CARSON, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers says the offense gets juice when Melvin Gordon churns out tough yards.
Gordon believes his Chargers are never out of it because Rivers can sling it around the yard.
On Sunday, Rivers and Gordon both leaned on each other in leading the Chargers to a 29-27, come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at the StubHub Center.
Rivers finished 25-of-39 for 250 passing yards, with three touchdowns and interception that 49ers defensive back Antone Exum returned for a 32-yard touchdown to start the game.
Gordon totaled 104 rushing yards on 15 carries, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the first time since October of last year against the New England Patriots (132 rushing yards).
The two combined to give the Chargers a lethal, 1-2 punch on offense in a game in which the Chargers were not at their best.
“It was just a gritty win,” Rivers said. “It wasn’t the best day, but at the same time, we showed some of the traits that we always talk about having -- toughness, togetherness and the fight.”
Rivers upped his record to 4-0 against San Francisco, with 1,213 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in those games. Rivers (51,504) also passed Hall of Famer John Elway (51,475) for eighth in career passing yards in NFL history.
The win also gives Rivers 25 come-from-behind victories when trailing in the fourth quarter.
Like Rivers said, the game was not pretty. However, the victory pushed the Chargers to 2-2 in the first quarter of the season, with winnable games remaining at home next week against the Oakland Raiders, on the road against the Cleveland Browns and hosting the Tennessee Titans in London before the Bolts’ bye week.
Even though the Chargers trailed by as many as 14 points early on, Gordon said he still believed.
“Every time we’re down, I never blink -- I never doubt anything,” Gordon said. “As long as we’ve got No. 17 back there, we’ve always got a shot to win the game.
“He’s been doing it forever. When you’ve got a guy that’s been around the league, seen everything and done everything, he gives you that confidence that, ‘I know you’re going to make it happen.’”
After throwing an interception for a score, a punt and a missed field goal on his team’s first three drives, Rivers led the Chargers on five straight scoring drives to help them take a 26-17 lead in the third quarter.
The Chargers continue to struggle with slow starts. Since Anthony Lynn took over as head coach last season, the Chargers have failed to score a touchdown on the opening possession of games.
“Until we do it, then we don’t have it figured out,” Rivers said. “But I don’t know if there’s any magic play call, or magic formula for that. We’ve just got to execute better early.”
From there, the Chargers relied on the hard-charging running style of Gordon to close out the game. Gordon finished with 49 of his 104 rushing yards in the fourth quarter.
“[Mike] Pouncey told me that, ‘Hey, when you run like that I feel that energy, and I want to block harder,’” Gordon said. “He told me that in the huddle. So when you hear our O-line say that, it’s time to go get it because you can make a difference.”