Almost as amazing as the fact the Chargers keep losing in the way they do is the fact their season is still very much relevant.

"How great is that? We've still got an opportunity," Shaun Phillips said last night, lighting up for a moment in the aftermath of another kick-in-the-gut loss. "But we can't worry about the Denver Broncos . We've got to worry about ourselves winning a game."

The Chargers lost for the fourth time this season in the final 24 seconds.

This time, Adam Vinatieri made a 51-yard field goal through the same uprights he missed wide right from 29 yards at the end of last November's wild Chargers victory here, and the Colts beat the Chargers 23-20.

"It's like Groundhog Day -- the same thing over and over again," Phillips said.

Nate Kaeding kicked a 47-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining to tie the game, only to see Peyton Manning drive the Colts 37 yards and set up Vinatieri's kick that commenced with 2 seconds on the clock and hit the net as time ran out.

Yet because the Oakland Raiders (3-8) went to Denver and beat the Broncos (6-5) yesterday, the Chargers (4-7) remain just two games back.

The Chargers looked at yesterday as an opportunity lost.

"We didn't gain any ground," safety Eric Weddle said. "We didn't capitalize. That's been the story all season."

They know Denver is also giving them more chances than they deserve.

"We got a lifeline," linebacker Stephen Cooper said. "But if we're not winning games, we're not going to make the playoffs."