San Diego quarterback Rivers threw for three touchdowns

The Chargers beat defending champions Indianapolis 28-24 despite losing top rusher LaDainian Tomlinson to injury.

New York beat the NFC's number one seed Dallas 21-17 after two touchdowns from Eli Manning to Amani Toomer.

San Diego will now face New England while New York take on Green Bay for a place in Super Bowl XLII on 3 February.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning was celebrating just hours after his older brother, Colts QB Peyton lost despite passing for 402 yards at home to the Chargers.

He was intercepted twice and held on two late drives when the Colts had an opportunity to snatch victory.

"It sucks," said Eli Manning of his brother's defeat.

"I heard the news right before the game started. I don't know what happened but I know he was rooting for me."

Of the Giants' first victory over Dallas in their third attempt this year, he said: "I love it. We've had a great run so far. No one's given us credit but we like it that way."

The younger Manning threw over the middle to Toomer to level the score 14-14 at half-time after driving the length of the field in just 41 seconds at Texas Stadium.

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Highly rated Dallas QB Tony Romo - criticised for taking a holiday to Mexico with girlfriend Jessica Simpson when his team were off last weekend - was held to 201 yards, throwing an interception to seal the defeat.

Earlier, the Chargers won a game where the lead changed five times. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 264 yards, with three touchdowns, before his back-up Billy Volek ran for a score.

The Chargers lost Tomlinson - the league's leading running back - to knee trouble mid-way through the second quarter, when they were down 7-0 after a Manning pass to Dallas Clark.

But Rivers levelled the scores by finding Vincent Jackson, who made seven catches in all for 93 yards.

Chris Chambers and third-string running back Darren Sproles - with a breath-taking 56-yard catch-and-run - kept the Chargers on terms.

After losing three of their first four games, the Chargers have now won eight consecutive games to move to the brink of their first Super Bowl appearance since 1995.

But they must travel to Massachusetts next Sunday to face the Patriots, who have yet to lose a game all season, while Giants travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers, who beat Seattle on Saturday.