In his considering one victory and thousands of passes, Philip Rivers was grateful.

As always, Rivers came to play. He loves his teammates. They love him back. On this day, they actually showed it, not wasting another masterful performance by their quarterback.

“How special is 17?” Mike McCoy said, starting his postgame press conference with a rhetorical question. “… He’s amazing. When you prepare the way he does, gets us in the end zone the way he does, give him so much credit.”

Complete coverage: San Diego 31, Jacksonville 25

On a day he ascended into a realm rare among all the quarterbacks who have ever played, Rivers tied a career high with four touchdown passes and led the Chargers to a 31-25 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Rivers completed 29 of his 43 passes for 300 yards, his seventh 300-yard game this season, one off Dan Fouts’ team mark. The Chargers are 3-4 in those games. His 118.4 rating was his seventh time over 99.6. The Chargers are also 3-4 in those games.

That is why Rivers so relished being able to say this:

“It was a good team win. Both sides stepped up throughout the game. We leaned on each other a few times.”

In part because they so often have leaned on him and partly due to the toughness he again demonstrated Sunday in not leaving the field after a second-quarter toe injury that clearly hobbled him and another blow that had him moving gingerly afterward, Rivers on Sunday became just the 17th player to ever pass for 40,000 yards in his career. In his 159th career game, he became the fourth-fastest to ever reach the mark.


× Acee-Gehlken Chargers vs Jaguars Analysis

“It’s a lot of yards,” said Rivers, now at 40,166. “And like a lot of those milestones you reach, I think about all those guys who were in front protecting and all the guys who have been on the other end of those passes. A lot of people have had a hand in those 40,000 yards. I’m grateful I’ve been out there for 155 (starts) in a row playing with my teammates. I’m thankful more than anything.”

Rivers’ four TD tosses gave him 275 for his career, tied with Vinny Testaverde for 11th all-time. His third TD had broken a 12th-place tie with Joe Montana.

For all that, though, it was an eight-yard rumbling, stumblingm diving scramble on fourth-and-seven in the fourth quarter that was perhaps most appreciated by his teammates – given not only its importance but that Rivers is by no means mobile.


“His run was the most special part of the game,” Antonio Gates said of the play with nine minutes remaining that extended a drive that led to the Chargers’ final touchdown. “It says a lot about him and his competitive nature, and that’s why he’s our leader.”

There was a lot of gratitude to go around.

“Every time I watch this guy play football,” McCoy said. “We’re just so fortunate.”

1 / 39 Jacksonville fan Susan Elle Harmon celebrates a Jaguars touchdown at Everbank Field against the Chargers. (K.C. Alfred) 2 / 39 San Diego Chargers Stevie Johnson (11) celebrates a 4th quarter touchdown with Orlando Franklin, left, Kenny Wiggins, Malcom Floyd, and Dontrelle Inman during a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 3 / 39 Chargers Manti Te’o hits Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 4 / 39 San Diego Chargers Melvin Gordon signs an autograph for a fan after a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 5 / 39 Fans watch the Jaguars-Chargers game from a pool at Everbank Field in Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 6 / 39 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates gives a glove to a fan after a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 7 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers waves to the crowd after a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 8 / 39 Fans watch the Jaguars-Chargers game from a pool at Everbank Field in Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 9 / 39 San Diego Chargers Dontrelle Inman scores a touchdown against Jacksonville’s Dwayne Gratz in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 10 / 39 San Diego Chargers Dontrelle Inman (15) celebrates a touchdown with Orlando Franklin against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 11 / 39 A San Diego Chargers fan takes a photo during a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 12 / 39 Jaguar cheerleaders perform during a game against the Chargers. (K.C. Alfred) 13 / 39 Jaguar cheerleaders perform during a game against the Chargers. (K.C. Alfred) 14 / 39 Sailors carry flags out at the start of the Chargers-Jaguars game. (K.C. Alfred) 15 / 39 Chargers fans watch during the Jaguars game in Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 16 / 39 Fans watch the Jaguars-Chargers game from a pool at Everbank Field in Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 17 / 39 Fans watch the Chargers-Jaguars game from a pool at Everbank Field. (K.C. Alfred) 18 / 39 A Jaguars fan looks on during a 31-25 loss to the Chargers. (K.C. Alfred) 19 / 39 Fans watch the Chargers-Jaguars game from a pool at Everbank Field. (K.C. Alfred) 20 / 39 Jaguar cheerleaders perform during a game against the Chargers. (K.C. Alfred) 21 / 39 Chargers Manti Te’o hits Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 22 / 39 Fans watch the Jaguars-Chargers game from a pool at Everbank Field in Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 23 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers runs for a first down against Jacksonville in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 24 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers dives for a first down against Jacksonville in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 25 / 39 San Diego Chargers fans look on before a game against Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 26 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers throws to Ladarius Green against Jacksonville in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 27 / 39 San Diego Chargers Stevie Johnson (11) catches a touchdown over Jacksonville’s Paul Posluszny in the 4th quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 28 / 39 San Diego Chargers fans celebrates during a 31-25 win over Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 29 / 39 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates catches a touchdown in front of Jacksonville’s Johnathan Cyprien in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 30 / 39 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates celebrates a touchdown wit Kenny Wiggins, left, against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 31 / 39 San Diego Chargers Dontrelle Inman jumps Jacksonville’s Aaron Colvin in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 32 / 39 San Diego Chargers Stevie Johnson gains 19 yards on a catch, but is called for a 15-yard penalty against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 33 / 39 San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates catches a touchdown against Jacksonville’s Davon House in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 34 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers favors his ankle against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 35 / 39 San Diego Chargers Philip Rivers throws against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 36 / 39 San Diego Mike McCoy looks on against Jacksonville in the 2nd quarter. (K.C. Alfred) 37 / 39 San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers warms up before a game against Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 38 / 39 San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos walks the sidelines before a game against Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred) 39 / 39 San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers takes the field before a game against Jacksonville. (K.C. Alfred)