Two weeks between games after a long regular season. It’s just what the team trainer ordered before the playoffs begin.

That formula didn’t work for the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The two-week “rest” seemed to translate into “rust” for the Super Bowl champs and the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Cowboys hadn’t played a meaningful game since Dec. 22, when they defeated Carolina to claim the top seed.

The extra week to prepare usually pays off. Since the current playoff format began in 1990, there have been 72 games involving higher-seeded teams coming off a first-round bye. The clubs with the extra week to rest and recuperate have gone 55-17.

Interestingly, it appears the bye hasn’t meant a thing the last three seasons. Each year, two of the four lower seeds have upset the better-rested opponent.

Lower Seed Beating Higher Seed in Divisional Playoff Round, 2005-07

Date. . . . . . Lower Seed. . . . . . .Higher Seed. . . . . . . . . . . . . Score
1/15/06. . . . . Panthers. . . . . . . . . .Bears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29-21
1/15/06. . . . . Steelers. . . . . . . . . . Colts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-18

1/13/07. . . . . Colts . . . . . . . . . . . .Ravens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15-6
1/14/07. . . . . Patriots. . . . . . . . . . Chargers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-21

1/13/08. . . . .Chargers. . . . . . . . . . Colts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-24
1/13/08. . . . .Giants. . . . . . . . . . . .Cowboys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-17

After falling to the New England Patriots a year ago as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the San Diego Chargers upset the higher seed Sunday. They eliminated the defending Super Bowl champs with a thrilling 28-24 win. With both Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson on the sideline, Chargers backup QB Billy Volek led the game-winning fourth-quarter drive. Filling in for Tomlinson, RB Michael Turner gained some key yards before Volek plunged into the end zone on a 1-yard sneak.

This week, the Chargers could exact revenge for that early exit from the playoffs last year. They face the undefeated New England Patriots, who bounced them from the postseason a year ago as the AFC’s fourth seed. The Pats also whipped the Chargers in Week 2, claiming a 38-14 victory. There’s no doubt who the favorite is on Sunday, even if Rivers and Tomlinson are ready to go.

The Colts have been involved in one of these games each of the last three seasons. The Pittsburgh Steelers bounced them from the playoffs two years ago, and the Colts turned the trick on the Baltimore Ravens last season before winning the Super Bowl. This year it will be a long offseason for the Colts.