Rivers' turnovers are new for him

Monday, Oct 01, 2007
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

There's an old adage in football that quarterbacks get too much of the credit and too much of the blame.

Right or wrong, on Monday quarterback Philip Rivers accepted much of the responsibility for Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that dropped the Bolts to 1-3.  Rivers was 21-of-42 for 211 yards with two interceptions and fumbled once after being hit.

Rivers has been sacked nine times and has thrown six interceptions. As a team, the Chargers have 10 turnovers through four games.

"I'm not sure I've ever been 1-3 and turned the ball over like I have the past couple of weeks," Rivers said. "It's a situation I haven't had to deal with, but I'm strong enough to handle it and I think our team is."

Rivers feels the Chargers are close to turning around an offense that has been inconsistent. The Bolts, who failed to score in the first half of a win over Chicago and a loss to New England, didn't score in the second half against the Chiefs after taking a 16-6 halftime lead.

"You play well for a large portion of the game, but you have three or four crucial mistakes and they cost you," he said "That's been the case the past couple of weeks."

In the second quarter, wide receiver Buster Davis had the defense beat for an apparent 80-yard touchdown pass. But Rivers was hit as he delivered the ball and it fluttered halfway down field before it was intercepted.

In the fourth quarter, Rivers was preparing to throw to Malcom Floyd for what he said would have been a 30 to 40-yard gain. But that was the play when Rivers fumbled as he was hit in the pocket and the ball was returned for the Chiefs' final score and a two touchdown cushion with 7:24 left in the game.

Chargers head coach Norv Turner said the protection broke down on both long pass plays, but Rivers said the most costly interception was a short pass he threw over the middle that linebacker Derrick Johnson picked off.

The Chiefs scored three plays later when future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez beat three defenders for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone.

Rivers said he threw too soon before Tomlinson had finished his route and looked for the ball. At the time, the Chargers were leading 16-9 late in the third quarter.

"We were still in control at that point and had a chance to put a drive together," he said. "It was a silly mistake."

Rivers also was asked if he missed veteran wide receiver Eric Parker, the team's reliable possession receiver that has been sidelined since training camp with a toe injury.

"I don't think you can underestimate how much we miss him, but it's not a reflection of who we have out there," Rivers said. "Eric brings a lot of value to me and he raises the level of everybody in the room the way he practices and the way he works."

Rivers has often talked about Parker's overlooked value to the team.

"He brings a lot of physical talent to the game, but his dependability is the best characteristic of a wide receiver," he said. "You know where's he's going to be every play. It gives you a feeling of comfort if you've got him high in the progression or he's singled. You can count on him to win (get open). But the fact of the matter is we don't have him, and the guys we have are doing just fine. He'll add to that when he comes back."

Parker is expected to be sidelined another 3-4 weeks. The Chargers play at Denver (2-2) Sunday, return home to face Oakland (2-2) the next week and then have their bye week. Rivers said the team must focus on the Denver game.

"I know there is a lot of negatively going around, and that's how it's going to be right now," Rivers said. "We can take it, and I can take it. We'll keep playing. We know what we're capable of doing. We need to look no further than one game."