Colts fans need to accept Philip Rivers’ turnovers for greater good

Colts fans complained a season ago about how the team didn’t push the ball down the field enough. Now they have a quarterback who does that, albeit with turnover problems.

Philip Rivers is the type of quarterback who Colts fans wanted last season. He’s a guy who has faith in his arm, throws it deep, and isn’t afraid to take risks. Jacoby Brissett is the exact opposite of Rivers in almost every regard, remaining too conservative with the ball.

This is why fans are excited about Rivers’ entry into Indianapolis. Last year, the Colts were missing a threat of a solid passing game. That allowed teams to just stack the box against Marlon Mack. This is why the Colts had a big slide at the end of the season and missed the playoffs.

Fans also need to be aware that they are going to have to deal with a number of turnovers from Rivers this season as well. Last year with the Chargers, he threw 20 interceptions. That is a big change from the six that Brissett threw last year.

If everything goes well, the interceptions that Rivers will ultimately throw will be worth it. It will mean that the team isn’t playing scared. They are taking shots downfield and mixing up the playcalling. The defense should be better as well, so even if there are a few picks thrown, the team is better equipped to deal with them.

Having better receivers this year will help as well. Having Michael Pittman Jr. in the fold, as well as having T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell healthy, will help Rivers succeed more than he did a year ago in Los Angeles. They should help Rivers improve on that interception total a little bit. It would be surprising to see him throw more than 15 this season.

I have been one of the outspoken critics of the Colts signing Rivers. I thought there were better options available in free agency. But if this is the man Chris Ballard has chosen, I trust him to improve on last season and give the Colts a chance to win a lot of games.