The Indianapolis Colts came in with a three-game winning streak, an enhanced sense of confidence and the air of a team that will be trouble in the playoffs -- if it can reach the playoffs.

The San Diego Chargers ? Not so hot. Losers of three of their last four games, the Chargers still found themselves within reach of another AFC West title if they could staunch the bleeding and win at home Sunday night. But in a season of heartache and last-second defeats, more of the same came their way.

The Colts (7-4) stayed in contention in the AFC wild-card race as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired for a 23-20 win. Peyton Manning threw a pair of touchdown passes.

It was sweet redemption for both. In this same stadium a little more than a year ago, Manning threw a career-worst six interceptions in a 23-21 loss. Vinatieri missed the potential game-winning field goal from 29 yards with 1:31 left. And sweeter still since it was the Chargers who eliminated the Colts from last season's playoffs 28-24 in Indianapolis.

"What happened here last year left a pretty sour taste in my mouth," Vinatieri said. "So it's a pretty good feeling right now."

The Colts led 20-10 on Vinatieri's 38-yard field goal with 11:48 remaining. Two pass-interference penalties against the Chargers (4-7) helped immensely.

San Diego closed to 20-17 with 5:36 left on Philip Rivers' 1-yard touchdown pass to rookie fullback Jacob Hester. It was Rivers' second touchdown pass of the night. They tied the score at 20 with 1:30 left on Nate Kaeding's 47-yard field goal.

That was the good news. It was also the bad news. It left the Colts 90 seconds, and in this benighted season of last-minute disasters for the Chargers, it was simply too generous a gift.

"It was big for us to get them stopped and keep them to a field goal," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "And it was a lot of time."

Working from their 30-yard line, the Colts made most of their yardage on passes of 13 yards to Gonzalez and 14 to Marvin Harrison. They also got an important clock stop on an instant-replay review that took a first down away from them and left them with a fourth-and-1 from the San Diego 48. That's where Manning ran a play-fake and then hooked up with Harrison for 14 yards. Two plays later, Vinatieri punched home the winning field goal.

"That's why he's the best kicker around and of all time, in my opinion," Manning said.

That's four losses this season in the waning seconds for the Chargers, four soul-draining defeats.

"It seems like it's Groundhog Day, where the same things keep on happening," linebacker Shaun Phillips said. "Somebody keeps lining up to kick a field goal with a little bit of time on the clock."

Somebody who isn't a Charger.