Michael Conroy / AP

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is sacked by Chargers defender Shawne Merriman. The Chargers sacked Manning four times and handed Indianapolis its first loss of the season, 26-17, on Sunday.

Still, the Chargers were leading 16-0 midway through the third quarter on a 29-yard TD pass from Drew Brees to Keenan McCardell and three field goals by Nate Kaeding.

“They were treating it like a playoff game and we were, too,” Manning said. “I feel very disappointed that we lost the game.”

The Colts rallied behind their defense.

Trailing 16-3 after Mike Vanderjagt’s field goal, Gary Brackett intercepted Brees’ pass, setting up a 1-yard TD run by Edgerrin James. Then Dwight Freeney sacked Brees to force a fumble, and Manning threw a 1-yard TD pass to Dallas Clark.

Suddenly it was 17-16 with 40 seconds left in the third quarter, and the RCA Dome, quiet for almost three quarters, exploded in a raucous roar.

It got louder when McCardell fielded Hunter Smith’s punt on the goal line a few minutes into the fourth quarter and could get only to his 8. But McCardell atoned, catching a 54-yard pass from Brees, who finished 22-of-33 for 255 yards, to set up Kaeding’s field goal that put the Chargers up 19-17.

Nick Harper’s end-zone interception after Dominic Rhodes fumbled the ensuing kickoff stopped one threat for the Colts. Manning drove the Colts down the field, but the grounding call when he was pressured by Merriman cost him 12 yards and Castillo’s sack forced a punt.

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“We call multiple plays in the huddle or on the line. That’s called an alert,” Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said of the run by Turner, who was subbing for LaDainian Tomlinson, who bruised his ribs. “We see what they show. Then we either run the play or run the alert. That was the alert.”

That was the alert that made the 1972 Dolphins happy. It might be the alert that takes the pressure off the Colts en route to an NFL title.

Notes: Schottenheimer said that Tomlinson, who finished with 76 yards on 24 carries, was not seriously hurt. ... Colts right tackle Ryan Diem, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. ... Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne of the Colts all went over 1,000 yards for the season, the seventh straight year past that mark for Harrison. ... Edgerrin James set the franchise mark for touchdowns with 64, one more than Lenny Moore of the old Baltimore Colts.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year

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