Philip Rivers should be Colts’ 2021 QB over other rumored veterans

The Colts should roll with Philip Rivers at QB next season over other potential veteran options.

When the Indianapolis Colts signed Philip Rivers last offseason, fans didn’t really know how to react, and understandably so. While he clearly served as an upgrade to their other alternative options, there was ample speculation about whether he was capable of leading them to the playoffs in a rejuvenated AFC.

After all, 2019 was objectively one of the worst seasons of Rivers’ esteemed career, as he completed 66% of his passes for 4,615 yards and 23 touchdowns compared to 20 interceptions, the latter of which was the third-most in the NFL. He also committed eight fumbles (three lost) and finished 17th with an 88.5 passer rating.

Fast forward to the present, however, and Rivers has more than validated the Colts’ decision to sign him to a one-year, $25 million contract. In fact, we are so pleased with how the 38-year-old gunslinger has run the offense that we’d MUCH rather Indianapolis bring him back than sign or trade for any of the other veterans they’ve been linked with in recent months.

Those stats really say it all and prove that re-signing Rivers is the more sensible choice over bringing in guys like Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz. Don’t believe us? Fine, let’s compare their statistics for the season.

• Rivers: 3,507 yards, 20 touchdowns, 9 INTs, 7.7 YPA, 97.4 rating and a 9-4 record
• Stafford: 3,522 yards, 22 touchdowns, 9 INTs, 7.6 YPA, 94.8 rating and a 5-8 record
• Ryan: 3,660 yards, 19 touchdowns, 11 INTs, 7.3 YPA, 89.3 rating and a 4-9 record
• Wentz: 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns, 15 INTs, 6.0 YPA, 72.8 rating and a 3-8 record

What more needs to be said? We’re glad you asked. Rivers currently has the Colts ranked fifth in scoring (28.6 points), eighth in passing offense (263.7 yards), ninth in total offense (376.7 yards) and sixth in explosive plays (46). He also has them neck and neck with Tennessee, who were one win away from the Super Bowl last season, in the AFC South.

In all honesty, Stafford is probably the only quarterback we would want Indy to sign or trade for if Rivers wasn’t a realistic option. Even then, we wouldn’t love it as the Lions star has become increasingly prone to injury over the last two seasons and carries a huge cap hit.

We know Rivers isn’t the long-term solution at QB, but he’s proven more than capable of flourishing in this offense and deserves another season under center, which will only give the Colts more time to sort out who they might want to bring in as his successor.

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