NEW ORLEANS -- That was fun. That was encouraging. That was a Chargers performance to hang a preseason cap on and then top it off with a string of beads.

The Chargers fell short, bowing to the Saints 36-21 at the Superdome on Friday night. The 70,031 revelers posing as football fans didn't go away dispirited or disappointed.

We knew going in this was going to be a hoot. The only thing that would have made this grudge match more delicious would be if Drew Brees and A.J. Smith shared the Superdome big screen during Kiss Cam.

That wasn't going to happen. And we aren't dwelling on the Saints' Super Bowl ring hogging the program cover, with Smith in town.

"At least it's not the one with Brees' name on it,'' a press box wag said.

The label on this tuneup: exhibition. But it was more, and that was obvious with the numerous scuffles and reactions.

"Both teams were getting after it,'' Philip Rivers said.

Rivers, at one point, had to retrieve some critical equipment. After watching Jacob Hester's first-quarter score, Rivers pumped his fist so hard his mouthpiece flew out.

Spitting mad, Rivers wasn't.

Instead this Southern boy was grinning.

"That first drive was about as good as it gets,'' he said.

For the fourth time in his last five series, Rivers directed a possession that went at least 10 plays.

While coach Norv Turner is keen on collecting those big chunks through the air, those drive numbers are revealing.

The Chargers have a running game, something nobody said in 2009. It also says that Turner's confidence in rookie Ryan Mathews grows. Even if Mathews often ran as if being in a nearby swamp, averaging but 3.3 yards on 13 carries.

It was Mathews that Turner asked to convert on third-and-1 ---- Mathews went for 16 yards ---- which kept the first drive alive. It ended with Hester's hard-nosed scoring run of 6 yards.

Mathews is the lead back, but this is a ground-game-by-committee and Turner says he's committed to the run. Mathews is the Alpha dog, but others pulling the sled include Darren Sproles, Mike Tolbert and Hester.

But do we really want to jabber about running backs? Not for this outing, which like most NFL games, was about the guys taking the snaps.

This jambalaya of quarterback talent included two of the best in Brees and Rivers. They played to their billings, making it more amazing both once graced the Chargers' roster.

Rivers was solid, completing 16-of-27 passes for 167 yards, a score and an 89.6 rating in his most extensive summer work.

Brees, though, trumped him when hitting 18-of-27 for 240 yards, two scores and a nifty 119.4 mark.

"He is a great player,'' Rivers said. "And he's fun to watch.''

Any discussion about Rivers requires one to connect the dots. To shine, Rivers has to stand true, and again left tackle Brandyn Dombrowski had few false steps.

For the third consecutive game, Dombrowski, who is replacing unsigned Pro Bowler Marcus McNeill, wrestled with an elite right defensive end in Will Smith. But this test was more telling, as the roar of the Saints' sellout crowd made deciphering snap counts impossible.

"It felt good,'' Dombrowski said. "I still have stuff to work on, but I'm just trying to get better. At first, it was a little hard to hear.''

When the Saints tied the game, it was difficult to believe. Antoine Cason had inside position on Devery Henderson, but Henderson reached around Cason and swatted the ball to himself for a 46-yard touchdown reception.

The Saints then took the lead on a 15-yard Brees strike to Robert Meachem; Rivers matched Brees by clicking with Malcom Floyd on a 9-yard pass, tying the game at 14.

Man, this was getting good and it had the makings of a grand shootout with two ex-teammates firing at defenses with the precision and moxie that oozes from them.

Then the calendar raised its ugly head ---- it is still summer! It was Saints up 17-14, when the quarterbacks called it a night midway through third quarter.

"It's kind of hard to say, 'it is over,' but that is the beauty of preseason, I guess,'' Rivers said.

What's easy on the eyes is the play of Brees and Rivers. And each could be presented the night's congeniality award.

After the game, they lingered at midfield, two old buddies swapping tales and wishing each other good luck. The conversation was easy, not forced or fake.

Each time they started to depart, they would lean back and continue their chat.

"Drew was great,'' Rivers said of their visit. "I enjoyed those two years with him and always try to keep somewhat in touch. It's tough because we are both busy and on different sides of the country.

Speaking of active, Brees shared with Rivers that his second son is due in October.

Rivers, on the offspring count, leads Brees 5-1.

"I told him he still has a ways to go,'' Rivers said.

What's clear is the Chargers took another baby step and are heading in the right direction.

"I thought in the first half,'' Turner said, "we played the best we've played to this point in the preseason.'' 

The point is the score doesn't matter. What does is the Chargers not blinking when staring at the Saints, or their Super Bowl bling.