SHOULD PHILIP RIVERS BE MENTIONED IN THE SAME BREATH AS BRADY, BREES & RODGERS?

Short Answer: Yes. The primary consideration for including Philip Rivers in the company of these three Pro Bowl Quarterbacks should be simple: productivity and efficiency. In simpler terms, when Rivers throws the ball, he gains yards, limits mistakes, and produces points. Moreover, his efforts have allowed the Chargers, at times, to manage the game clock and win games by larger margins. A look at the case for Rivers as a Quarterback among the league’s best:

STATISTICAL SUCCESS

Philip Rivers has demonstrated a steady improvement in each season since 2006. Each of the last three seasons have seen Rivers finish with 4,000+ yards passing and a Quarterback rating over 100 – something Brady, Brees, and Rodgers have not done.

In addition, Rivers has recorded a higher yards-per-attempt average from year to year, peaking at 8.7 in 2010. This is arguably football’s most valuable statistic for Quarterbacks, and the Chargers have clearly benefited from Rivers’ success here, in terms of passing TDs and total passing yardage.

VERSATILITY

The makeup of Rivers’ Charger teams has shifted in some significant ways during the years of his growth as an NFL starting Quarterback. After 2007, LaDainian Tomlinson’s overall production as a Charger began to diminish significantly, especially as a runner. This left Rivers with increased responsibility for offensive output – and he responded with career highs over the next three seasons in completions, completion percentage, passing yards, yards per pass attempt, and TD passes. (It’s also worth mentioning that Rivers not only lost a Pro Bowl-caliber rusher in Tomlinson, but also the most prolific pass-catching RB of his generation).

Another dimension to Rivers’ versatility is his unique delivery. He possesses an ability to deliver the ball from multiple arm slots (nearly overhand, three-quarters, and nearly sidearm), enabling clean release of the ball in various types of passing lanes that develop.

INTANGIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS

On its face, Rivers’ 2010 yards-per-attempt stat of 8.7 is impressive. But, when one considers the fact that Rivers’ top two receivers in 2010 were a RB and a TE, the significance of this statistic takes on added meaning. This fact, when coupled with review of Chargers offensive film from 2010, clearly illustrates Rivers’ improvement as a decision-maker – and establish him as among the best in the NFL.