CHARGERS NOTES: Rivers stays at the next level

By JAY PARIS and SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writers | Tuesday, September 23, 2008 12:14 AM PDT ∞

Quarterback Philip Rivers yells at an opponent after throwing a second-quarter touchdown pass. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff Photographer)

Chargers QB Philip Rivers added another solid performance to what has been a terrific start to the season. He was 19-for-25 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns Monday and is the NFL's leader in TD passes. Rivers has nine, ahead of Denver's Jay Cutler (eight) and Arizona's Kurt Warner (six).

"He's playing at a level, man, that is unexplainable at this point,'' said TE Antonio Gates, who caught one of Rivers' scoring tosses. "He is our leader.''

Rivers' start was shaky as his first pass was intercepted by David Barrett and returned for a touchdown. Then Rivers threw touchdown passes to Mike Tolbert, Gates and Chris Chambers and made several accurate throws that kept drives alive.

Monday night's effort marked the third straight time that Rivers has thrown for three scores. He almost threw a fourth in the fourth quarter, launching a long strike to Vincent Jackson, who went 60 yards before going down at the 2-yard line.

Rivers was the recipient of some solid pass blocking.

"I can't remember ever getting knocked down tonight," Rivers said. "The offensive line played great, and the receivers made some big-time catches. That certainly helps a quarterback out."

Rivers has 57 completions for 844 yards, nine touchdown passes and just two interceptions in his finest start in his third year as a starter.

The Chargers' way

CB Antonio Cromartie was talking about the Chargers' impressive first half.

After two straight opening halves in which the Chargers struggled, they put 31 points on the board for a 17-point edge.

"We just wanted to play how we are supposed to play,'' Cromartie said. "The way we lost the last couple of weeks was difficult.''

Cromartie's meltdown in the last game ---- he was flagged four times and burned more than that against Denver ---- didn't carry over.

He played a solid game in making a game-high nine tackles, with two interceptions and four passes defensed.

Weddle's comeback

Two straight Chargers losses featured two last-minute clips of S Eric Weddle flailing away at game-winning passes.

This time, the goat horns went to someone else, thank you.

"Just the way the last two games ended, I was hard on myself,'' Weddle said. "I hadn't been playing bad, bad, but I studied hard this week. (Jets QB Brett) Favre is a crafty veteran and I wanted to know where he was going with the ball and be in the right place.''

Weddle had one of the Chargers' three picks and added seven tackles.

McNeill is back

LT Marcus McNeill played in his first game since last season's AFC Championship Game after being sidelined with a neck injury.

"I was a little anxious early on,'' said McNeill, a two-time Pro Bowler. "I was out there just trying to hit everything, but you can't get away from your technique.''

McNeill admitted rust with his run-blocking, but was pleased in how he protected Rivers' blind side on passes.

"I've been working on run-blocking, but you can only hit (tackling) dummies so many times,'' McNeill said. "Those dummies always stay in the same place.''

Castillo counts blessing

The scene of DE Luis Castillo laid out on the turf after Thomas Jones blasted him in the knees was frightening.

Castillo didn't move for several minutes, and there was good reason.

"I was terrified,'' said Castillo, who has missed six games with injuries in each of the last two years. "I just clutched my knee and I was scared to let it go. Then the doctors felt it and said it was strong, and I got back after the hit.''

Castillo had no problem with the blow.

"I don't know exactly how it went down, but it was unintentional on their part,'' Castillo said. "I was just glad I got up.''

The gang's almost all here

The Chargers' offensive line will feature all five starters from last season for the first time this season when C Nick Hardwick returns Sunday in Oakland.

Hardwick hasn't played since undergoing offseason foot surgery.

"I'm ready,'' Hardwick said.

Davis shines

WR Craig Davis, the team's top pick last year, had three catches for 43 yards ---- two being good for first downs on the first-quarter scoring drive.

Davis hadn't caught a pass this season before Monday, restricted to fielding punts. But he was back in the base offense.

"That is something that probably set a tone for the game," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "He is really a talented young player. He's had some unfortunate injuries, and it was a big lift that he gave us.

"I just think he's going to be an exciting football player for us. Sometimes it takes young guys a little longer and sometimes you have to fight through some things. He's doing that, and he stepped up big tonight."

Injury report

The Chargers reported only Luis Castillo's knee injury, but he returned and played the balance of the game.

KEY STAT

1

Times the Chargers have defeated Brett Favre in six games.

TURNING POINT

Cromartie, fresh from the debacle in Denver, returns an interception 52 yards for a second-quarter touchdown and a 17-7 Chargers lead.

QUOTABLE

"We were going to do whatever it took had to win the game. We needed this bad,'' RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who scored twice in the Chargers' first win.

NEXT GAME

Chargers at Oakland Raiders, Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

WHO'S HOT

Philip Rivers

Rivers is on a roll and no NFL quarterback is playing better.

WHO'S NOT

Doomsday Chargers backers

Oh the horror of what some saw in a potential 0-3 start. Instead, the Chargers played like an elite team and smoked the Jets.