Yesterday's surprises provided further vindication for Eli Manning in New York and coach Norv Turner in San Diego. Manning perhaps stepped out from behind his brother's tall shadow with two playoff victories this month. Turner, with the mandate to get the Chargers to the Super Bowl in his first season, battled injuries and several suspect penalties to advance.
What's more, Manning and Rivers, the top two quarterbacks from the 2004 draft, might have come of age in the same postseason.
No one is expecting them to get any farther, though.
The Chargers were drubbed by the Patriots in New England in Week 2, 38-14. Tom Brady passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns in that game, while Rivers threw for 179 and two interceptions.
More telling was the total yardage: The Patriots amassed 407 yards to San Diego's 201. The Chargers might wish to remember last January's 24-21 divisional playoff loss at home to the Patriots. They had an NFL-best record of 14-2 and the AFC's top seed last season, and led, 21-13, with eight minutes left. The game turned on a Brady interception in the fourth quarter.
But New England's Troy Brown stripped interceptor Marlon McCree of the ball to set up a touchdown, two-point conversion and 21-21 tie. The Patriots got a go-ahead 31-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski with 70 seconds left, and San Diego's Nate Kaeding was short on a 54-yard attempt as time expired.
That was the final game for Marty Schottenheimer as Chargers head coach.
A year later, Schottenheimer is a candidate for the Ravens' vacancy. In what amounts to good news for the Ravens, they'll be able to talk to Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett this week, too.
ken.murray@baltsun.com
Divisional games
Saturday
AFC: New England 31, Jacksonville 20 NFC: Green Bay 42, Seattle 20
Yesterday
AFC: San Diego 28, Indianapolis 24 NFC: N.Y. Giants 21, Dallas 17
Conf. championships
Sunday
AFC: San Diego at New England (-14 1/2 ), 3 p.m., chs. 13, 9 NFC: N.Y. Giants vs. Green Bay (-7), 6:30 p.m., chs. 45, 5
Super Bowl
Feb. 3
At University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
6:30 p.m., chs. 45, 5
