With 17 straight wins, the New England Patriots have fended off all comers:

Running teams, passing teams, blitzing teams, cover teams, big-play teams, punch-you-in-the face teams, speed teams, humongous teams. You name it.

All but one. Sunday in the AFC Championship game, New England hosts San Diego, suddenly the NFL's team of destiny.

How else can the Chargers' 28-24 win at Indianapolis be explained?

LaDainian Tomlinson didn't grind he Colts' defense into the FieldTurf. Philip Rivers didn't rediscover the hot hand.

Those two were on the sideline, watching the likes of Billy Volek, Darren Sproles and Michael Turner finished off the defending champion Colts for the second time this year.

Destiny. How else can you explain a team with the worst pass defense in the game among playoff contenders turning the great Peyton Manning away not once but twice in the final five minutes?

OK, let's get the reality check out of the way. The Colts were severely hamstrung by injuries on both sides: Dwight Freeney and Marvin Harrison were the headliners, and when Reggie Wayne went down late Manning was dealing purely with a band of minor leaguers.

But with destiny there are heroes, not just superstars, but true heroes who step up out of nowhere.

Defensively, corner Antonio Cromartie is one of the top young stars in the game. His skills absolutely have rubbed off on his fellow bookend, Quentin Jammer. A weekly candidate for roasting, Jammer was immense yesterday.

Safety Marlon McCree and third corner Drayton Florence blanketed the Colts and repeatedly frustrated Manning - again, when it mattered in the fourth quarter.

Will anybody remember this game for Manning's 402 passing yards? Or for the two late stops by San Diego?

Offensively, as banged up as Antonio Gates was, the Chargers have uncovered a quality, clutch receiving tandem in skywalker Vincent Jackson (7 catches, 93 yards) and the unheralded Chris Chambers (3-67). Each had TDs yesterday.

San Diego now believes in itself, like no other team that has faced the Patriots.

The matchup also offers the air of uncertainty - a word Bill Belichick may not fear but at least loathes. Who does New England prep for ... the Chargers with Rivers and LT or without them?

Must they scheme against Antonio Gates?

How about the breakaway speed from Turner and Sproles?

"We'll prepare for everybody and, as we saw today, any number of players could be in the game," said Belichick yesterday via conference call. "So if they're on the 53-man roster, we'll prepare for all of them. Then whichever ones are on the 45-man roster on game day, then we'll focus our preparations on those guys."

Still a minor leaguer

Norv Turner's Chargers take over at their own 9, with the lead, 28-24, and 2:01 left in the game.

Run the football? It's the conservative call, and Michael Turner gets 1 yard against a stacked Colts defense.

The Bill Belichick call there, for sure, is a play-action pass. It stuns he opposition, and the clock is stopping anyway with the two-minute warning, so an incomplete doesn't hurt you.

Hit a deep one and the ball game is over. Turner takes the JV choice.

Indy stuffs three runs, forces a punt and gets a final shot, with the football, a timeout and 90 seconds to play.

Turner got lucky on a day where he was miserable.

His defense made plays to stop Peyton Manning, who faced the biggest possession of the season without his three top weapons.

It didn't hurt Turner this week, but burning his timeouts early on frivolous challenges and because his defense isn't prepared for a snap will cost him at some point. It always does.

Quickie poll

Observing the old adage that "you are only as good as your last game" and remembering that quarterbacks and their reputations are made in the postseason, here's one man's opinion of the NFL's top-10 quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, New England - the biggest no-brainer in he history of the earth.

2. Brett Favre, Green Bay - I believe, man. I believe.

3. Tony Romo, Dallas - The new sheriff in town.

4. Peyton Manning, Indy - Just not against the Pats or Chargers.

5. David Garrard, Jacksonville - Shoots up the charts in loss.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh - He needs Steelers to provide some weapons.

7. Donovan McNabb, Philly - The 2008 Comeback Player of the Year.

8. Eli Manning, NY Giants - Another one surging right now.

9. Jeff Garcia, Tampa - Merrimack College has better receivers.

10. Carson Palmer, Cincy - May need change of scenery, but I still have faith.

Odds and ends

Don't know about you, but that "Rock me Gently, Rock me Slowly," commercial causes an immediate channel click on my remote. It happens at least three times per NFL game. ...

Funniest/least classy moment of the day - When Colts fans booed young Anna Grant of Stratham, N.H., the national Punt, Pass and Kick champ because she represents and wears a Patriots jersey. ...

Good judgment or cowardice - With Brandon Jacobs rumbling through the hole at the goal line, Dallas safety Roy Williams, unblocked, chose not to step in and challenge the Giants' steamroller. Watch the replay. Williams actually cowered. You can see the split-second decision-making process. ...

Stick of the day - We're biased, but we'll take Giants' rookie special teams ace Zak DeOssie on Miles Austin's fourth-quarter kick return.