Chargers following Colts' championship path?

Will the Chargers be the next Indianapolis Colts; the team that comes close for so many years before finally winning a Super Bowl?

Chargers’ faithful can only hope so after Sunday’s 21-12 loss to the New England Patriots for the AFC Championship.

If you’re disappointed by the Chargers losing to the New York Jets in the 2004 Wild Card round, the Patriots in the 2006 AFC Divisional round and New England in this season’s championship; then take heart by what the Colts suffered through.

Indianapolis concluded the 2002 season with a 41-0 wild card loss to the New York Jets. It lost to New England in both the 2003 AFC Championship and 2004 AFC Divisional round, then fell to Pittsburgh in the 2005 AFC Divisionals.

So, the next season, the Colts finally won the Super Bow after four straight years of playoff disappointment.

Can the Chargers be next?

It says here they can; but they question is whether they will follow in the footsteps of Indianapolis.

Certainly, it could have been a different story if LaDainian Tomlinson touched the ball more than three times because of injury in this year’s AFC Championship.

It also could have been different if quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates did not come into the game so beaten up.

But "what if’s" can be asked be anyone.

What if QB Vince Young had been 100 percent healthy and two of his top three receivers had not missed this year’s Wild Card game for Tennessee vs. the Chargers?

What if Marvin Harrison had not been so rusty from injury that he had not fumbled against the Chargers last week when Indianapolis appeared headed to a 14-0 lead?

These questions will never be answered anymore than what would have happened if the Chargers had been at full strength vs. New England.

There’s always next year; a refrain Colts’ fans got tired of hearing until last season.

Can Chargers repeat road playoff history?

Precedence says the Chargers have a good chance of beating the Indianapolis Colts on the road Sunday in the AFC Divisional playoffs.

Thirteen seasons ago, the top-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers rested many of their regular players in the season finale but still barely lost to the Chargers, 37-34.

Based on that game, the “experts” knew that the Steelers (with all hands on board) would crush the Chargers in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship.

Guess what? The Chargers won, 17-13, to advance to their only Super Bowl appearance.

Fast forward to this season …

The Colts were missing six regulars with injuries (and two more left the game hurt) when they barely lost to the Chargers in San Diego, 23-21, on Nov. 11.

Now, Indianapolis is the same 8 1/2-point favorite that Pittsburgh was when it lost to the Chargers in January 1995.

The Colts are expected to have starters Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez at wide receiver, tight end Dallas Clark, tackles Tony Ugoh and Ryan Diem and linebackers Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho ready to go this time. All either were injured or left the game early when the Chargers beat Indianapolis earlier this season.

Based on these players’ return, the Colts should win easily this week … just as Pittsburgh should have been victorious 13 years ago in the AFC Championship.

That being said:

This weekend’s predictions:

Colts 27, Chargers 17
New England 35, Jacksonville 20
Dallas 31, New York Giants 27
Green Bay 21, Seattle 13

Chargers can dream on

If the Chargers beat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, consider their season a success.

If not, consider it as big of a failure as last year … even though they won a playoff game for the first time in 13 years this time.

Why?

It’s simple.

The Chargers are facing the Colts in the AFC Divisional playoffs, the same round in which they lost last season to New England, 24-21. (San Diego had a bye in the wild card round of last year’s playoffs for having the best regular season record in the AFC.)

If coach Marty Schottenheimer ultimately took the fall for losing in the divisional round last year, then losing in the same round this year would be no less of a “failure.”

The Chargers have not had a road game in the playoffs for 13 years. The last time they did so was when they won at Pittsburgh, 17-14, to advance to the 1995 Super Bowl.

That journey seemed improbable … this one appears more on the side of impossible.

In order to make this year’s Super Bowl, the Chargers would have to win at Indianapolis and (most likely) at New England. It’s only a pipe dream to think that Jacksonville and the Chargers will win this weekend then meet Jan. 20 for the AFC Championship in San Diego.

At this point, dream on!