Coming off thriller against Giants, Chargers confident but not cocky

SAN DIEGO - Up, down. Down, up.

It's been the story so far for the Eagles and San Diego Chargers, who will be trying to sort out their immediate futures when they play Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

The Chargers looked a bit more like a contending team last Sunday after rallying behind Philip Rivers to beat the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, 21-20. They're not quite world-beaters, though. Their winning streak includes victories against lowly Kansas City and Oakland. Although Rivers led a thrilling drive to beat the Giants in the final seconds, the Chargers were the benefactors of New York's free-fall.

It's certainly better than where they were after a 34-23 loss to AFC West leader Denver on Oct. 19.

"It's still early. We're just to the halfway mark but we are playing better," Rivers said. "We're 3 weeks better than we were post-Denver game. And if we can keep that going, then we'll give ourselves a chance.

"But certainly winning three football games doesn't make us any different or the game's going to be any easier. That confidence needs to be there, but also that same urgency and focus. If we can combine those and stay the course, we should be in good shape."

Rivers was the first to note that the Chargers still have a lot to work on. The struggling running game was practically nonexistent against the Giants. Receivers dropped passes and Rivers was intercepted twice. Fans wonder why the Chargers don't show the same urgency earlier in games.

Rivers capped a magnificent 80-yard drive with an 18-yard pass to Vincent Jackson with 21 seconds to play to beat the Giants.

Then again, that's exactly how the last two seasons have unfolded under coach Norv Turner. After slow starts, the Chargers fired up in the second half.

"If you could choose when you'd like to be playing your best ball and when you'd like to be progressing the most it would be the second half of the season," Rivers said. "That's what we've been able to do of late. We'd certainly like to start better, but the fact that we seem to get going and improve week to week come midseason, it's allowed us to win a bunch of football games and play into January."