NFL History: 50 greatest quarterback-wide receiver tandems in NFL history

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammate Calvin Johnson #81 after a first quarter touchdown the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on October 27, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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Phillip Rivers (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

The 45th greatest quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history: Phillip Rivers & Keenan Allen

Phillip Rivers was an established quarterback with several Pro Bowls under his belt and a reputation as being one of the best signal-callers in the league. Keenan Allen, on the other hand, was a third-round wide receiver in 2013 that had little to no expectations.

The pair appeared to be in two different points in their respective careers. With that said, they found a way to make it work. In Allen’s first season with the Los Angeles Chargers, the rookie racked up 1,046 receiving yards. A few injury plagued years and inconsistent ones caused his numbers to drop but he got back to his productive self in 2017. For the next three seasons, Allen had 1,393 yards, 1,196 yards and 1,193 yards. Those numbers ultimately resulted in three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

Whether Allen was dominating the league or going through growing pains, Rivers continued to throw for over 4,000 yards each and every year.

Interestingly enough, the Chargers made only two postseason berths in those seven seasons that Rivers and Allen shared together. That’s a good reason why we have them ranked so low.

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