You heard it all week. The banged-up Chargers would be routed by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, serving as merely a speed bump on the Patriots’ road to Glendale, Arizona. But despite injuries to seven current or former Pro Bowlers, San Diego made it a game well into the 4th quarter. None of those injuries were more serious than those of quarterback Philip Rivers, who played through a sprained MCL and partially torn ACL.

Lost in the midst of Rivers’ “trash talking” was the fact that he closed out 2007 very well. After struggling to adjust to Norv Turner’s more complex offensive system, Rivers threw 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in the Bolts’ last nine games. The fact that he played his last seven games with a knee injury (or two) shows this guy’s toughness. On a day when LaDainian Tomlinson sulked on the Chargers bench nursing a knee injury, Rivers earned the respect of everyone around the league.

“He earned my respect tonight,” said Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi. “To come back and play the way he did, I think all of those fans of the San Diego Chargers should understand that they have a tough guy at quarterback.”

“Toughest guy on the whole field today, both sides,” center Nick Hardwick said. “There’s no way he should have been playing. I wouldn’t have played if I was him. He’s a tough sucker. I don’t care what anybody says about him talking. He’s a competitor. Nobody was going to keep him off the field. He willed himself to play this game. It’s pretty amazing.”

Rivers’ ability to grasp a new system and silence the brainless boo-birds in San Diego should bode well for the 2008 season. With Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and that LT guy playing together all year, Rivers’ confidence should only grow…if that’s possible. And the defense that limited the Pats to 21 points and forced three turnovers? They’re not going anywhere either. In fact, they’ll only get better with the impending departure of nickel cornerback Drayton Florence. While the Chargers didn’t have enough to beat the Pats in their year of glory, this team will definitely be back.