playing as well on special teams because of the substitutions. We haven’t had (FB) Luke Lawton because we’ve had to get extra linebackers, and he was one of our better players. Guys are going to have to step and our young guys are going to be counted on this week.

If ever there was a week to promote special teams ace Antonio Cromartie, now is the time. Cromartie is making an impressive bid for the Pro Bowl with his play on special teams, but has yet to be given the opportunity to return kicks. There isn’t a player on the field who can keep up with Cromartie running at full speed. The Chargers can get into a funk at times and having a spark plug like Cromartie go out there and make big plays could be just what the team needs to keep them going 110% for 60 minutes. Not to mention the fans, who pay good money for season tickets, are literally begging Norv Turner to put Antonio Cromartie in so we can watch his playmaking abilities week in and week out.

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Luis Castillo is out for about six weeks with a torn ankle tendon. Jacques Cesaire will start in Castillo's place with Ryon Bingham also seeing reps in rotation.

Buster Davis and Shaun Phillips have been a bit dinged up, but it looks like those two are going to be ready to go against the Colts this Sunday. Its especially crucial that the team gets back Phillips, as the key to beating the Colts is to get as much pressure on Peyton Manning as possible.

Adrian Peterson had a monster game against the Chargers last week; 296 yards is a new single game record and likely seals the deal for Peterson's Rookie Of The Year bid. The Detroit Lions had the opportunity to draft Peterson with the number two overall pick, but were scared away by Peterson's college injury of a broken collarbone. The Lions had already been burned in the past with that injury: Carlos Rogers was their top pick in the 2003 draft and during his rookie season, Rogers broke his collarbone while practicing. Never getting his career back on the right track after the injury, Rogers went on to become known as a major bust.

When AJ Smith was asked recently about his course of action to replenish a banged up roster with free agents, Smith admitted that the search was certainly underway but that the pickings would be very slim eight weeks into the regular season. The Chargers are going to have to rely on their current depth to help them get through the final eight weeks of the season.

If the season were to end today, the Chargers would hold the #20 pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. While it is still unclear as to which direction the team would go with their top pick, certainly a player like Texas' DT Frank Okam would make a lot of sense. Its almost guaranteed that the Chargers will draft a Defensive Lineman in the upcoming draft. Defensive Tackle is Chargers number two need behind Running Back in my mind so it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Chargers take a 300 lbs monster in the first round.

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