AP

The Chargers are on a four-game losing streak but quarterback Philip Rivers says now is not the time to panic.

Instead, Rivers would like to point out that the Chargers have been through rough stretches before and ended up having successful seasons.

“It’s been worse,” Rivers said, via NBCSanDiego.com. “I feel like a broken record for saying it, but we’re 4-5. It’s been worse than this before.”

Rivers is right: The Chargers have been worse than 4-5 and still managed to make the playoffs. In 2008, the Chargers were 4-8 through 12 games, and then they won four straight, finished 8-8 and won the AFC West. They even beat the Colts in the first round of the playoffs.

And considering that 8-8 might turn out to be good enough to win the AFC West this year, too, Rivers may be right that it’s not time to panic. But I’d advise him to try not to fall to 4-8 like they did three years ago.