A scenario that made a lot of sense in December _ that Philip Rivers would go from the Bolts to the Colts _ apparently will become reality this week.
Rivers and Indianapolis, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, have reached terms on a free-agent contract that will keep the former longtime San Diego Chargers quarterback in the AFC. The deal, reportedly for only the 2020 season, can't be made official until Wednesday under NFL rules.
Smart guy that he is, Rivers now gets to work behind a top-notch offensive line. There's no better run-blocker than Colts left guard Quenton Nelson, an All-Pro in his first two season. Ryan Kelly, the center, earned Pro Bowl honors last year. Rivers inherits a reliable blindside blocker in left tackle Anthony Castonzo.
Rivers gets an easy learning curve, too, even though he hasn't quarterbacked an NFL club other than the Chargers since he moved to San Diego in 2004; Colts head coach Frank Reich worked daily with Rivers as a Bolts positional coach and coordinator between 2012-15.
Adding to the familiarity, Colts coordinator Nick Sirianni and Rivers had five years together with the Chargers, and tight ends coach Jason Michael, a former college quarterback, was a Bolts offensive assistant between 2011-13.
Both the Colts and Rivers had a rough ride in 2019, yet have reason to believe they'll help each other to rebound this year.
Rivers, an eight-time Pro Bowler, ought to be an upgrade on fellow N.C. State alum Jacoby Brissett _ if, that is, Rivers doesn't throw as many unforced interceptions as he did last season.
Brissett got the job amid tough circumstances, taking over for an injured Andrew Luck last summer and becoming the starter after Luck retired a few weeks before the season. Brissett had good games but found a few ruts, too. He finished with an 88.0 passer rating, while the Colts had an uneven season overall and finished 7-8-1 a year after reaching the playoffs with a 10-6 record.
For Rivers, leaving the AFC West behind and landing in the AFC South seems a double victory.
AFC West opponents had figured Rivers out, dealing him and the 2019 Bolts an 0-6 intradivisional record. In the six games against West competition, Rivers threw seven touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, plus no fewer than five other passes that a defender dropped. He finished with a 71.1 passer rating.
AFC South defenses appeared far less comfortable defending Rivers, who adjusts plays at the line of scrimmage to an extraordinary degree.
He posted a 118.1 passer rating in the four games, and had 10 touchdown passes with just one interception.
Getting out of the West also means Rivers won't have to try to leapfrog the Chiefs, who won the recent Super Bowl and bring back quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the Andy Reid era, the Chiefs were 11-3 against Rivers and Co., no small factor in the mutual decision of the Chargers and Rivers to part ways after the franchise's 10th consecutive season without an AFC West title.
While Indianapolis is familiar to Rivers, not all of the memories are pleasant; he sustained a knee injury in a January 2008 playoff game against the Colts, in a different domed venue from the team's current home. After Colts fans chided Rivers while he hobbled off the field, he returned fire in Rivers fashion. He pointed at his hecklers and hollered: "Don't you worry, I'll be back."
Rivers will be wearing a different shade of blue, a royal blue, when Colts see him uniform this time.
Pencil his new team the AFC South's co-favorite alongside the Tennessee Titans, who reached last year's AFC Championship Game. Don't count out the Houston Texans, despite reports they have agreed to trade star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Use pen to circle both Colts games against the Jaguars, his favorite opponent.
Coming off such an uneven season, it is no doubt an exciting move for Rivers, who has never reached a Super Bowl but now has a realistic shot at his first divisional title since 2009.
