Rivers Becomes 17th Player with 40,000 Career Passing Yards

In addition to leading his team to its first victory since Week 4, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers became the 17th player in NFL history to reach 40,000 career passing yards, accomplishing the feat during Sunday's 31-25 road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Despite leading an offense that has been ravaged by injuries, Rivers completed 29 of his 43 pass attempts for 300 yards and four touchdowns in Sunday's game.

It was his first four-touchdown game of the season and came just seven days after he was held without a score in an ugly 33-3 home loss to the division rival Kansas City Chiefs.

A soft Jacksonville defense played a role in Rivers' big day, as did the re-emergence of future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates, who caught four passes for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

A sprained MCL has bothered Gates in recent weeks, adding to the list of problems for a team that had already lost top wide receiver Keenan Allen for the season (kidney).

While the injuries have been too much for the team to overcome this year, Rivers has proved to be capable of putting up big stat lines, even without much help from his offensive line and receiving corps.

Of course, you don't get to 40,000 career yards without some help along the way, and Gates has been Mr. Reliable throughout most of Rivers' tenure.