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Antonio Gates, Malcolm Floyd, Seyi Ajirotutu, Randy McMichael, and most recently Vincent Jackson have all had multiple touchdown games this year for the Chargers. That’s unheard of for five different guys on one team to catch multiple touchdown passes in a game. The one constant is Philip Rivers. Despite injuries and holdouts amongst much of the offense this season, Rivers has kept the Chargers in the hunt for a playoff berth. No one, not even the Patriots want to play the Chargers in the Playoffs. Now the Chargers just need to get there. The aforementioned Vincent Jackson put his bizarre season behind him on Thursday night and caught three touchdown passes from Rivers in a 34-7 thrashing of the San Francisco 49ers. Jackson joined XX Sports Radio in San Diego from the locker room following his three touchdown performance to talk about if he could have imagined himself earlier this summer or fall hauling in three huge TDs in an important December game, on his display of emotion following his TDs, the Chargers seemingly getting big contributions from different guys each week, the rapport he has with Philip Rivers, and heading to cold weather climates for the Chargers final two must-win games of the season.
On if he could have imagined himself earlier this summer or fall hauling in three big TD receptions in an important December game:
“I can’t say I didn’t imagine it. It was hard to imagine, but it never left my mind. My heart was out there on the field with the guys, I knew what was going on, and these are my friends. These are people I’ve grown up with the past five or six years, and I’ve wished them the best despite what’s going on with my personal situation, they have nothing to do with it. I’m excited to be back and be playing with them.”
On his display of emotion following the TD scores, particularly the first:
“Yeah it was a lot of emotions. I don’t want to say it felt good, but it was a huge weight off my back. You work hard and you want to go out on Sundays or Thursdays or whatever it is and help the team, help the team in games. So for me to be able to do that finally, it’s like all the hard work and everything I’ve been doing finally has paid off. Sometimes you need that little redemption. I’m not saying I’ve got to score touchdowns all the time, but it’s nice to feel like you can statistically contribute. It felt good.”
On the Chargers winning in different ways each week thanks to different guys stepping up with big contributions:
“That’s what it is. That’s what this team is about. Last week we were running the ball like crazy. We’ve got great running backs, a three-headed monster. And then we’ve got all these big, strong receivers that can stretch the field, and then Philip back there controlling it all. It’s fun. I tell you, it’s fun to be a part of. If this team can stay healthy, we’re moving in the right direction, I think we can do some big things in the next few weeks.”
On the rapport he has with Philip Rivers:
“We communicate well. We spend a lot of time with each other during the week, staying late watching film, having dinners, doing things like that just building that relationship. And we’re doing the same thing on the field – we’re talking when we break the huddle, he’s asking me things what I’m seeing, I’m telling him what his reads are, he has something here. Just that open communication I think is what builds that kind of rhythm.”
On having to travel to cold weather cities for their final two games (Cincinnati, Denver):
“We get kind of spoiled here playing in San Diego, but you know what, we’ve played in cold weather before and we’re not going to make any excuses. We’ve got to win, it’s plain and simple, black and white. And that’s what this team is going to do. We’re going to enjoy this weekend, get guys healthy, get some rest, and start preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals.”
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