"Between them, they have nine kids, so Philip Rivers and Billy Volek have a working knowledge of the carpool concept. Usually, though, it's just the two of them in the vehicle on commutes to and from the office.

Those rides home have gotten longer. Not in distance. In commiseration. In conversation.

"When he's driven, we've sat and talked in my driveway for quite a while, talking football and talking about the game (just played)," said Volek. "People ought to be able to see what he's like, need to know how bad he wants to win. I wish they could be a fly on the wall and hear the words that come out of his mouth. Maybe then they'd really know how much he cares. They'd get him. They'd see.

"People in our locker room know that. A lot of people outside the locker room don't know that.""