Colts done in by opposing punter

SAN DIEGO (WISH) - A punter took center stage Saturday night, sinking the Colts playoff chances with a booming leg.

The Chargers Mike Scifres punted six times for an average of 52.7 yards, including a 67-yarder.

Late in the 4th quarter, Scifres pinned Indianapolis at their 1-yard line with 2:41 left, with a perfect 52-yard punt.

"I don’t know if you can dream a game like this," Scifres said after the Chargers ended the Colts’ nine-game winning streak.

"I think that their punter is the MVP of the game," Colts running back Dominic Rhodes said. "He did a real good job of putting us deep in our territory, and their defense did a good job of keeping us there."

Scifres had punts of 51 yards to the Colts 10, 58 yards to the Indianapolis 15, 50 yards to the Colts 3, 67 to the Colts 5, 38 to Indy's 9-yard line, and the 52 yarder to the 1 with 2:41 to play.

Colts coach Tony Dungy singled out the 5th-year man out of Western Illinois. Dungy said, "I thought Scifres did an incredible job. He was the difference in the game. He just pinned us in the hole all night long."