Following a 2019 campaign that saw the Indianapolis Colts fail to make the playoffs, the front office decided a change at quarterback was necessary to right the ship. That led them to sign veteran Philip Rivers to a one-year deal in free agency.
The signing of Rivers has been met mostly with praise, though there are some analysts who believe the 38-year-old quarterback is a shell of himself this late in his career.
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt doesn’t share those thoughts. He believes the addition of Rivers will make the Colts a serious contender in the AFC.
After a 5-11 season in which Rivers threw almost as many interceptions (20) as he did touchdowns (23), it was clear both the quarterback and the Chargers organization could use a fresh start. The veteran found an ideal home with the Colts, whose head coach (Frank Reich) and offensive coordinator (Nick Sirianni) both know Rivers well from their time together with the Chargers. There are two reasons I love this signing so much: 1) Rivers will get to play behind a veteran offensive line featuring the NFL’s best left guard (Quenton Nelson), and 2) Reich doesn’t want or expect the 38-year-old to carry the offense on his own, with the team planning to emphasize a running game spearheaded by Marlon Mack and rookie Jonathan Taylor. If the defense shows improvement after a second-half dropoff in 2019, this Indianapolis team could become a real threat in the AFC with Rivers at the helm.
There is no denying Rivers had a bad season in 2019. The Colts cannot get that same type of production under center in 2020. But Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni both have experience working with Rivers, which should make for a seamless transition.
The reliance on the rushing attack should help take some of the pressure off of the 38-year-old signal-caller, but there’s no doubt the Colts will have more confidence in throwing the football.
Should the season go on without any hiccups, the Colts could be looking to get this decade started off on the right foot with the veteran Rivers.