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INDIANAPOLIS—Offensively, it was drops by a handful of players.
Defensively, it was mental mistakes that kept four separate double-digit play San Diego drives moving deeper into Colts territory.
Add it all up and the Colts (4-2) fell 19-9 to the San Diego Chargers (3-3) on Monday Night Football.
Areas in which the Colts have dominated all season long (third-down conversions and time of possession) were nowhere to be found on Monday night.
San Diego controlled the ball (38:32-21:29) and converted 7-of-14 third-downs compared to just a two-of-10 effort from the Colts.
Chargers kicker Nick Novak booted four field goals. Rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen caught a career-high nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown to make up the scoring for the home team.
A 50-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri at the halftime gun brought the Colts to within four points at 10-6.
The Chargers would once again eat up a majority of the third quarter clock and took a 13-6 lead into the final stanza.
Heading into a quarter the Colts had played their best football in all season long; the final stanza did not follow the same script as past weeks for Indianapolis.
After the two teams traded field goals, the Colts got the ball back up against their own goal with just over four minutes remaining.
However, a three-and-out would follow and Novak connected on a 50-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining to make up the final score of 19-9.
As the clock ticked away on Monday night, ESPN showed a graphic that pretty much summed up a night that was "uncharacteristic" to what the Colts had previously done in 2013.
There was the time of possession, third-down conversions, dropped passes and penalties (three Colts penalties into Chargers first downs) that told the story.
It's mistakes the Colts hope are just an anomaly with the undefeated Denver Broncos coming to Lucas Oil Stadium for Sunday Night Football in just six days.
SCORING RECAP
FIRST QUARTER (11:27 remaining)
The Colts took the opening kickoff and marched down the field before ending the drive with a 30-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal. On the first play from scrimmage, the Colts ran a flea flicker with Andrew Luck finding Reggie Wayne for 35 yards. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton had two catches for 19 yards on the drive. Colts 3, Chargers 0
SECOND QUARTER (12:02 remaining)
The Chargers got on the board after a long drive that was kept alive by San Diego third-down conversions and Colts defensive penalties. San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers found Keenan Allen for a 22-yard touchdown. For the game, the rookie Allen has five catches for 62 yards. Chargers 7, Colts 3
SECOND QUARTER (1:41 remaining)
San Diego dominated the time of possession in the second quarter but this drive only ended with three points after lasting nearly 10 minutes. Chargers kicker Nick Novak hit a 31-yard field goal. The Colts mental mistakes have given the Chargers three first downs due to Indianapolis penalties. San Diego added a bit of a ground game on the drive and Danny Woodhead. who leads all NFL running backs in receptions, had two catches on the drive.Chargers 10, Colts 3
SECOND QUARTER (0:00 remaining)
The Colts two-minute drill, with no timeouts, moved the ball quickly into Chargers territory before Vinatieri connected on a 50-yard field goal at the halftime gun. Luck converted his first four passes of the drive but a drop over the middle by Coby Fleener stalled the Colts and forced Vinatieri's second field goal attempt of the game. Chargers 10, Colts 6
THIRD QUARTER (9:05 remaining)
San Diego opened up the second half with another drive deep into Colts territory but once against the Indianapolis defense stiffened and forced a 33-yard field goal by Novak. Once again it was Woodhead isolated on a linebacker that converted a crucial third-down for the Chargers. Chargers 13, Colts 6
FOURTH QUARTER (9:43 remaining)
Another double-digit play drive, this one 16 plays, ended with a Novak 34-yard field goal. San Diego has continued to dominate the time of possession and keep the ball away from the Colts offense. This scoring drive began with just under four minutes to go in the third quarter after a Colts drive stalled on yet another dropped pass.Chargers 16, Colts 6
FOURTH QUARTER (7:21 remaining)
With an up-tempo offense, the Colts offense moved quickly across the 50-yard line but had to settle for a 51-yard field goal by Vinatieri. The drive included back-to-back catches by Wayne which gives him a 1,000 career receptions. Wayne is the ninth player in NFL history to reach that mark. Chargers 16, Colts 9FOURTH QUARTER (1:55 remaining)
After the Colts offense went three-and-out, San Diego virtually iced the game with a 50-yard field goal by Novak. The Chargers ran for a first-down on the first play of the drive but the Colts held from there forcing the long field goal drive which Novak knocked right through the uprights. Chargers 19, Colts 9
