THE MONKEY ON PHILIP RIVERS BACK

                              UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 
   In the Chargers lone Super Bowl appearance in January of 1995, Steve Young famously said: "Take the monkey off my back!" He was referring to the pressure of his team the San Francisco 49ERS by being the starting QB of such a proud franchise and overcoming their playoff drought.

 The monkey on Philip Rivers back is equally heavy. The 12-year veteran has put up Hall of Fame numbers with the Chargers. The knock on Philip is hasn't beaten his biggest nemesis.  The one blip on the screen that could lead voters for the Hall of Fame to enter another QB name into Canton instead of his. He never could beat his rival, Tom Brady.

   Rivers hasn't only not beaten Brady in seven tries but Brady has knocked the Rivers-led Chargers out of the Playoffs twice. Rivers doesn't seem to play his best when opposing Tom Brady. 0-7 against Brady, 0-4 in Gillette Stadium, 0-2 in Playoffs against Brady. Rivers has thrown 11 TD but with 9 INT against Brady. If Rivers is Superman, Tom Brady is his kryptonite.

   Sunday could be the final time these two veterans meet in the Playoffs. Already these two will hit the record books as the oldest combined QB's ever to play in an NFL postseason game. Tom Brady is 41 and the Patriots are not the clobber knocker they once were. Rivers is 37 and has one year left on his contract. Now Philip has the pressure of two cities awaiting his quest to finally reach a Super Bowl. This season he has beat KC in KC, Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Baltimore in Baltimore and even traveled to London and defeated the Titans. The road to Atlanta and Rivers long-sought goal of a Super Bowl must go through New England. The remaining obstacle in his way of his childhood dreams and potentially a Hall of Fame bust in Canton. The 12 year growing monkey on Rivers back will either be removed or grow even bigger this Sunday.

   Many favor the Saints in the NFC. If Rivers can get by the Patriots Sunday he will be 60 minutes away from facing yet another roadblock. Rivers is 0-2 against Drew Brees the QB who he replaced in San Diego. Brees is also the last Chargers QB to beat Tom Brady back in 2005 as Rivers stood on the sidelines as Brees backup. Tom Brady 8-2 vs the Chargers. Both losses coming from when Drew Brees was the starting quarterback.

                                TOM BRADY VS PHILIP RIVERS

 GAME 1 JANUARY 14, 2007 AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND SAN DIEGO, CA
    One of the most heartbreaking defeats for Charger fans in history. The Philip Rivers led 2006 team went 14-2 and were favorites over the Patriots. The Chargers gave away the ball 4 times and Marlon McCree fumbled a game-winning interception with 6:25 left in the 4th quarter.

GAME 2 SEPTEMBER 16, 2007  GILLETTE STADIUM

   PATRIOTS 38-14

   The Patriots routed the Chargers holding the ball 35 minutes to the Chargers 24 minutes. The Chargers added to the damage with 3 turnovers and 7 penalties. 

Rivers 19-30 179 yards 2 Td 2 Int

 GAME 3 JANUARY 20, 2008 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME GILLETTE STADIUM

 PATRIOTS 21-12

   I believe this was the better of the two teams between 2006 and 2007. The 2006 squad was 14-2 but off the easiest schedule in the NFL this year. The 2007 team was the best shot for the Chargers to win the Super Bowl. But luck and missed opportunities ended there journey in the AFC Championship Game. Rivers had a tore MCL, LT took 2 carries and quit to sit on the freezing bench and Gates was hobbled with a dislocated to. The Chargers were unable to capitalize on 3 red zone trips instead settling for 3 Nate Keading field goals.  The Patriots perfect schedule would then fall to the Giants in the Super Bowl with Eli Manning. But Philip Rivers takes over the role a as leader from LT from that point on.

Rivers 19-37 211 yards 0 Td 2 Int 

 

GAME 4 OCTOBER 24, 2010 IN SAN DIEGO, CA 

 PATRIOTS 23-20

  It was thought this was the time. Rivers and company try to finally get revenge on Brady in San Diego. The Chargers controlled the ball  34 minutes to NE 25 minutes. Sadly, 4 turnovers changed the outcome and Brady was victorious again.

Rivers goes 34-50 336 yards 1 Td and 1 Int

 GAME 5 SEPTEMBER 18,  2011 GILLETTE STADIUM

 PATRIOTS 38-14

   The Patriots routed the Chargers holding the ball 35 minutes to the Chargers 24 minutes. The Chargers added to the damage with 3 turnovers and 7 penalties. 

Rivers 19-30 179 yards 2 Td 2 Int

 GAME 6 DECEMBER 7, 2014  SAN DIEGO, CA

 PATRIOTS  23-14

  Brady throws for 423 yards out dualing Rivers 189 yards. The Chargers keep it close but in the end make more mistakes than Brady.

 Rivers 20-33 189 yards 1 Td 1 Int

 GAME 7 OCTOBER 29, 2017 GILLETTE STADIUM

PATRIOTS 21-13

Rivers 14-32 230 yards 0 Td 1 Int

  The Patriots controlled the clock and the Chargers punt returner runs the wrong way giving the Patriots 

safety. It ends up being a 5 point turnaround for NE. It wasted a great effort by RB Melvin Gordon 14 rushes for 132 yards. Dropped balls mental errors decide this one. Brady just didn't allow the Chargers offense on the field. Brady on the field 36 minutes to the Chargers 23 minutes.

                                              CHARGERS VS PATRIOTS

  The Patriots are undefeated at home this season. But against the Chargers Brady numbers are declined off his overall average. He 7-0 with a 66.2% completion percentage, 285 yds passing and 14Td vs 7 Int. Gronk numbers are way down in 2018. In the last 5 games Gronk has only 22 targets, 15 receptions, and 1 TD. With Gronk production not at its career normal and if Rivers and the Chargers don't commit turnovers Philip Rivers could get the Tom Brady monkey off his back while potentially ending the Patriots dynasty in the process.