Here are three reasons why Colts fans should be optimistic about QB Philip Rivers in Week 6.
Fans in Indianapolis have been engulfed in a state of panic following the Colts’ loss to Cleveland in Week 5, and you know what? We really don’t blame them. After all, the consensus immediate reaction was that they would have come out on top if they’d had a more responsible quarterback under center, as two Philip Rivers interceptions — plus a boneheaded safety — ultimately resulted in nine Browns points.
Ironically enough, that was precisely the amount that Indianapolis lost by. As much as we would have liked to defend Rivers from the mountain of criticism he’s received from fans and media members this week, his play was so poor that it simply wasn’t possible.
With so many people calling for Rivers’ job, head coach Frank Reich actually answered questions about whether he was considering benching him. It goes without saying that Rivers has his flaws and we were never really sold on giving him $25 million, but we never would have guessed his evident decline in 2019 would drastically worsen after joining a team in Indianapolis which boasts a superior offensive line and rushing attack to that of the Chargers.
Philip Rivers has more interceptions (5) than touchdowns (4) so far this season. #Colts
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) October 11, 2020
With all of that being said and amid all of the questions about whether signing Rivers was the right move by general manager Chris Ballard, however, there’s still plenty of reasons out there to be optimistic about him heading into Week 6 against a 1-3 Bengals team that is fresh off getting trounced by Baltimore.
Here are three that stick out the most.
3. His Tendency to Bounce Back
Colts QB Philip Rivers tends to deliver his best games amid adversity.
One thing that Rivers doesn’t get enough credit for is his perseverance. People forget that he came into the league back in 2004 as a gunslinger in every sense of the word. His fearlessness in a collapsing pocket and willingness to fit throws into tight windows is part of what made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of North Carolina State.
Though nobody thought it would become this concerning, Rivers was always expected to drive coaches mad with his turnovers. However, he admirably hasn’t let it define his career. Since becoming the Chargers’ full-time starter in 2006, the former No. 4 overall pick has thrown less than 10 interceptions just twice in 15 seasons. How many signal callers would let those struggles consume them and ultimately derail their respective careers?
Rivers has probably had dozens of games like Week 5 against Cleveland when his turnovers were solely responsible for his team’s loss. It says a lot about the 38-year-old’s resilience that he’s still here and playing (mostly) at a starting-caliber level.
A number of Colts fans are probably writing him off on the heels of his putrid performance last Sunday, and understandably so. However, we would advise against doing so, as Rivers has proven throughout his career that he is capable of bouncing back.