after last Sunday? I only ask this because we actually drafted him no. 1 and while he puts up lots of nice stats he has never won and I think I see the reason why. Again, my own personal opinion, but to me he is a whiner and a guy who yells at his teammates and points fingers. He has never won a big game and I was actually disgusted watching him against the Pats.
I cannot, for any reason, think Eli would do anything remotely similar on the field nor has he ever really done that. Consequently, I am thrilled beyond words that we traded Rivers for Eli. Romo called Rivers the ultimate competitor as I was watching Rivers yell at the refs, yell at his teammates etc. I found that hilarious because I have viewed Romo in the same light...a guy who put up great stats but never won when it counted. In addition, saying someone is competitive simply because they seem to be passionate in terms of yelling at others during a big game is a JOKE!!!
The Chargers had probably the most talented team left in the playoffs and yet they came up short, in a huge way, again. If this was the Giants, we know who would get the blame. Well, in the same vein, to me, LA lost because of a lack of leadership and play from their supposedly much better QB. Not a Chargers fan but I would be embarrassed by that display from your leader. Not saying his teammates didn't deserve criticism but to see the way they folded and never even put up a fight...to me that is a reflection on your leaders.
He has been to the playoffs a lot, but this was the first time I actually thought he had a good team around him that wasn't completely devastated by injuries. I was surprised to see them get blown out.
Rivers played average, but he was also playing from behind the entire game because the Chargers defense couldn't make a stop.
Well said.
For my sake, I'm thrilled we made that trade - there were definitely times when Rivers rubbed me the wrong way, while Eli has been a class act (or, perhaps better said, "a mensch") from day one.
He's a talented QB and certainly a guy who could win a championship with the right talent around him. I don't think he is holding the Chargers back, but he is also not putting them over the top with clutch play at crucial times. I just can't think of any signature River's moments other than great regular season games.
...QB.
There's no doubt the guy is a talented player but I think his stature is elevated some due to the crowd of people who enjoy watching the guy scream and think it means anything good.
I think for the most part he's had it pretty good in SoCal. Terrific offensive talent. Marty then Norv Turner. He's been surrounded by a lot of good football players and coaches. The biggest issues he's had to deal with have been poor injury luck around him and the relocation. Then again, show me a QB who doesn't have to deal with the former.
Solid career, HOF worthy. Slightly overrated due to the douchebaggery he provides on the field that so many eat up.
There's no doubt the guy is a talented player but I think his stature is elevated some due to the crowd of people who enjoy watching the guy scream and think it means anything good.
I think for the most part he's had it pretty good in SoCal. Terrific offensive talent. Marty then Norv Turner. He's been surrounded by a lot of good football players and coaches. The biggest issues he's had to deal with have been poor injury luck around him and the relocation. Then again, show me a QB who doesn't have to deal with the former.
Solid career, HOF worthy. Slightly overrated due to the douchebaggery he provides on the field that so many eat up.
I think this is a pretty fair assessment.
...QB.
I like Rivers and I think he’s a very good player.. with all that said he doesn’t belong in the HOF IMO
Agree that the lost isn't on Rivers, at least not entirely.
Haven't rewatched the game yet, but read how the Pats figured out that the Chargers biggest defensive liability was in RB coverage and short passes to the flat or quick slants. The quick short passing game certainly neutralizes a good pass rush every time. They also mixed up the run game well with a combination of outside zone runs and traps inside. I think the win goes to Bill Belichick and McDaniels once again for recognizing and attacking a team's weakness, but you can't also help but recognize that the Pats had a TON of effort plays - great blocks (especially downfield) and extra effort to reach the first down marker. Early on I lost count of how many times they threw it short of the sticks on first down and then relied on the receiver to break tackles (which they did).
I think the NE team had a chip on their shoulder and the LAC thought they were the better team and got caught unprepared.
In other words, I think they were out-coached as much as out-played.
Unfortunately for Rivers he never has had a breakout game/run in the playoffs, always being pedestrian.
Definitely HOF consideration should be given, and he probably gets there based on stats.
The third best QB of the 2004 draft, which was a great QB class.
I imagine if Brady/Belicheck weren't the force they were, one of his Charger teams may have pulled out a Lombardi - in the end, glad things worked out the way they did.
In 04' he was not what I wanted with that 5 pick.
NY Media and fan base can be unusually brutal given the sheer size of the market, amount of competition for a story and the amount of coverage/attention, so his behavior had him categorized as a "would implode if he were in NY" player in my mind. Might be unfair, but that's where I landed him.
I've also wondered if his stats would be anywhere close to where they are if he had to play more games in bad weather. He's held up well playing in Denver and KC, so might only be a % or 2 reduction in comp %, etc.
That’s a good assessment. He’s a tough SOB, too. Can really hang in there, wait as long as possible, throw, and then take the hit. And the ball somehow lands on a dime. Very unorthodox like Bernie Kosar was.
HAHAHA
I would have been happy with any one of the big 3. Happy to have Eli but I would have been just as happy if Rivers had won 2 SBs and only got to the playoffs a handful of times.
It really makes you appreciate how Coughlin navigated us through the Playoffs. Never got big-gamed, never got caught with collective pants down. Ready to go. Sure the 05 Playoff Game but Giants didn't have the horses.
To get blown out in a Playoff game like the Chargers did - when you have a great team - was an organizational failure. There is a reason the Mannings didn't want to go to San Diego. I also harken back to the comments D.J. Fluker made when he got here. They don't give a sh#t. It's a losing organization. Rivers never had a chance.
I texted him when Rivers was going through his histrionics while constantly under pressure on Sunday and asked how that was working out for him. I'm still waiting on a reply
Rivers is a great QB whose teams have underperformed in the playoffs. Some of that is on him, some isn't.
He has been to the playoffs a lot, but this was the first time I actually thought he had a good team around him that wasn't completely devastated by injuries. I was surprised to see them get blown out.
Rivers played average, but he was also playing from behind the entire game because the Chargers defense couldn't make a stop.
Agree 100% Chargers have not been a good organization
Rivers is clearly good enough to win it all It's too bad
they were not able to build a good enough team around him
I think he gets another shot next season there isn't a lot of competition for the top spot KC Pats Titans Texans Broncos nobody stands out .
Interesting thought...I wonder if he would have been able to perform under Gilbride. Arm strength may have been a liability. Don't know...thought just crossed my mind.
Interesting. Such as?
Sure you can. After an opening drive touchdown, the Chargers punted on their next five series, which included three 3-and-outs and no drive that got more than 26 yards. The defense was getting their asses kicked in, and then were suddenly right back on the field.
By comparison, Eli drove the Giants across midfield in 4 of their first 5 series. But thanks to some bad drops, we managed a mere six points.
Quote:
from NFL rule changes.
Interesting. Such as?
Overall rules that protect the QB and WRs... Rules of the game that favor the offense...that kinda stuff. Is he tough enough to stick it out in an era when the defense was allowed to hammer the QB? Does he have the arm strength to squeeze the ball into a tight window when DBs were allowed to actually play defense on a receiver? Can he play in an offense that doesn't feature borderline illegal pick plays? I mean it's just not Rivers that benefits. Today's NFL allows mediocre QBs to put up insane numbers. You just don't have the special once-in-awhile QB anymore.