Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers is a legitimate MVP candidate
By Jason Reed
Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers were one of the most electric teams in the NFL last season and this year will likely be no different for the team.
The Los Angeles Chargers had the joint-best record in the AFC last season and had some of the most entertaining games and huge wins of the season. Los Angeles went into Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Seattle and stole games from teams that do not lose a lot at home.
A large reason for the Chargers’ success, aside from the young, electric defense, was one of the best season’s of Philip Rivers‘ career. Rivers completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 4,308 yards, 32 touchdowns while also throwing 12 picks.
The MVP award was Patrick Mahomes‘ to lose last season but there was still a legitimate chance that Rivers could have won. If Mahomes and Drew Brees both had slow ends to the season, and the Chargers wouldn’t have lost to the Baltimore Ravens, Rivers definitely would have been in the running.
More from LA Sports Hub
- Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
- LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
- LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
- Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
- LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month
It wasn’t meant to be but Rivers enters yet another season looking to make noise. Although he finished near the top of the mountain last year, he is not one of the favorites to win the award this season. Heck, some sports books even give Baker Mayfield better odds of winning the MVP award.
That is ridiculous and quite frankly, Rivers might be the best value-bet out of any player in the entire league. With odds floating around 20-1, the payout on a $20 Rivers MVP bet would be $400.
He showed last season that he can put together the kind of season to win the award and shows no signs of slowing down. Not only is Rivers good enough on his own to win the award but the Chargers are good enough as a whole put him in a great position.
The MVP award often goes to someone on the best team in the league and the Chargers have one of the most complete rosters on the team. It is not crazy to think that the Chargers can win 13 or more games this season.
If that is the case, and Rivers puts together another season similar to 2018, then he should instantly be a front-runner for the MVP award.
Of course, he is going to have to overcome other great quarterbacks to win the award but Rivers should have just as good of a chance as Mahomes, Brees and especially Mayfield.
Next. The surprise Charger that is massively important. dark
But hey, Rivers probably likes being underestimated. He has been his entire career on the Los Angeles Chargers and that will fuel him to a great 2019 campaign.