SAN DIEGO -- Observed in the San Diego Chargers' locker room after the team's 13-6 win over the Oakland Raiders:
Admittedly, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers did not play his best against the Raiders. Rivers said he missed on some throws that would have kept drives alive. But he didn't have the greatest protection either -- something San Diego's coaching staff has to rectify if the Chargers expect the team's franchise quarterback to make it through the season.Rivers was sacked twice and hit four other times. He had his knee rolled up on and got the wind knocked out of him on the second sack of the day by rookie Khalil Mack. But Rivers said he made it through the game fine.
"When any player has something, you're always concerned," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "But he was good to go. He's a warrior. He's one of the best in the business. He's one of the toughest in the business, if not the toughest at that position. He's a winner."
Chargers punter Mike Scifres helped the control field position, with five of his nine punts landing inside the 20-yard-line. Oakland's average starting drive was the 18-yard line. The nine punts was the second highest total of his career."That was an outstanding job," McCoy said about Scifres. "I wish our offense had taken advantage of the field position a little more."
Rivers took the blame for a busted play in the second half that resulted in a run by the veteran quarterback for a 1-yard loss.Rivers said he changed the play to run to the left side for Ryan Mathews but forgot to relay the audible to the rest of the team, which resulted in everyone else running to the right side.
"I went the wrong way," Rivers said. "It was a check-with-me play. I checked it and didn't tell them. That usually doesn't work. I was making all the calls to go left but never actually verbalized that we were going left, so that just adds to the off-day. I had a couple mental mistakes out there."
Center Rich Ohrnberger (ankle) and defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers (elbow) did not finish the game. However, McCoy did not provide an update on either player.
