SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers are on a run, minus a running game.

“The name of the game is winning,” said quarterback Philip Rivers. “We’ve done that for the last three weeks.”

The Chargers stayed hot, thumping the Jacksonville Jaguars, 33-14, on Sunday.

Despite a microscopic 42 rushing yards, the Chargers sped past the Jaguars because of Rivers.

He threw for 377 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers. In completing 29 of 39 attempts he had a passing rating of 130 for the second straight game.

“The way we are throwing the football,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said, “I think we are going to keep throwing it.”

Wide receiver Eddie Royal caught two of Rivers’ scoring tosses. Royal and Keenan Allen each exceeded 100 receiving yards.

Nick Novak added four field goals as the Chargers won their third straight contest.

Jaguars rookie quarterback Blake Bortles made his first NFL start and the early returns were positive. Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, had a touchdown and two interceptions while connecting on 29 of 37 passes for 253 yards. The loss was the seventh consecutive defeat for Jacksonville dating back to 2013 and fourth in a row this season.

“I know we lost so I don’t know what’s positive or not,” Bortles said. “I didn’t play very well and did some stupid things.”

The Chargers remained undefeated at home by outscoring Jacksonville 23-0 in the final 31 minutes.

“When you work hard, you play hard and it doesn’t come your way, there’s disappointment,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.

In the third quarter, wide receiver Malcom Floyd beat Demetrius McCray in single coverage to put the Chargers ahead 24-14 on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Rivers.

The Jaguars trailed by 10 with nine minutes left in the third quarter when cornerback Brandon Flowers came up with the Chargers’ first pick of the year. The Chargers took over at the Jacksonville 40-yard-line but settled for Novak’s second field goal and a 27-14 lead.

What the Chargers said:

“We have to do whatever it takes to win. No one is going to feel sorry for us on Sunday. Everyone’s got injuries.” — Coach Mike McCoy, on the Chargers overcoming various health issues.

What the Jaguars said:

“To Blake’s credit, he came out and was really efficient. He made plays by creating time, getting out of the pocket.” — Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, on quarterback Blake Bortles after the rookie’s first NFL start.

What we learned about the Chargers:

1. The offseason signing of Brandon Flowers was a keen move. Flowers, a Pro Bowler, gives the secondary experience that was absent at cornerback. Flowers had the team’s first interception of the season and contributed numerous critical tackles in key situations. With cornerback Jason Verrett out due to a bad hamstring, Flowers needed to step up, and he did. It was the second consecutive solid game for Flowers after he missed the win over the Seahawks with a groin injury. “I was just playing ball,” Flowers said of his interception. “That was my guy on that play, and I broke on the ball. I knew I had to get around him. As soon as I got around him I just pulled it in.”

2. This was the first time the Chargers, who were struggling with their running attack, started a game without running backs Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead. Mathews is out indefinitely with a knee injury, and Woodhead is gone for the season with a broken leg. The Chargers entered the contest with the NFL’s No. 26th running game. San Diego turned to running backs Donald Brown and Braden Oliver, and nothing worked. The Chargers rushed for just 42 yards on 20 carries, although, to be fair, they also had quarterback Philip Rivers flip many short passes to the backs in the flat to augment the running game. however, the hard truth is the Chargers know they have to unearth a ground game. “We don’t have a choice,” coach Mike McCoy said. “We have to get better.” Oliver gained 23 yards on nine carries; Brown produced 19 yards on 10 attempts.

–C Doug Legursky became the Chargers’ third starting center in four games. Legursky, who was a free agent when he signed before the opener, got the start with Rich Ohrnberger sidelined due to a back injury. Ohrnberger was replacing Nick Hardwick, who is out for the season with a neck injury.

–TE Ladarius Green was active but didn’t play in the game. He missed practice Friday because of a hamstring injury.

–CB Shareece Wright left the game with a knee injury. He was credited with six tackles, including one for a loss.

What we learned about the Jaguars:

1. This Bortles guy has a future. Sure quarterback Blake Bortles, the team’s first-round pick this year, didn’t collect the “W” in his first NFL start. He also would love to have back his third-quarter interception, when he was baited by veteran cornerback Brandon Flowers into a pick. However, it seldom appeared that the game was too big for Bortles, who completed 29 of 37 passes for 253 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. “He can throw the ball; he has skills,” Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney said. “They’ll build something around him. Who knows when it happens, if it does happen. I know he can throw the ball. He should. He’s the third pick in the draft.”

2. Toby Gerhart can rebound. The veteran running back fumbled the ball away to the Chargers in the first quarter. “He was disappointed about that initial fumble, but he bounced back and he ran hard,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “How he bounced back from that fumble was a good thing.” Gerhart finished with 32 yards on 10 carries, and that included the Jaguars’ first rushing touchdown of the season.

–MLB Paul Posluszny had a solid game in leading the Jaguars’ defense. He was credited with a game-high 11 tackles.

–QB Blake Bortles is the fifth Jaguars quarterback to start a game during his rookie season. The others are Jonathan Quinn (1998), David Garrard (2002), Byron Leftwich (2003), and Blaine Gabbert (2011).

–CB Dwayne Gratz exited the game with a concussion. He was credited with three tackles.