Philip Rivers to the Colts is the rumor du jour, and it's a fit that could make a lot of sense for both sides. Old and decrepit though he may be, Rivers is a better passer even now than Jacoby Brissett. And the Colts have the ability to give Rivers the kind of protection he needs to thrive.
After taking an average of 25 sacks in 2017 and 2018, Rivers was sacked 34 times a year ago -- the line fell apart around him. And it wasn't just sacks; under heavy pressure, Rivers forced a lot more throws, throwing 20 interceptions -- he'd averaged half that (11) the two previous seasons. As an immobile pocket passer, it's all going to go south for him if the protection isn't good.
The Colts, meanwhile, have allowed an average of 25 sacks the last two seasons -- since Frank Reich showed up, and since they drafted Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith in the top 40 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Overnight they went from a team that had allowed the 2nd-most sacks in the league over a two-year period (100) to the 3rd-fewest (50) -- exactly half as many.
SACKS ALLOWED, 2016-2017 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | 2016 | 2017 | Total |
Oakland Raiders | 18 | 24 | 42 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 21 | 24 | 45 |
New Orleans Saints | 27 | 20 | 47 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 36 | 18 | 54 |
New York Giants | 22 | 34 | 56 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 34 | 24 | 58 |
New England Patriots | 24 | 35 | 59 |
Baltimore Ravens | 33 | 27 | 60 |
Dallas Cowboys | 28 | 32 | 60 |
Atlanta Falcons | 37 | 24 | 61 |
Miami Dolphins | 30 | 33 | 63 |
Tennessee Titans | 28 | 35 | 63 |
Washington | 23 | 41 | 64 |
Minnesota Vikings | 38 | 27 | 65 |
Chicago Bears | 28 | 39 | 67 |
Kansas City | 32 | 37 | 69 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 33 | 36 | 69 |
Carolina Panthers | 36 | 35 | 71 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 35 | 40 | 75 |
Los Angeles Rams | 49 | 28 | 77 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 41 | 40 | 81 |
New York Jets | 35 | 47 | 82 |
Detroit Lions | 37 | 47 | 84 |
Seattle Seahawks | 42 | 43 | 85 |
Green Bay Packers | 35 | 51 | 86 |
Houston Texans | 32 | 54 | 86 |
San Francisco 49ers | 47 | 43 | 90 |
Denver Broncos | 40 | 52 | 92 |
Arizona Cardinals | 41 | 52 | 93 |
Buffalo Bills | 46 | 47 | 93 |
Indianapolis Colts | 44 | 56 | 100 |
Cleveland Browns | 66 | 50 | 116 |
The last two seasons, it's been a very different story in Indianapolis.
SACKS ALLOWED, 2018-2019 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | 2018 | 2019 | Total |
New Orleans Saints | 20 | 25 | 45 |
New England Patriots | 21 | 28 | 49 |
Indianapolis Colts | 18 | 32 | 50 |
Kansas City | 26 | 25 | 51 |
Los Angeles Rams | 33 | 22 | 55 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 24 | 32 | 56 |
Baltimore Ravens | 32 | 28 | 60 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 34 | 34 | 68 |
Minnesota Vikings | 40 | 28 | 68 |
Denver Broncos | 34 | 41 | 75 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 40 | 37 | 77 |
Chicago Bears | 33 | 45 | 78 |
Cleveland Browns | 38 | 41 | 79 |
Dallas Cowboys | 56 | 23 | 79 |
Buffalo Bills | 41 | 40 | 81 |
Oakland Raiders | 52 | 29 | 81 |
Detroit Lions | 41 | 43 | 84 |
San Francisco 49ers | 48 | 36 | 84 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 37 | 48 | 85 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 41 | 47 | 88 |
Green Bay Packers | 53 | 36 | 89 |
New York Jets | 37 | 52 | 89 |
Carolina Panthers | 32 | 58 | 90 |
New York Giants | 47 | 43 | 90 |
Atlanta Falcons | 42 | 50 | 92 |
Washington | 44 | 50 | 94 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 53 | 42 | 95 |
Seattle Seahawks | 51 | 48 | 99 |
Arizona Cardinals | 52 | 50 | 102 |
Tennessee Titans | 47 | 56 | 103 |
Miami Dolphins | 52 | 58 | 110 |
Houston Texans | 62 | 49 | 111 |
Some debate, of course, whether 38-year-old Rivers can still play at a high level. He didn't look it for much of last season. But better protection could go a long way.
As for Brissett, it's unlikely the Colts would be able to bring him back as a backup. Too expensive. So we can start wondering who might be interested in him as a starter, or competition for a starter. New England, if they lose Brady, is one possibility. The Chargers, no matter how much lip service they pay to the idea of starting Tyrod Taylor, is another.
I think Rivers could have a good season with the Colts. Better than he had last year for the Chargers, anyway.
--Andy Richardson