Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 503 yards against the Packers a week ago. Fittingly, it was the 17th 500-yard passing day in NFL history. That's a whole lot of chucking the ball around.
So do we need to worry about any residual effects? Perhaps a little arm fatigue from the franchise QB this weekend?
"No, I feel good," Rivers said as the team prepared for Sunday's game against Oakland. "I'm just still sick, to be honest with you. I mean, I've moved on. I'm ready for this week but all those things ... you want to win the game."
Rivers is not alone in not winning a monster statistical game. The win-loss record for NFL quarterbacks who have gone for 500 yards is just 9-8. So the fact the Chargers did great things between the goal lines is of little consolation since they only got over the goal line twice.
“We can go move the ball,” said Rivers. “We’ve just gotta score touchdowns when we get down there.”
The Chargers only scored 20 points against the Packers. The only team to score fewer when its passer topped 500 yards was the New Orleans Saints, who only got 16 points despite Drew Brees going for 510 yards against the Bengals back in 2006.
Up next for the Chargers is their first AFC West opponent of the season and a Raiders defense allowing 299 passing yards a game. Even if Antonio Gates (knee) and Keenan Allen (hip) can't play with injuries, the Bolts should carry over the good vibes from Green Bay.
“I think it should give us great confidence as an offense,” said Rivers. “We had 32 first downs in a game, six drives over 10 plays. It’s one thing if we’re losing and we can’t get first downs and we have six 3-and-outs. So it does matter that we did the good but we’ve got to make it turn in to wins.”
The Chargers are about to start a stretch of five straight games against teams with losing records. If they don’t win at least four of them, starting this weekend against Oakland, San Diego can kiss the post-season good-bye.
