Philip Rivers reaches 40,000 passing yards

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers reached a couple of impressive milestones Sunday.

He became the 17th quarterback in NFL history with 40,000 career passing yards.

Rivers also moved into a tie for 11th in career passing touchdowns with 275, eclipsing Hall of Famer Joe Montana with three touchdown passes in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguarsand tying Vinny Testaverde with another score in the second half.

"Joe Montana was on my wall. I get the chills when you say I passed him because those are names I grew up watching," Rivers told reporters.

"Thankful is the word that keeps coming to me. I've had the opportunity to be out there for 155 [games] in a row. At 3-8, there is not a lot that excites you. But winning a game and hearing names like Montana and Testaverde, that does make me smile."

Rivers reached the 40,000-yard career passing mark on a 23-yard completion to receiver Dontrelle Inman with 4 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the second quarter. He finished the Chargers' 31-25 win with 300 yards passing; two of his four touchdown passes went to tight end Antonio Gates.

Rivers now has 40,166 career passing yards.

He reached the mark in his 159th career game, passing the milestone in the fourth-fewest games in NFL history.

Only Drew Brees (152 games), Dan Marino (153 games) and Peyton Manning (154) accomplished the feat in fewer games.