The San Diego Chargers shocked the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants stunned the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League play-offs.

San Diego's 28-24 victory over Indianapolis means an end to the season for the defending Super Bowl champions. The Chargers booked their spot in next Sunday's American Conference championship game against the top-seeded and unbeaten New England Patriots, who remain on course for a perfect season.

San Diego survived the departures of Philip Rivers, the quarterback, and LaDainian Tomlinson, the running back, with injuries, coming from behind four times to deny Indianapolis. Billy Volek, San Diego's reserve quarterback, scored on a sneak for the go-ahead touchdown and the team's defence stifled Indianapolis in the later stages.

"We've got some guys that compete and fight and scatch and claw as good as I've ever been around," Norv Turner, the San Diego head coach, said.

In the National Conference, the New York Giants also spoiled a potential clash of the top two seeds in next week's championship contest, earning a trip to the Green Bay Packers after a 21-17 triumph in Dallas.

Dallas went 13-3 in the regular season to earn a first-round bye and a home-field edge throughout the NFC playoffs, but their season came to a close as R. W. McQuarters intercepted a Tony Romo pass with nine seconds remaining to end the final Dallas threat after Brandon Jacobs, the Giants running back, scored on a one-yard run 91 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Giants a 21-17 lead.

Eli Manning, the New York quarterback, was rock solid in his team's win. He completed 12-of-18 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. "We've had a great run so far," he said. "No one has given us much credit. We like it that way.

"It was just a team victory. Guys made big plays when we needed them. Stopping them when they had chances to score, that was big."