Philip Rivers Keeping Fiery Attitude in Check, Stabilizing San Diego

SAN DIEGO -- It's Week 3 in the NFL, and already the anger is spewing across San Diego over the Chargers' inglorious 1-1 start. Whether it is frustration over coach Norv Turner's play calling, uneasiness over the team's myriad injuries or overall disappointment with a franchise expected to dominate a weak AFC West, there is one player who is holding it all together.

The glue is no longer running back LaDainian Tomlinson's team -- the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player is sidelined a second consecutive week because of a sprained ankle.

Now, the burden of leading this locker room, this franchise, has fallen to quarterback Philip Rivers.

And Rivers appears perfectly comfortable shouldering that load and being the bedrock for his teammates, doing just that in during and after a crushing Week 2 loss at Qualcomm Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens, one that left a sour taste in the Chargers locker room.

Twice against Baltimore, Rivers tossed interceptions. Three times, Rivers and his offense were flagged for delay of game penalties. Five times, the Chargers ventured into Baltimore's red zone, trips that only generated four field goals.

Then there was the signature stamp of frustration that overshadowed an otherwise stellar day personally for Rivers, who passed for 436 yards and two touchdowns: Turner decided to ignore his tight ends and send running back Darren Sproles up the gut on a fourth-and-2 call at the Ravens' 15-yard line. Sproles was laid out for a loss by linebacker Ray Lewis, who shot the gap untouched for a game-saving stop in a 31-26 Baltimore victory.

In years past, such a finish might have sent the emotionally charged Rivers into a post-game rant. In the heat of the game, he likely would have engaged in a regretful mouthy exchange with Lewis, just as Rivers famously did in his often contentious exchanges with former Denver quarterback Jay Cutler during the years in annual meetings against the Broncos.

But a seemingly matured Rivers has remained resolute and calm during a rough week for his team, taking on the role as rock for his franchise.

"In one sense, I think it's the natural progression of a quarterback and a leader," Rivers told FanHouse during an interview at the Chargers' practice facility in Kearny Mesa. "I'm in year six [of my NFL career] now and it just grows, each and every year. And you just understand, when you are faced with some adversity and injuries, that you have to step up and keep the guys going, rally the guys and try to will some wins."

He's still got it in him to let loose verbally -- in Week 1, Rivers got into it with Raiders defensive tackle Gerard Warren, which resulted in the quarterback being penalized and later fined $7,500.

"I do have those two sides," Rivers admitted. "Certainly there is that passionate, fiery side. But I've learned over the last five years that, if you take all these games so hard and you're so wound up all the time, you just won't make it. You won't make it through a season.

"I'm trying to find that happy medium, to push forward in games where I had some critical errors or the team didn't come through. I've figured out how to manage those better."

As a result, Rivers said he's learned to cope with adversity. And the Chargers certainly are facing plenty of that Sunday when they play host to the Miami Dolphins.

Tomlinson, 30, is starting to buckle to the wear-and-tear: Sunday's game will mark the third time he's sat out in the Chargers' last four games, following eight regular seasons without missing a game due to injury. A groin strain kept Tomlinson out of San Diego' 2008 playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chargers also will face the Dolphins without center Nick Hardwick (ankle surgery, out eight weeks) and backup defensive end Travis Johnson (groin). Assorted other regulars are badly nicked -- rookie right guard Louis Vasquez (knee) and reserve outside linebacker Antwan Applewhite (hamstring) are listed as doubtful.

On Thursday, seven Chargers missed practice, including linebacker Shawne Merriman.

"It's hard, because you'd like to have all your guys," Turner said Friday. "It's crazy, because on Sept. 1, when people were asking me what I thought about camp, I said it was great that we were healthy and had all our guys, because that's something we haven't had in awhile."

This is where the quarterback projects his role of steely leader. Rivers' fiery nature, which once defined him as an obnoxious young player prone to taunting, has matured and mellowed, like a Beaujolais nouveau eventually gives way to a fine Cabernet. And it's given his teammates an anchor in rough seas.

"I still think the overall feel with this team is very positive," Rivers said of his 1-1 Chargers. "The odds are we aren't going to win all 16 games, and the way we react is going to be important."

The 2008 Chargers were all over the map, losing five of their first eight games before storming back to win all four games in December to salvage a playoff berth. That experience helps put this year's rocky start into perspective, Rivers said.

"I think it also drives us to not let that happen again, so we can say we can overcome a bad start, but let's not let that happen," Rivers said. "We have another game this week against a playoff opponent [Miami], so let's get us to 2-1 before we head off to Pittsburgh."