Chargers reach playoffs, beat Foles, overmatched Colts 20-3

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Austin Ekeler scored on two 1-yard runs and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their first playoff berth since 2018, intercepting Indianapolis quarterback Nick Foles thrice to beat the overmatched Colts 20-3 on Monday evening.

Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards and Cameron Dicker made two brief area targets for the Chargers (9-6), who received their third straight after getting the assistance they wanted this weekend from Las Vegas, Miami, New England and the New York Jets. When all 4 misplaced, the Chargers simply wanted a win to achieve the postseason for the primary time with Herbert and simply the second time since 2014.

And in contrast to final season, when Los Angeles misplaced in time beyond regulation to rival Las Vegas within the remaining recreation to overlook the playoffs, it completed the job this time by incomes its first Monday evening highway victory in additional than a decade.

Indianapolis (4-10-1) misplaced its fifth straight underneath interim coach Jeff Saturday, although this was a extra ho-hum defeat than the earlier two, when it gave up 33 fourth-quarter factors to Dallas and blew a 33-0 halftime lead at Minnesota.

Foles, making his first begin for the Colts, squandered two first-quarter scoring possibilities by throwing picks. Herbert additionally struggled early till Ekeler scored the primary factors of the sport together with his brief TD run halfway via the second quarter.

The Colts took benefit of two private foul calls that led to the ejection of Professional Bowl security Derwin James to drive for his or her solely rating of the sport, a 46-yard area objective by Chase McLaughlin.

However that was it for the Colts. Dicker’s two kicks made it 13-3, and Ekeler’s second scoring run sealed the victory.

Ekeler had 18 carries for 67 yards, turned the fourth participant in 15 years to attain at the very least 15 TDs in back-to-back seasons and fell one reception in need of posting the sixth 100-catch season by a working again in league historical past.

Herbert was 24 of 31 as his streak of consecutive 300-yard video games ended at three. Keenan Allen caught 11 passes for 104 yards and has topped the 100-yard mark in six straight highway video games.

Foles was 17 of 29 for 143 yards and threw his remaining interception within the third quarter. The Tremendous Bowl MVP after the 2017 season with Philadelphia was sacked seven instances in his first NFL begin since Dec. 26, 2021, with Chicago.

FUTURE PLANS

The Colts have already fired offensive coordinator Marcus Brady and coach Frank Reich and have benched quarterback Matt Ryan twice. Ryan was inactive behind Foles and backup Sam Ehlinger on Monday evening.

Staff proprietor Jim Irsay addressed the way forward for his group during an interview that aired on ESPN’s pregame show. Irsay stated Saturday can be a candidate to maintain the job subsequent season.

“I’ll go into it open-minded, and I can be on the lookout for the perfect route for us to win,” Irsay stated. “Jeff I consider is an excellent candidate so, clearly, he’s aggressive for that. Chris Ballard can be our common supervisor and the quarterback, it’s very a lot up within the air proper now on what route we’ll be going.”

SHORT RETURN

James returned after lacking two video games with a quadriceps damage, however he did not even make it via the primary half.

Two performs after being known as for a facemask when Michael Pittman Jr.’s helmet got here off, James was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver with the crown of the helmet and was ejected with 5:18 to play. The hit despatched Colts receiver Ashton Dulin to the locker room, and Dulin was ultimately dominated out with a concussion.

UP NEXT

Chargers: Return residence to face the Rams in Sunday’s Battle of Los Angeles.

Colts: Shut out their highway schedule with a New 12 months’s Day journey to the New York Giants.

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