Philip Rivers standing, as far as where he ranks among the elite of NFL quaterbacks, was definitely in question after the failures of the San Diego Chargers to make the playoffs over the last four seasons. Rivers was looking like a QB that could put up great fantasy numbers but never get the Chargers over the hump without the great players that he had around him in the past. The years of having LaDanian Tomlinson in the backfield are long gone. In fact, since Tomlinson has left San Diego, the Chargers have not made the playoffs, until this year.
That is what is making this season a season of vindication for Philip Rivers. There were a lot of football fans that felt that Rivers was overrated, that he did not make that players around him better. But in actuality those statement are false.
Rivers has proven to be a better leader than people knew. True, he helped the Chargers backdoor into the playoffs with a 9-7 record this year. But then when you consider that he was in an AFC West Division, that boasted the team with the best record in the AFC in the 13-3 Denver Broncos, and a 11-5 Wildcard team in the newly rejuvinated Kansas City Chiefs, that 9-7 Chargers record shines a little bit brighter.
Rivers numbers this year were the best numbers that he has put up in his career; 378 of 544 (69.5%) 4,478 yards, 8.2 YPA, 32 TDs, 11 INTs, 105.5 QBR. He got those numbers without being surrounded by the best of receiving talent as well. He still had Antonio Gates who is sure to be a Hall Of Fame player at the end of his career. But he did not have a proven receiving corps around him by any stretch of the imagination. Rookie, Keenan Allen, had a stellar first year campaign catching 71 passes for 1,046 yards and 8 TDs. He should be considered for "Offensive Rookie Of The Year" with those numbers. But those numbers for Allen or this playoff appearance for San Diego do not happen without Philip Rivers. Outside of Allen and Gates you really can't say that Rivers had a whole lot of offensive assistance.
Still, Rivers made it happen.
Rivers benefitted from the coaching change as well. We can't act like replacing Norv Turner with Mike McCoy, who was formerly the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, did not help in this situation either. McCoy brought a fresh outlook to the Chargers that Rivers benefitted from. Got to believe that McCoy will not be going anywhere for awhile.
The one thing that will make this season sweeter for Philip Rivers and his San Diego Chargers is a nice run in the AFC playoffs. The Chargers do have enough offense to make things interesting. Their matchup with the Cincinnatti Bengals is going to be a tough one though in the Wildcard round. When it is all said and done, the Chargers are getting back on the right track and Philip Rivers is showing justification for his status among NFL quarterbacks. A playoff win for him would be the icing on the cake for this season. But knowing Rivers temperament, that is not going to satisfy him.
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