“I guess it was a pretty good day for the guys involved in that trade,” Kaeding laughed.
The Chargers received Rivers’ rights and draft picks used to select Kaeding and Merriman when they sent Eli Manning to the Giants on draft day of 2004. All three proved crucial in the Bolts’ thrilling win Sunday, but with Rivers’ performance on Broadway combined with his leading role in the game’s biggest side story, it’s safe to say he stole the show.
“He was phenomenal,” said
Throughout the week, Rivers played along as he was bombarded with questions about the trade, the game and the matchup with Manning. Prior to Sunday, he was coy about what the matchup meant, but after a three-touchdown performance, he admitted the game had a little extra meaning to it.
“It is a little special,” Rivers said. “You know that that link is going to be there. It didn’t weigh into my thought process going into the game, but you knew it was there.”
While Sunday provided Rivers the opportunity to be the hero, it wasn’t all rosy for San Diego’s quarterback. He threw two interceptions to go along with his three touchdowns, one late in the fourth quarter that were it not for a heroic stand by the Chargers’ defense would have allowed the Giants to put the game away.
“It was just a poor throw on the pick,” Rivers said. “Two things come to your mind: one is that’s going to be the one that cost you the game, and the other one is hold them to a field goal.”
Fortunately for Rivers and the Chargers, the latter was the case. Instead of taking a 10-point lead in the final two minutes, the Giants had to settle for three to put them up 20-14, and Rivers got his shot at redemption. He responded with his 11th-career fourth-quarter comeback as the Chargers marched 80 yards including the game-winning 18-yard throw by Rivers to Jackson.
“We had the two minute warning and the timeout to go eighty yards,” Rivers said. “We work on that two-minute drill every single Wednesday. We’ve been working on it since march. That exact situation we’d worked on so many times. Guys just executed. The offensive line was awesome.”
Head Coach Norv Turner was hardly surprised with Rivers’ play but was once again impressed with the poise shown by his veteran quarterback.
“He’s not going to blink about the interception,” Turner said. “He doesn’t miss many. He knew that we were fortunate that we held them to a field goal. He’s in such control.”
Never one to hide much emotion, Rivers sprinted nearly the length of the field after his last throw to Jackson, then paced the sideline as the Chargers’ defense put the Giants away with a final stand.
“It was as big of a team win as you could have,” Rivers said. “It took all 45 guys dressed to get it done.”
Three of them had a special connection to the game, and all three delivered. Especially Rivers.
