Philip Rivers Redeems Self in 'Eli Bowl'

With 3:30 left in the game and his team trailing by three points, Philip Rivers had a chance.

He had a chance to win in New York with much of the nation watching. He had a chance to best Eli Manning, a man who refused to play for the Chargers and was eventually swapped for Rivers and another draft pick (which turned into Shawne Merriman). He had a chance to prove he was a winner, despite the fact that his team hasn't helped him win a ring yet. He had a chance to prove he belonged in the same conversation as the game's elite, and that he's just as qualified a quarterback as Eli.

And on the first play of the series, Rivers threw an interception. What happened next, though, rallied San Diego to a 21-20 win and defined the essence of Rivers as a player.

---

---

Tom Coughlin, apparently deciding Rivers couldn't get the job done, played for a field goal by running up the middle on second-and-14 and third-and-9. The Chargers would get the ball back with just over two minutes to play and trailing by six. You didn't even have to see Rivers to know about the fire in his belly. They don't think I can do it, he surely thought.

More From NFL FanHouse
George: Bengals Shut Baltimore Up Whitley: Bucs Find Mojo in New QB Graziano: Colts Go Up Tempo DeAngelo Hall Upset With Falcons Bears, Pack Rolling Over for Vikings

You see, Rivers doesn't take care of the ball like Kyle Orton. He's not a student of the game like Peyton Manning. He doesn't have a rocket for an arm or excessive mobility. He doesn't rack up Drew Brees-like stat-lines. He doesn't have the quiet leadership of Ben Roethlisberger or the postseason resume of Tom Brady. One thing about Rivers, though, is that he's a fighter.

And when he gets angry, he fights even harder. Judging from his career 37-18 record entering Sunday's game, he's also a winner.

The Giants' decision to give Rivers another chance was tantamount to a slap in the face of Rivers. Just like when the Chargers had to "settle" for Rivers. Just like when no one thought the Chargers could win a playoff game in Indianapolis. Just like countless other times when people told Rivers he wasn't good enough.

As usual, he responded.

Rivers took the Chargers 80 yards in 1:36, and he didn't even need a timeout -- finding Vincent Jackson in the corner of the end zone for the game-winner with just 21 seconds remaining.

"It's a big emotional win," Rivers said. "The link between me and Eli is always going to be there. So yeah, it's a little special. Any time you play against a team that won the Super Bowl, it's fun. [The trade] didn't weigh into my mind and my thinking, but I bet it was there."

After the pass, Rivers sprinted upwards of 50 yards backward on the field, facing the Giants sideline, screaming in joy (and probably some lingering anger). Whether you consider it fire or foolishness, it's Rivers. That's what he does. He uses his emotion on the field and lets it come out when he's conquered his opposition. In this case, he beat Coughlin, the Giants and -- from a certain point of view -- Manning.

"We had a chance and you can't leave that team in the game,'' said Manning, who was 25 of 33 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. "You can't leave that team an opening. They are good and talented and if you have a chance to end it, you have to end it.''

The Chargers are now 5-3 and trail the Broncos by a game and a half in the AFC West, but they came out of New York with plenty of swagger and momentum. Just like their quarterback.