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Rivers, Chargers outduel Leinart, Cardinals

Aug 26, 2007 - 5:24 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Philip Rivers and Matt Leinart showed why they are considered to be among the rising star quarterbacks in the NFL.

Rivers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Vincent Jackson and Nate Kaeding kicked four field goals to lead the San Diego Chargers to a 33-31 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

Kaeding's final field goal, from 37 yards out, came with two seconds to play. He also connected from 33, 25 and 21 yards.

A former fourth overall pick in his second season as starter, Rivers completed 20-of-29 passes for 282 yards while playing midway into the the third quarter.

The performance was more impressive since Chargers running back and league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson did not play and his backup, Michael Turner, suffered a sprained ankle and did not return.

Leinart, the Cardinals' second-year quarterback, also was superb, finishing 10-of-16 for 196 yards and a touchdown. He did it without star running back Edgerrin James, who also sat out.

Playing just the first half, the lefthander directed three first-half scoring drives, including an 80-yard TD pass to Anquan Boldin in the final minute of the first quarter to give Arizona a 10-3 lead.

Jackson hauled in four passes for 92 yards, including a 33-yard scoring strike with 5:52 left in the first half and a 6-yard TD connection with 6:52 left in the third quarter.

Cardinals backup quarterback Kurt Warner also was impressive, hitting 6-of-7 passes for 78 yards before giving way to Shane Boyd.