INDIANAPOLIS – Not many teams in the AFC can say they've had success against the Colts, like the Chargers over the past decade.
With Philip Rivers operating things, the Chargers have definitely had the Colts' number.
San Diego has won six of their last seven games against the Colts, including a pair of playoff wins.
Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates are two of the only constants still left in San Diego.
In 2016, the Chargers are doing things with a blossoming young run game and an improving defense.
Second-year running back Melvin Gordon is beginning to show signs of why the Chargers spent the 15th overall pick on him last year.
Gordon has 158 rushing yards and three touchdowns in two games this season and will be even more of the feature ball carrier with scat back Danny Woodhead tearing his ACL last week. As a rookie in 2015, Gordon was shut out of the end zone on 184 carries.
San Diego scored 38 points in a Week Two victory over the Jaguars. That number was even more impressive considering star wideout Keenan Allen was placed on injured reserve after Week One.
Rivers has plenty of speed to work with at the receiver position, and the trustworthy Gates is still playing at the age of 36.
The Chargers are currently second in the NFL in averaging 32.5 points per game.
Sunday's contest will once again pit brothers on opposite sidelines with John Pagano coordinating the San Diego defense. It's a unit that is giving up just 76 rushing yards per game, but is allowing more than five yards per carry.
After Sunday, the Colts will play each team in the AFC South away from Lucas Oil Stadium in three of the next four weeks.
*2016 Record: *1-1, tied for 2nd in the AFC West.
*Head Coach: *Mike McCoy, head coach (fourth season as an NFL head coach, 23-27 overall regular season, 1-1 postseason record).
*2016 NFL Rankings: *Offense – Overall, 12th (372.5); Rushing, 3rd (152.5); Passing, 25th (220.0). Defense – Overall, 23rd (400.5); Rushing, 7th (76.0); Passing, 29th (324.5).
2016 Leading Passer: Phillip Rivers (42-of-60 comp., 463 yards, 70.0. pct., 5 TDs, 0 INTs, 120.3 rating).
*2016 Leading Rusher: *Melvin Gordon (38 carries, 159 yards, 3 TDs).
2016 Leading Receiver: *Travis Benjamin (13 receptions, 147 yards, 2 TDs).2016 Leading Sacker:* Melvin Ingram (2.0).
2016 Turnover Breakdown: Plus 3 (3rd in the NFL).
2016 NFL Draft Results: San Diego kept things very quiet throughout the draft process and eventually pulled the trigger on Ohio State's Joey Bosa with the No. 3 overall pick. Contract disputes between the Chargers and Bosa kept him from being signed until the end of the preseason. Bosa has missed the first two games of 2016 due to injury. In the second round, the Chargers looked for the future at tight end with Arkansas' Hunter Henry eventually being the guy for Antonio Gates.
2015 Review:With more than a handful of key starters on injured reserve, the Chargers trudged through last season with a 4-12 record. The Chargers won two of their first four games before a slide began. San Diego then dropped five straight one-possession games going into their Week 10 bye. Nine of San Diego's 12 losses last year were decided by one possession.
Last time in Playoffs: 2013 season. Lost to the Denver Broncos, 24-17, in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs.
*Last time in Super Bowl: *1994 season. Lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 49-26, in Super Bowl XXIX.
*Super Bowl Championships: *None.
2016 Pro Bowl Selections: CB-Jason Verrett.
