Philip Rivers' late meltdown costs Chargers in loss to Dolphins

It was a fourth quarter Philip Rivers can’t wait to forget.

The San Diego Chargers quarterback threw four interceptions in the final 15 minutes of Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins, including a game-winning pick-six by linebacker Kiko Alonso with just over a minute remaining.

Rivers has won many more games for the Chargers over the past 13 years, and in recent seasons he has often been the sole reason the team has been competitive. He has had to make up for deficiencies elsewhere – especially along the offensive line, which has been an issue for years – but this was a case where Rivers was the one who cost the Chargers a win.

The pick-six was the most costly of the four turnovers, but two others took away scoring chances, with one interception at the Dolphins’ 15-yard line and another in the end zone.

“Hadn’t happened to me like this that I can remember, obviously with those critical turnovers. I’m not the first quarterback to have some, won’t be the last one to have some crucial ones,” Rivers said. “But I can’t remember one quite like this. I hate it. I hate it for the guys in there. Too many opportunities, and I know they count on me to make those. I just didn’t get it done today.”

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Rivers is playing without his top receiver, Keenan Allen, whose season ended in September, and was without receiver Travis Benjamin on Sunday. The rest of the receiving corps, aside from veteran tight end Antonio Gates, is fairly young and still developing chemistry with Rivers.

But the quarterback refused to use that as an excuse Sunday evening. Those interceptions were on him.

“It’s the obvious ones, the turnovers, that cost us,” Rivers said.

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.

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