Rivers sparks a rally from 21-point deficit

With one wobbly pass, Philip Rivers completed one of the San Diego Chargers’ greatest comebacks -- the kind that defines a young quarterback.

And, maybe, a season as well.

Rivers’ shovel pass under pressure for a five-yard touchdown to tight end Brandon Manumaleuna finished a 42-point second half by the Chargers on Sunday, setting up a 49-41 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that left everyone at a loss.

“Being involved in that game, it was about like it was a cartoon or something,” said LaDainian Tomlinson, who tied his career high with four touchdowns. “Exhausting. I can’t wait until I get on the bus, where I can think and wonder what happened today.”

San Diego overcame a 21-point halftime deficit, matching the biggest comeback in franchise history, behind a first-year starting quarterback who kept reminding his teammates that anything was possible.

The Chargers (7-2) played as poorly as they have all season, allowing the Bengals (4-5) to score touchdowns on their first three possessions. Cincinnati led at halftime, 28-7, but Rivers was unconvinced.

“As he grows as a player, he’s unbelievable,” tight end Antonio Gates said. “He’s doing a tremendous job leading this team. He was on the sideline saying they were going to need to score more than 28 points to beat us.”

What came next was characteristic of the old Air Coryell days in San Diego, when Dan Fouts led a light-it-up offense. This time, it was Rivers running the show in his best performance: 24-for-36 passing for 337 yards and three touchdowns.

“We didn’t panic,” Rivers said. “We didn’t point fingers ...”

Receiver Chad Johnson set a Bengals record with 260 yards and two long touchdowns, and Carson Palmer had the first 400-yard passing game of his career. It didn’t matter for Cincinnati, which has lost five of six games.

“It’s not good,” said Palmer, who was 31 for 42 for 440 yards and three touchdowns. “It’s a tough situation to be in. We just have to keep fighting and we might be able to scrape into the playoffs.”