"Philip Rivers was smiling as he sat in front of his locker.

His worst game, statistically, since 2008 was behind him. Wins are the statistics by which quarterbacks are ultimately measured.

He would say that very thing in a postgame news conference and then several more times, in various ways, as he walked from Qualcomm Stadium.

"I mean, shoot, I want to play better, but 2-1 is 2-1," Rivers said. "I mean, I don't know anything more than that."

And not too long after that, after his drive home, after removing the ice pack from around his chest, after giving his and his team's start to this season a little more thought, Rivers had for all intents and purposes moved on.

In one final text message missive, he said: "I'm thinking about the Miami Dolphins and finding a way to get win #3.""