Rivers just cutthroat for Bolts

Columnist

Dec. 21, 2014 5:47 PM PT

The seas may still be choppy, but the Chargers suddenly are back on course with one of the more stubborn, relentless, fearless skippers at the wheel, a helmsman who has sailed them to within a win away from the NFL’s Treasure Island — the playoffs

If we didn’t already know about Capt. Philip Rivers — step up, landlubbers — we do now.

Philip Rivers is a good person, of course, but while on the bridge, in command, he is one bad man. One very, very bad man. Give him an eye patch and wooden leg and Robert Louis Stevenson would write novels of him.

My dad fished all his life and always said you never know a captain until you get on the water with him. On dry land, as a civilian, Rivers is a loquacious, deeply religious family man, the father of seven. But once in uniform, he’s Bligh, Ahab, a commander not focused on breadfruit or whales, but victory.

We saw it in his eyes Saturday night in Santa Clara, after Rivers had run his football team into a sandbar, throwing three interceptions, and the ship appeared lost at sea. That look. That determination. It was a remarkable sequence. He refused to put down the sextant. And he found a way around the reefs.

We saw the fierceness of one of the game’s great competitors, down 28-7 to the 49ers late in the third quarter — and by two touchdowns with 8:55 remaining in regulation. Season on the brink. Philip grabbed the tiller.

At one time he threw 25 consecutive passes. Twice he converted on fourth-and-long. He heaved an 11-yard scoring pass with 0:29 left to Malcom Floyd, forcing a 35-35 tie and overtime.

After safety Eric Weddle stripped San Francisco’s Quinton Patton and hustling nose tackle Sean Lissemore recovered, Rivers got his crew into position to dock, and it did, close enough for Nick Novak to kick the game-winner.

It was, plain and simple, one of the great wins in Chargers history. And it seemed there was no possibility whatsoever of it taking place.

But as it appeared their voyage had ended, it got through the blockade, its hull not unscathed — injuries, especially on the offense line, continue to ridiculously mount — but the rudder and engine are working fine.

With Baltimore losing Sunday to Houston, it comes down to this for 9-6 San Diego. The Chargers finish the season next weekend at Kansas City. If they win, they’re in the playoffs. If they lose, they’re out.

Can’t get more cut and dried than that.

I like Rivers seeing his destiny and taking control of it. The Chargers may not play in January. They’re now on their fifth center (Trevor Robinson, who’s doing a remarkable job), with Chris Watt going down in Santa Clara. Guard Johnnie Troutman followed him to the infirmary, replaced by Jeremiah Sirles, who Rivers probably hasn’t met.

But there’s just something about these guys, even if winning in K.C. while at full strength isn’t a day to the Hotel Del.

Rivers didn’t play well for two-plus quarters. Is it his back? ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports Philip has two bulging discs that may require surgery.

Phil Simms mentioned it Sunday and I thought the same watching the game. Bad back or not, the 49ers allowed Rivers to warm up, and once he gets into a rhythm, no one’s better. No one. He had the Niners on their heels and he harpooned one of The League’s better defenses. He found the jugular and ripped it out.

They won, again, without top back Ryan Mathews. They were missing No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen. They’ve been without starting center Nick Hardwick and guard Jeromey Clary all year. Regular corners Shareece Wright and Brandon Flowers both went down Saturday, Flowers returning, Wright concussed.

It’s difficult enough doing this full-strength.

Have to give coach Mike McCoy some credit. His team looked totally unprepared. Lackluster. They couldn’t tackle. They stunk. I question many things McCoy does — especially as a game and clock manager (he again took two timeouts into the half) — and he’s CIA-secretive.

But the players obviously believe in him. And there’s no question they believe in Philip Rivers.

The eyes, people. You could see it in his eyes. Fire. Brimstone.

A terrific football player. A great, great win.

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