Why Pats Fans Should Be Worried About Rivers....

[csfoster]

Perhaps the major reason Rivers has succeeded thus far this season is that like Brady was in 2001, he is a first-year starter not a rookie QB. Rivers was on the bench learning last year when the Bolts played the Pats as he was for practically all the games during the first two years of his career.

Comparing the regular season stats of Rivers and Brady as first-year starters suggests that Rivers is as good if not better than Brady was at this point in his career.

Rivers Brady
Year 2006 2001
Yards 3,388 2,843
Comp. % 61.9 63.9
TD's 22 18
Int. 9 12

Of course, what separates Brady from everyone else is his first-year starting and subsequent performances in the play-offs and SuperBowls.

But no one seriously projected Brady's great success before the fact of it. And likewise, no one should seriously discount the possibility of Rivers following along a similar path in the play-offs now that he (as Brady did in 2001) faces his first play-off game as an experienced successful first-year starter.

And the distinct possibility of Rivers following that path is why Pats Fans should be worried about Rivers.

 

[hwc]

Well, alrighty then. We'll start worrying about Rivers right away. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[SVN]

Perhaps the major reason Rivers has succeeded thus far this season is that like Brady was in 2001, he is a first-year starter not a rookie QB. Rivers was on the bench learning last year when the Bolts played the Pats as he was for practically all the games during the first two years of his career.

Comparing the regular season stats of Rivers and Brady as first-year starters suggests that Rivers is as good if not better than Brady was at this point in his career.

Rivers Brady
Year 2006 2001
Yards 3,388 2,843
Comp. % 61.9 63.9
TD's 22 18
Int. 9 12

Of course, what separates Brady from everyone else is his first-year starting and subsequent performances in the play-offs and SuperBowls.

But no one seriously projected Brady's great success before the fact of it. And likewise, no one should seriously discount the possibility of Rivers following along a similar path in the play-offs now that he (as Brady did in 2001) faces his first play-off game as an experienced successful first-year starter.

And the distinct possibility of Rivers following that path is why Pats Fans should be worried about Rivers.

rivers may become an awesome player but please take antwain smith and gives us tomlinson on and then lets compare nos again...

 

[tatepatsfan]

I don't believe that Rivers can't be successful. There is, however, clear precedent that Belichick's defenses can create nightmares for quarterbacks, even "great" ones. Rivers' numbers this season certainly are fantastic, and he is well on his way to belonging in the conversation of top QB's in the league. But clearly QB's, and rookie/1st year QB's specifically, have struggled mightily against Belichick's defensive schemes.

 

[EnglishPatriot]

To get someone who can come in during his first year starting and produce the sort of two minute drive Brady did is never, ever going to be something you should assume because there's only a handful of players who could really do that. Brady isn't good because of the numbers he puts up. Of course there's a possibility that Rivers could go on to become the coolest, most headstrong guy in the NFL and a great leader of his team, someone everyone can depend on and trust from the co-ordinators down to the bunch of nobodies you have lining up at reciever. More often than not, a player doesn't have that in them, so I'll keep Brady, thanks.

Although I'm not banking on Rivers losing this game for San Diego, you seem to suggest we should fear him as the next Tom Brady. I don't buy that.

 

[cblesz]

Sorry. Cannot compare. Rivers has had the MVP ("greatest running back ever") to hand the ball off to. He has also had the best tight end in tha game to throw to. Brady certainly did not and has never had those type of weapons. To compare the two quarterbacks is ridiculous.

Additionally, the media keeps trying to find the "next" quarterback to follow Brady's path...(ex: Jake Delhomme, Tony Romo)...I am sure if they keep picking someone, eventually they will hit it.

 

[miDeuce]

Worth mentioning that Rivers was surrounded with arguably the best tight end and best running back in the league this year. Not exactly what Brady had in 2001. People were saying the same thing about Roethlisberger in 2004 (who were also the #1 seeds) and we all know how that turned out.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Rivers is no Tom Brady. Wait till your boy wins ONE playoff game before tooting your horn why don't you? Brady has won ELEVEN, among them 3 Superbowls.

 

[nickelbolt]

Worth mentioning that Rivers was surrounded with arguably the best tight end and best running back in the league this year. Not exactly what Brady had in 2001. People were saying the same thing about Roethlisberger in 2004 (who were also the #1 seeds) and we all know how that turned out.

Big Ben was a true rookie, though. He didn't really have clue as to how to read an NFL defense. He was just thrown in there and played his butt off... 'til he ran into a REAL NFL Defense. If the Chargers lose, it will not be Rivers who is the reason. It will be because of poor execution and/or turnovers. It'll be receivers dropping passes, fumbling, blown assignments by the defense, or missed tackles.

9 times out of 10 Rivers is going to make the right read. Big Ben didn't even know what he was looking at most of that season. Rivers has been learning under Brees and Cameron for the past two years. He is not a rookie and definitely not your typical first year QB.

Still... he doesn't merritt any comparison to Brady right now. No current NFL QB does, for that matter.

 

[cblesz]

Still... he doesn't merritt any comparison to Brady right now. No current NFL QB does, for that matter.

Wow!! An intelligent Charger fan does exist. Hey, nobody is saying Rivers is no good, in fact he is a very good quarterback. We are just saying that he should win one playoff game before we annoint him "the next Brady".

 

[nickelbolt]

Wow!! An intelligent Charger fan does exist. Hey, nobody is saying Rivers is no good, in fact he is a very good quarterback. We are just saying that he should win one playoff game before we annoint him "the next Brady".

I can live with that.

 

[DagoTom]

To get someone who can come in during his first year starting and produce the sort of two minute drive Brady did is never, ever going to be something you should assume because there's only a handful of players who could really do that. Brady isn't good because of the numbers he puts up. Of course there's a possibility that Rivers could go on to become the coolest, most headstrong guy in the NFL and a great leader of his team, someone everyone can depend on and trust from the co-ordinators down to the bunch of nobodies you have lining up at reciever. More often than not, a player doesn't have that in them, so I'll keep Brady, thanks.

I think that's the thing a lot of fans around the league don't understand yet. We *do* think Philip is that guy. And it's not just because he's our QB. There's evidence that goes with that.

The kid was a 4-time bowl MVP in college. Obviously college is not the NFL, but it shows a precedent for playing well in big games.

He stepped into an extremely challenging situation here where he was required to win the faith of a team that had already had some success with Brees under center. Brees was the Bolts' "Most Inspirational Player" in 2004 and a team leader. He's also one of Tomlinson's best friends off-the-field. But Rivers somehow managed to win the trust of his teammates in training camp (mostly by working his tail off) and he overcame all that.

Then he overcame the doubters and played like a veteran very early in his first year as a starter. But he also did something else that makes it much easier for us to have faith in him; he proved that he's a 4th-quarter player. And you guys know as well as anyone...a QB who plays his best in the 4th quarter is like gold in the NFL. That's not something that can be taught, a QB either has it or he doesn't. Highest 4th quarter rating in the NFL + 5 comeback wins give us a lot of confidence in his ability to overcome adversity.

Sunday will be his biggest challenge yet, but he has been up to every challenge before this. We're not talking about a kid who was ushered into the playoffs on the back of a great team like Big Ben. Rivers has done a lot of the things that detractors noted Big Ben had not yet done--like leading his team to victory on the strength of his arm when nothing else was working.

No, PR is not Tom Brady yet, but the signs are there. There's reason for us to believe he's the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Pujo]

The comparissons to Brady are off base. He may prove to be as good, but he hasn't yet. On the other hand, he's a very good QB and someone I'm sure the Pats are rightly worried about. And I still get fits of laughter thinking about how badly SD got the better of the Giants with the Rivers/Manning trade.

 

[mgcolby]

Perhaps the major reason Rivers has succeeded thus far this season is that like Brady was in 2001, he is a first-year starter not a rookie QB. Rivers was on the bench learning last year when the Bolts played the Pats as he was for practically all the games during the first two years of his career.

Comparing the regular season stats of Rivers and Brady as first-year starters suggests that Rivers is as good if not better than Brady was at this point in his career.

Rivers Brady
Year 2006 2001
Yards 3,388 2,843
Comp. % 61.9 63.9
TD's 22 18
Int. 9 12

Of course, what separates Brady from everyone else is his first-year starting and subsequent performances in the play-offs and SuperBowls.

But no one seriously projected Brady's great success before the fact of it. And likewise, no one should seriously discount the possibility of Rivers following along a similar path in the play-offs now that he (as Brady did in 2001) faces his first play-off game as an experienced successful first-year starter.

And the distinct possibility of Rivers following that path is why Pats Fans should be worried about Rivers.

You can't really compare the two for several reasons.

1) Brady didn't have anyone with 50% of LT's production
2) he had Jermaine Wiggins as his TE
3) Troy Brown was his best (only) reciever
4) Rivers entered the season knowing that he was going to be the starter, Brady got tossed in.
5) Rivers had two years to watch and learn, Brady only had one.

Not saying Rivers isn't a good QB or isn't going to be a great QB, all I'm saying is you can't compare the two.

 

[Mooch]

Some of the greatest QBs in NFL history over the years have bombed out in their first playoff game:

Marino: 15-25, 193 yrds, 2 INTs - LOSS

Elway: 10-15, 123 yrds, 1 INT - LOSS

Fouts: 25-47, 333 yrds, 5 INTs - LOSS

Manning: 14-43, 227 yrds - LOSS

Steve Young: 12-17, 158 yrds, 1 INT - LOSS

Aikman: 11-16, 114 yrds, 1 INT - LOSS

Expecting a first year starter to even be DECENT in his first ever playoff game is asking a lot -- Never mind against a great defense and coaching staff.

If the Bolts have to rely on Rivers to win the game, I think you guys are in for a very long game.

 

[csfoster]

Sorry. Cannot compare. Rivers has had the MVP ("greatest running back ever") to hand the ball off to. He has also had the best tight end in tha game to throw to. Brady certainly did not and has never had those type of weapons. To compare the two quarterbacks is ridiculous.

Additionally, the media keeps trying to find the "next" quarterback to follow Brady's path...(ex: Jake Delhomme, Tony Romo)...I am sure if they keep picking someone, eventually they will hit it.

The fact that Rivers is not a rookie QB but is an experienced successful first-year starter after spending 2 years on the bench is the essential point of the original post.

Rivers is more than less at the exact point in time that Brady was in January of 2002 which is the only comparison being drawn. And the fact that, unlike Brady in his first play-off game, Rivers has the best running back and tight-end in the NFL (along with a solid defense) for support in his first play-off game as a practical matter means that Rivers has an even greater chance to be successful in his first play-off game than Brady did.

 

[Pats726]

You can't really compare the two for several reasons.

1) Brady didn't have anyone with 50% of LT's production
2) he had Jermaine Wiggins as his TE
3) Troy Brown was his best (only) reciever
4) Rivers entered the season knowing that he was going to be the starter, Brady got tossed in.
5) Rivers had two years to watch and learn, Brady only had one.

Not saying Rivers isn't a good QB or isn't going to be a great QB, all I'm saying is you can't compare the two.

All good points...but the Volts fans can believe what they will...that is all fine to delude..

 

[mgcolby]

All good points...but the Volts fans can believe what they will...that is all fine to delude..

I look at this way. Almost every young QB that comes in burning up the league in his first few starts eventually cools off - some faster than others. Look at Gradkowski (sp?) from TB he came out guns blazing, 3 games later not so much. Rivers cooled off in his final 3 games or so, I know he had an ankle injury at some point. Big ben had his safety valve taken away and he struggled and I have no reason to think it will be any different on Sunday.

Bottom line: If it comes down to Rivers beating us, I like our chances.

 

[TruthSeeker]

"Rivers has done a lot of the things that detractors noted Big Ben had not yet done--like leading his team to victory on the strength of his arm when nothing else was working."

When exactly was that ? The one game when LT didn't run for 100 yards against that powerhouse Arizona ? I like Rivers, and think very highly of him, but he has the best TE & RB in the game, and that's quite a bonus. As other have said, Brady had Antowain Smith and Troy Brown in his first year, and that's basically it. He also had taken over a team that was 5-11 the prior year.

 

[hwc]

As a Pats fan, I think we should encourage the Chargers to get out the annoiting oil and commence to annointing for all their worth in the days leading up to Sunday's game. Hell, let 'em go ahead an cast a bronze bust for Canton.

PS. Fine with me if they want to make hotel reservations in Miami, too.