GREEN BAY, Wis. -- On Sunday at Lambeau Field, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers orchestrated the type of mesmerizing performance that creates heartburn for defensive coordinators around the league.
“He’s unbelievable,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. “He’s a warrior. He’s the best in the business.”
Yes, Rivers threw for a franchise-record 503 yards in a 27-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The Chargers were 10.5-point underdogs to undefeated Green Bay on the road, and few NFL observers gave undermanned-San Diego any chance of staying close on Sunday.
Rivers had other plans. With rookie running back Melvin Gordon benched in the second half because of two fumbles, the Chargers abandoned the run and rode the arm of Rivers.
And they finished three yards short of an amazing comeback in front of a nervous crowd at one of the most historic fields in the NFL.
Through the first half of 2015, talk around the NFL centered on Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady's MVP-type performances.
But Rivers with his gunslinger mentality showed that he still can play at an elite level on a big stage.
“He’s a great football player,” Chargers offensive tackle Joe Barksdale said about Rivers. “You guys know that. It’s a pleasure to play with him.”
And while Rodgers played well, finishing with 255 passing yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions -- he didn’t fill up the stat sheet like Rivers.
“I wouldn’t mind throwing 65 times every now and then,” Rodgers said, smiling. “That’s a lot of throws, but he does a good job of getting the ball out of his hands and taking care of the football.”
At the end of the day, Rivers understands the stats don’t matter. At 33-years old, it’s about wins and losses for Rivers and the Chargers.
San Diego lost its second straight game, falling to 2-4 on the season. The Chargers could as easily be 4-2 if the defense had stopped Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell from falling forward in the end zone a week ago, and the offense could have forced overtime by getting in the end zone from first and goal from the 3-yard line against the Packers.
When San Diego hosts AFC West rival the Oakland Raiders next week, the Chargers can build on how they performed on both sides of the ball, holding one of the high-scoring teams in the league to 27 points and establishing a rhythm on offense.
“We aren’t where we want to be,” cornerback Brandon Flowers said. “Our record says what we are. This game was close. The last game was close, but then we let games get away. We need to find a way to get a win, and then keep getting wins.”
Sunday’s hard-fought loss showed San Diego players that they can compete with the best teams in the NFL. And with a few less mistakes, the Chargers have a quarterback in Rivers that can lead them to victories over those teams.
“It’s a tough loss against a team that will be playing well into January,” Rivers said. “There’s no consolation in that. But it’s going to turn if we keep fighting like we’re fighting. We’re going to get on a roll at some point. But we have to believe that first, and I think our guys do.
“But our resiliency is going to be tested losing two like we’ve lost.”