by John Harris , Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Rivers was coming off a run of three 300-yard passing efforts in four games. He also had 10 touchdown passes and four interceptions during that span.

But Rivers' superlative play ended in the Steelers' 11-10 win at Heinz Field. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards. He finished with no touchdown passes, two interceptions and was sacked twice. It was the second game this season Rivers was held without a touchdown pass. He also lost a fumble in the end zone that was recovered for a safety.

Rivers' passer rating against the Steelers was 44.4, a season low.

"No question, that was the best defense we played all year," Rivers said Wednesday. "We had a couple of long drives. We just couldn't get in the end zone."

San Diego mustered only 213 total yards in the game.

Asked why his defense was so successful against Rivers, normally cautious Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn't mince words.

"I think we made a lot of quarterbacks have bad days," Tomlin said. "Hopefully we can create that kind of environment for him on Sunday."

Tomlin's players are counting on doing just that.

"You're going to get the same Steelers you got in the regular season, but with a lot more intensity," outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley said.

The Steelers' defense gave Rivers plenty of different looks in the first meeting. And despite recording only two sacks, they applied pressure to Rivers from all directions.

Backup nose tackle Chris Hoke said the constant pressure bothered Rivers.

"We hit him early and made him a little uneasy," Hoke said. "He's a really good quarterback. He's hot again. So we've got to make sure that we hit him again and make him uneasy."

Rivers enters Sunday's rematch on another hot streak.

Rivers posted passer ratings of 96.0 or better in five of San Diego's final six games while leading the Chargers to the playoffs.

"His quarterback efficiency is at the top of the charts," Tomlin said of Rivers, who led the league with a 105.5 passer rating. "He directs and leads them. He does a nice job when the play breaks down of buying time; he is surprisingly elusive and mobile."

Hoke said the Steelers want to make Rivers a mobile quarterback when he'd prefer to stay in the pocket.

"Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers are the same kind of quarterbacks." Hoke said. "They don't like to run. They slide around in the pocket and throw. If you let Rivers stay in the pocket, he's going to pick you apart.

"We've got to get Rivers doing that dancing around like we did in the AFC Championship Game a few years ago against the Colts. We came after Rivers pretty good the first time. We were getting pressure. It seemed like people were falling at his feet, people were hitting him and raking at him."

The first meeting between the Steelers and Chargers featured a game-time wind chill temperature of 26 degrees and snow showers. Sunday's divisional playoff game will feature more of the same type of weather, which could again result in poor playing conditions.

"You can't make a snap judgment of what (Rivers) is capable of based upon what happened in that game," Tomlin said. "It was a hostile environment, we played well that day and the weather conditions were what they were."

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