San Diego, CA -- (Sports Network) - Adam Vinatieri's 51-yard field goal with time expiring lifted the Indianapolis Colts to a 23-20 win over the San Diego Chargers.

San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding made a 47-yarder with 1 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter to tie the contest. But the Colts got the ball back and, after moving the ball near midfield, faced a 4th-and-1 after a review ruled them short of a first down by an inch.

Indianapolis converted as Peyton Manning completed a 14-yard pass to Marvin Harrison to the Chargers' 34-yard line, and the Colts called their final timeout with 15 seconds on the clock. Joseph Addai ran for a yard before Manning spiked the ball with two ticks left, and Vinatieri's kick was good to give the Colts the win.

"The team played great and moved the ball downfield, and when your number is called, you've got to go out there and do it," Vinatieri said. "So making that kick was pretty sweet."

It was a reversal of last season's regular season matchup, when the Chargers won, 23-21, after Vinatieri missed a field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Manning threw for 255 yards and two scores, with one interception, on 32-of-44 passes for the Colts (7-4), who have won four straight games. Addai ran for 70 yards on 16 carries, while Anthony Gonzalez caught six passes for 95 yards and a TD for Indianapolis.

Philip Rivers passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-31 throws for the Chargers (4-7), who have lost four of five. It was another heartbreaker for San Diego, whose losses this season have come by an average of four points.

"We put our (defense) in a tough spot," Rivers said. "You know you have one of the best over there (Manning) with a timeout and needing to go 40 yards with one of the best ever (Vinatieri) kicking it, so it was certainly a tough minute and a half."

LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 84 yards on 21 attempts, while Vincent Jackson and Jacob Hester each caught a TD in the loss.

Vinatieri kicked a 38-yard field goal with 11:48 left in the contest that gave the Colts a 20-10 lead, but the Chargers mounted a comeback to challenge for the win.

San Diego started the ensuing drive at its own 30, marched toward midfield, and then got a big gain when Rivers found Jackson for 18 yards to the Indianapolis 27. San Diego eventually set up a 1st-and-goal at the one-yard line, where Rivers found Hester open in the right side of the end zone.

The score, Hester's first career TD, got San Diego within 20-17 with 5:36 on the clock.

The Chargers then needed a big stop from their defense, and got it. On 3rd- and-1, the Colts tried a rush to the left, but San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips got through the line and tackled Addai for a loss at the Indianapolis 37.

The Colts punted, and San Diego took over at its own 13. Rivers passed his way out of the situation with four straight completions. Tomlinson took a short pass for 15 yards, Rivers aired one out to Chris Chambers along the left sideline for 18 yards, and an 11-yard connection with Darren Sproles got San Diego to the Colts 37 at the two-minute warning.

The drive stalled there, and on 3rd-and-15 Rivers completed a pass to Brandon Manumaleuna for 13 yards to the Indianapolis 29. Forced to go for the first down or the points, the Chargers opted to send out Kaeding, whose 47-yarder went through the uprights with 1:30 on the clock, tying the score at 20-20.

After a series of punts to open the game, the Colts got the first points with a 23-yard field goal from Vinatieri with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

Kaeding had a 35-yarder shortly into the second stanza, and San Diego took the lead following Manning's interception. The Chargers started a scoring drive from their 11, but went the 89 yards in nine plays -- the last of which was a 39-yard strike to Jackson for a 10-3 lead.

But the Colts answered with their own long drive. In nine plays they went 71 yards, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Manning to Gonzalez with less than one minute left, and the game remained 10-10 at the break.

San Diego started the third quarter with the ball, but Rivers fumbled it away, leading to Indianapolis' next touchdown. The Colts' 66-yard march was highlighted by a 29-yard gain on a catch by Gonzalez, and Manning capped the series with a one-yard TD pass to Dominic Rhodes.

It came with 3:51 remaining in the third, giving the Colts a 17-10 advantage. After San Diego punted, the Colts went on another drive that bridged into the fourth, leading to Vinatieri's field goal and a 10-point lead.

Game Notes

With his 84 yards rushing, Tomlinson has 11,420 for his career, moving past John Riggins (11,352) for 14th place all-time...Tomlinson also caught three passes, and is now just three shy of 500 receptions for his career...The Colts play at Cleveland next Sunday...San Diego hosts Atlanta next Sunday.