Lansdowne
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Messages
- 4,390
- Reaction score
- 1,429
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I wonder how successful Philip Rivers would be if he had Antowain Smith and Jermaine Wiggins instead of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.
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.
Give him a receiver capable of 100+ receptions, like Troy Brown was that year, and he probably would have put up numbers very similar to Brady's. PR's first-year numbers are quite a bit better than Brady's. Give him the exact same personnel and he probably ends up in the same general area statistically. Our team probably ends up being 11-5 also, rather than 14-2.
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.
Well, since you're comparing him to those greats... in their first playoff game, I guess I can do the same with some others.
How about these greats in their first playoff game:
Montana - 1981 - win (also won SB)
Brady - 2001 - win (also won SB)
Favre - 1993 - win
Kelly - 1998 - win
Simms - 1984 - win
Granted, maybe they all weren't in their first year of starting, but it just shows that there is also plenty of evidence to support the idea that he can succeed.
without stats those are useless. Brady won his first game because of snow, his ability at the end of games, defense, and the raiders sucking. unless otherwise corrected i'll assume none of those guys had that great of a game.
What about the running backs?
without stats those are useless. Brady won his first game because of snow, his ability at the end of games, defense, and the raiders sucking. unless otherwise corrected i'll assume none of those guys had that great of a game.
So...you're saying it's possible to win a playoff game even if the QB isn't necessarily A.) experienced or B.) playing all that great.
Well, alrighty then. We'll start worrying about Rivers right away. Thanks for the heads up.
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.
rivers may become an awesome player but please take antwain smith and gives us tomlinson on and then lets compare nos again...
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.
So...you're saying it's possible to win a playoff game even if the QB isn't necessarily A.) experienced or B.) playing all that great.
1. Did you see the Chargers-Seahawks game? I beg to differ, but he did EXACTLY what you mentioned in terms of first year player leading a 2-minute drive. With less than 2 minutes left and the Chargers trailing, Rivers led the Chargers on a drive that resulted in a last minute TD to Vincent Jackson for the win. This was in Seattle with their much vaunted 12th man, the Chargers fighting for a first-round bye, Rivers sucking most of the day, and the CBS announcers yelling at him for not taking time outs or spiking the ball. Yes, he didn't put up great numbers and he came through when it counted. 2 minute drive to win a game in adverse condition? You bet your *ss.
2. The coaches, the players, and the team trusts him. The coaches have shown that by unleashing him in the Pittsburgh game and we haven't looked back since. All of his team mates trust him and have said so repeatedly throughout the entire season. Proof of this was when we were down 27 points vs. Cincy and Rivers said they'll have to score 28 more points to beat us. And the team bought into him.
Even with all this, he's clearly no Brady but like others have said, there are signs. Brady is a freaking monster... 3 SB in the past 5 years and winning it all as a first year starter? Hell yeah Brady is one sick motherf*cking QB. The guy's a beast and one of the best in the NFL right now... much better than the overhyped Peyton Manning.
But discount Rivers at your own risk.
SadThePatriots said:
Even with all this, he's clearly no Brady but like others have said, there are signs. Brady is a freaking monster... 3 SB in the past 5 years and winning it all as a first year starter? Hell yeah Brady is one sick motherf*cking QB. The guy's a beast and one of the best in the NFL right now... much better than the overhyped Peyton Manning.
But discount Rivers at your own risk.