Los Angeles Chargers: Three bold predictions for Philip Rivers next season
By Jason Reed
2. Philip Rivers will finish the season with at least 32 passing touchdowns
Philip Rivers finished last season with 28 passing touchdowns, much fewer than the quarterback really could have finished with. Rivers has surpassed 30 touchdowns in a season five times in his career and did so as recently as the 2016-2017 season.
Rivers’ best ever mark came in 2008 when he found the end zone 34 times. That season, Rivers led the league in passing touchdowns.
While he quite won’t reach his personal best, Rivers is going to return to the 30 club and is going to average two passing touchdowns per game to get to the 32 mark. Not only is he going to be picking up the yards, he is going to finishing drives as well.
The Los Angeles Chargers have such a great receiving corps that Rivers is going to have plenty of options to target late in drives.
With Keenan Allen, 2017 first-round pick Mike Williams, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin, the Los Angeles Chargers have the best receiving corps that Rivers as ever seen. That includes corps that had the likes of Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd and the constant tight end presence of Antonio Gates.
Rivers likely will not be the league leader. Russell Wilson led the NFL with 34 last year, however, Carson Wentz had 33 in just 13 games.