Chargers know Sunday could be last game at the QAs he has, Philip Rivers will hop into his pickup truck Sunday morning. He'll drive, as he has, from Chargers Park to Mission Valley, cruising through various neighborhoods and finally downhill toward the only NFL stadium he's called home. He will see the usual tailgaters. He will park at the same spot.
It won't be lost on the quarterback, he said Wednesday.
This could be it.
The Chargers will play their final home game of the season Sunday. It is an atypical finale. When they host the Dolphins, it could be the final Chargers game before a San Diego crowd, as NFL owners will meet next month in Houston, possibly to decide whether or not the franchise's effort to relocate to Los Angeles will be approved for 2016.
In a 63-man locker room, the level of attachment players feel toward this city, its stadium, its fans can vary.
Some have been here for weeks. Others, months. Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, a second-year Charger, has gone from Jacksonville to Toronto to San Diego in his career; another move simply would be part of the business.
Then, there are players like Rivers. All 12 of his NFL seasons were here. San Diego is home.
"It could be emotional," Rivers, 34, said. "I mean, it really could be. Certainly, not knowing (if it's the last game) and not knowing after the game, either, but I think I'll soak in the drive over there a little bit more than the past 100-something times I've done it. I could get emotional thinking about it, riding down that hill for the last time to the stadium, the feeling you always have."
Rivers has memories at Qualcomm Stadium.
Some, naturally, are fonder than others.
He recounted Wednesday the 2008 playoff game against the Colts, what he considers "the most awesome, I think, the stadium has ever felt." Running back Darren Sproles scored on I-Left Swat 30 Iso, a 22-yard dash in overtime to advance the team to the divisional round.
The atmosphere then, he ventured, could rival anywhere else in the league. He also acknowledged other memories, many that fans remember, some of which predate his time on the team.
This year, much has been made of the home atmosphere. Steelers fans, Raiders fans, Bears fans — the list goes on. Visiting observers, at times, have outnumbered or overwhelmed in volume those present for the home team. That is not necessarily an indictment on San Diego fans; anyone who thinks the dynamic will be any better in Los Angeles may be in for a rude awakening.
Still, as possible swan songs go, the 2015 setting has not been ideal entering Sunday.
"When you win three games out of 13, we had a hand in that," Rivers said. "It doesn't put a damper on it for me how awesome it's been for over the past 12 years. ... Every interaction I've had with fans, both the ones at the game and around town — the little I'm around town this time of year — has all been positive. They're pulling for you. They appreciate you fighting and those kinds of things. I've felt that. ...
"I never have an expectation or feel like a fan owes us to be there whatsoever. But I'm appreciative of those fans. When I run into a season-ticket holder or just a fan who says, 'I've been coming to the games and been sitting in this row since '70-something,' you appreciate that. You can understand their feelings, too, should this be the last year. They aren't here, grinding like crazy to win every week to win a game. Yet they care, and it's been a part of their family traditions and things they've do. I've sensed that, the support from fans even though it's been a rough year."
Much has changed in one year.
Exactly a year ago from Wednesday, the Chargers announced they'd return to San Diego in 2015. Now, on Wednesday, the team held its first practice before the final scheduled San Diego game. There are no such promises of a 2016 return. Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos addressed the team twice before the season, including at the start of training camp, about the stadium situation. There were and are no answers or guarantees, but all are aware what Sunday could be.
Only one aspect of it is in their control.
"We all understand the possibilities," coach Mike McCoy said, "but our number one focus is winning. We want to finish the season strong, and it starts this weekend. We're trying to win this game. It's been a tough year for everybody. We want to have our last home game of the season be a good one."
Who knows? Maybe Sunday could be a false alarm.
Rivers will make his commute to Qualcomm. He'll be emotional before the game. Perhaps, he'll do something different afterward, as he soaks in the experience. Then, weeks later, owners decide the Chargers are staying put in 2016. Next August, come the preseason, he makes that same drive again.
Maybe.
But just in case, he respects the alternative. Sunday could be it.
"I don't have an expectation of where we're going to be next year, but yeah, this could be," Rivers said. "I think the only way to treat it is as if it is. ... Given the situation, you soak it in, should it be the last time."
Of course that CBA thing doesn't sound like it's getting resolved shortly. Interesting information either way.
I imagine they'd prefer to keep the traditional AFC West rivalries in tact though.
let's do this already!!!!
