The Chargers managed to pull out a 38-14 win over the Jaguars despite a “poor” performance by QB Philip Rivers. At least that’s how Pro Football Focus sees it.

The ever-growing football analysis site, which is now featured on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcasts (thanks in large part to part-owner Cris Collinsworth), released its grades for Sunday’s Week 2 games and Rivers was given a 46.1 out of 100 for a game in which he threw four touchdowns and no interceptions.

A 46.1 qualifies as “poor” on PFF’s scale.

Here’s his final line from the game:

17-of-24 … 220 YDS … 9.2 Y/A … 4 TD … 0 INT

To put that in perspective, Blake Bortles, who threw two interceptions and averaged only 6.6 yards per attempt, was given a grade of 45.0.

PFF currently has Rivers ranked 24th among all quarterbacks. He ranks third in traditional passer rating.

Here’s the site’s explanation for Rivers’ grade:

“When people see four passing touchdowns, they will presume Philip Rivers was the sole source of the Chargers’ offensive production. However, most of his passes traveled under 10 yards in the air, as Rivers only attempted seven passes over 10 yards, completing four such throws for 63 yards. The success of the Chargers’ offense came as the Jaguars where unable to cover short crossing routes, with the San Diego WRs able to turn the corner and gain extra yardage after the catch.”

The argument is that Rivers’ teammates carried him to the impressive stat line. But after reviewing the game, I’m not sure how that explains the low grade.

Yes, the Chargers did throw a lot of short crossing routes that turned into big gains. Those plays still require good ball placement from the quarterback and deft movement in the pocket. Rivers was up to the task almost every time.

The play posted above isn’t a simple throw. Quarterbacks without Rivers’ poise may have ran into a sack or let the pressure affect their accuracy. Not Rivers. He climbed the pocket to buy time for the receiver to clear the linebackers at the second level, giving him space to get those yards after catch.

Rivers really only had two negative plays in the game. One was a near interception toward the end of the game. He forced a pass into double coverage but got away with it when the defender dropped it. The other was a strip sack in the red zone. But if Rivers isn’t credited for getting help from his teammates, why is he punished for his lineman’s failure to block?

The negative plays were easily outnumbered by the positive ones. Rivers completed two beautiful deep passes to Travis Benjamin, including a 44-yard touchdown pass which came after Rivers made a pre-snap adjustment, looked off the deep safety and dropped a deep dime.

Rivers may not have repeatedly gashed the Jaguars with downfield throws, but he shouldn’t be docked points for taking what the defense gave him. Game management is one the more significant aspects of playing quarterback, and Rivers managed that game perfectly.

The Chargers would gladly take 14 more of these “poor” performances from Rivers this season.