Philip Rivers Proves That He Is a Top Five NFL Quarterback

I have been defending Philip Rivers as a top five NFL quarterback for a very long time now, but everyone always comes up with some excuses for why he is not. I ranted about this in one of my previous Grittin’ My Teeth articles, and now want to tell all the doubters to buzz off.

In that article I said that, “Rivers led the league in QB rating in 2008 and was third in 2009 and over the past years has thrown 62 touchdowns to only 20 interceptions. He has led his team into the playoffs and with a declining LaDainian Tomlinson had assumed the leadership role.”

The biggest arguments against Rivers were that he has never won a championship and that he has so many weapons to work with. It’s true that he has yet to win the Super Bowl or even get there, but no longer can the weapons excuse be used.

This season Rivers has been playing without No. 1 wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee are definitely not legit weapons, although both are good in their own ways. Even in this case, many would argue that Rivers still had Antonio Gates.

Well, Rivers has once again proven himself. In yesterday's game against the Houston Texans, Rivers didn't have Jackson, Floyd, Naanee, Buster Davis or Gates. He went 17-for-23 with 295 yards, four touchdowns and one interception for a 137.2 passer rating.

Rivers hit eight different receivers and threw two touchdowns to replacement TE Randy McMichael and two more to Seyi Ajirotutu. Seyi who? Ajiotutu is an undrafted wide receiver from Fresno State, and Rivers was able to throw two touchdowns to him along with 111 yards. Peyton Manning always gets praised for succeeding with nobody receivers; well, Rivers just did the same.

I know all the Rivers haters will never give him the credit that he deserves, but this guy is for real. He is a legitimate top five NFL quarterback and has done everything to prove that.

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias