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.
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.
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