But that scenario was scrapped as Tomlinson (strained groin) and Gates (sprained ankle) stayed down for another day.

The Chargers continue workouts Friday for Saturday's divisional playoff game, and it's not known if Tomlinson and Gates will participate.

But even if they go, that would be just a walk-through session, meaning the two Chargers stars won't have a real practice before game day.

The decision, though, is not to push either player leading up to the game. They will test how they can move and how much pain they can withstand before kickoff.

Both players were compromised last season in the playoffs as well.

Tomlinson didn't play down the stretch of the Chargers' upset of the Colts. He then was limited to some first-quarter action in the AFC Championship Game before being idled.

Gates was limited for most the playoffs after injuring his toe in the team's first-round game against the Titans. Gates would play in Indianapolis and New England, but his movement was restricted.

Of the two, Gates appears to be in the greatest danger of missing Saturday's game.

"If we were playing today he probably wouldn't play," coach Norv Turner said.

When asked if Tomlinson could play if they played Thursday, Turner said he thought his star back could go.

He's most encouraged that the players are improving.

"Both of them are a lot better than they have been," Turner said. "It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We'll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I'm optimistic about both of them."

The Chargers, after their unlikely path to the AFC West title, were upbeat about their health before their play-in victory over the Broncos. The team was as fit as it had been all year, then Gates and Tomlinson were sidelined.

"I hope to play, but ultimately it's not really my decision," Tomlinson said. "Game day, we'll see how coach feels and what he wants to do. But hopefully I'll be able to go."

--Few expected the Chargers to be here - at midseason anyway.

Before the season, everyone expected the Chargers to be preparing for a playoff game.

And they are, with the Indianapolis Colts arriving for Saturday's wild-card playoff contest at Qualcomm Stadium.

But after the Chargers had lost five of six during one dreadful stretch, the postseason chatter got pushed to the backburner.

Then came a four-game winning streak to cap the season. As well as an epic collapse by the Broncos, who were in first place every week except after the final game.

That's why many think the Chargers have a good shot of advancing deep into the tournament for the second straight year.

Despite having a prime opportunity to fold when they were 4-8, the Chargers kept fighting. So the speculation is that if they were able to survive and dig out of that hole, the playoffs are almost like playing with house money.

They are also playing with the NFL's hottest quarterback in Philip Rivers. That's big when considering Peyton Manning, the quarterback on the ball's other side is likely close to being named the league's Most Valuable Player.

"Philip is playing great football right now. He's playing like an MVP and hopefully it carries into next Saturday," linebacker Stephen Cooper said.

That the Chargers are still alive is amazing. But it also lends credence to what coach Norv Turner has preached since taking over for Marty Schottenheimer before last season: be playing your best football when the stakes are the highest.

The Chargers have done that, by extending their winning streak in December to 14 games.

"It's critical that you keep improving," Turner said. "I said this, and it's hard to say it when you lose close games like we did.

"We lost a one-point game at Pittsburgh. There are some other people who have lost close games, very low-scoring games there. Some pretty good teams have. We lost a three-point game to Indy. They're the hottest team in football right now. They've won nine straight. I said after the game, it was a lot like our playoff game back there except they won it and we didn't.

"When you're losing close games or you're not winning and you talk about players improving, I'm not sure you guys buy it but I see it and I saw it. (Defensive back) Paul Oliver is a great example. There are a bunch of guys. Stephen Cooper, we assume that he was just plugged back in and was ready to go. He's improved a great deal. He's playing his best football of his career."

But when players are ascending and the team is descending, it's tough to wrap your arms around the idea that better days are ahead.

"You see it happening, then you need it to show up in wins," Turner said. "That's what it's done over the last month, but we have a lot of players I think that are playing their best football of their career. That's important. It's obviously what we shoot for in terms of going forward."

Then again, the Colts could make the Chargers' train stop fast. Especially after the Chargers knocked them out of the playoffs last season.

"We're getting ready to play a team that has a lot of guys that are playing their best football of their career or the best football they've played this year," Turner said.

Still, the Chargers have to feel as if they have been given a reprieve. It wasn't long ago the players were being called underachievers, LaDainian Tomlinson was believed to be washed up, the defense couldn't overcome the loss of All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman and Turner wasn't suited to coach a Pop Warner squad, let alone the so-called most talented team in the NFL.

That's why Tomlinson points to this playoff trip as his most rewarding.

"I would say so," he said. "There was a point there where you were really starting to wonder if you were going to get in because Denver just had to win one game.

"Every week you were hoping. 'Man I hope they don't win. I hope they don't win.' When it came down to this last game of us playing Denver, at that point we felt like we were going to get in. I don't think there was any doubt in our mind that we would win that game."

But there was plenty of doubt - and doubters - before the calendar flipped to December. That's when the Chargers' persona switches from being disappointed to dangerous.

While the road the Chargers took to the playoffs had its share of potholes, they at least have reached their destination.

"It's not ideal but we'll take it," Tomlinson said. "It's a pretty strange season, isn't it? But it's good to be in this position, no doubt. To say that you're division champs and to be going to the playoffs and hosting a playoff game, that's a great feeling for us."

SERIES HISTORY: 26th meeting. The Chargers lead the series 15-10, and the teams are tied 1-1 in postseason matchups. The Chargers fell to the Colts in the regular season this year at home, 23-20. But last season, the Chargers upset the host Colts in a divisional playoff game, 28-24. The Chargers pulled off the unlikely victory despite QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson not playing down the stretch because of knee injuries.