Philip Rivers: The MVP Candidate Nobody Saw Coming
Philip Rivers has led one of the quietest careers possible for a 4th Overall pick and 5-time Pro Bowler. Tucked away in the Southwest corner of the country and largely ignored by nationally televised broadcasts, the San Diego Chargers have mirrored their leader, existing on a slightly better-than-average plane that has gone unnoticed by NFL fans. Until now.
The 4-1 Chargers have taken the league by surprise behind their reborn star. Selected by the New York Giants 4th Overall in 2004, then promptly traded to San Diego for Eli Manning, Rivers’ early years in San Diego were wildly successful, as he led the Bolts to a 25-7 record in his first two years as the starting QB. With 2012’s 7-9 record as Rivers’ one and only losing season, the Chargers have always been in contention, but have yet to take the big step.
2014 started slowly for the Chargers, with a Week 1 loss that many expected to the Arizona Cardinals. It seemed the Chargers were headed for their traditionally weak opening half to the season, before the annual surge towards the playoffs. Then, the World Champion Seattle Seahawks came to town. Rivers threw for 284 yards and 3 TD’s in the game, leading his team to a shocking 30-21 victory. Since Week 2, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 86-24.
Over this incredible run, Rivers has risen to the top of nearly every key QB statistic in the NFL. Rivers currently ranks 1st in completion percentage for QB’s who have attempted over 100 passes, sitting at 70.3%. He trails only Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan, and Drew Brees in yardage, is T-2nd with 12 TD’s, and leads all passers with a 116.3 Quarterback Rating. After 2011 and 2012 campaigns that had many calling for Philip Rivers to be replaced in San Diego, he has not only responded to critics, but reinvented his game.
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Generated 10/7/2014.
Philip Rivers is not a headline maker. His crazed passion for competition and love of football will never draw the audience it truly deserves. However, the NFL MVP is not about headlines, it is about one’s value to their team, and the amount to which they have caused and contributed to a group’s success.
The Chargers have not completely overhauled their roster from the teams that played .500 football from 2011-2013. Their defence, although growingly effective as a unit, is not riddled with the star power of the Denver Broncos or Seattle Seahawks. Offensively, one could argue that Rivers has been given even less help than in years prior. Keenan Allen‘s early shortcomings and injury troubles have led Philip Rivers to lean heavily on Malcolm Floyd and Eddie Royal, both of whom are average receivers in the NFL. Antonio Gates has been his dominant self, showing no signs of handing his job over to the athletic young Ladarius Green, but what about the Chargers’ run game?
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Starting RB Ryan Mathews has been out since Week 2 with a sprained MCL. Danny Woodhead, who was invaluable to Rivers on short-yardage passes out of the backfield, has been lost for the season with a broken right fibula. Next up was Donald Brown, who left last week’s game with a concussion, before UDFA Branden Oliver took over the RB duties and performed brilliantly.
The San Diego Chargers have been pushed forward by Philip Rivers, and inspired by his All-Pro level of play thus far. We often hear about Quarterbacks who do “more with less”. In 2014, Philip Rivers is doing the most with the least.
Regardless of the sport or the season, a debate on the definition of “Most Valuable” is always present. To simplify the answer, I always ask one question: What player would impact their team the most if they were lost for the season?
In Denver, a defence building momentum and an elite arsenal of weapons could still push for the playoffs should Peyton Manning go down to injury. In Dallas, the Cowboys could plug-and-play another RB in place of DeMarco Murray, and still have every opportunity of making the playoffs. In Houston, an injury to star DE J.J. Watt would be crushing to the Texans, but would it have as large of an impact on their final record as losing Rivers would for the Chargers?
Is Philip Rivers a favourite for NFL MVP? That is for the next three months to decide, but at this point, a conversation cannot be had without his inclusion. In 2014, Philip Rivers is the San Diego Chargers, and the San Diego Chargers, quite happily, are Philip Rivers.