|
Panto-Villain Looking To Upstage Stars
by Rob Staton
18/1/2008
 Philip Rivers has suddenly become more noticeable. Somewhat hidden away amongst the clamour of LaDainian Tomlinson’s record breaking 2006 season, the shock dismissal of Marty Schottenheimer and resurgence after a poor start under Norv Turner, it seems the father of three is looking to steal some of the limelight, on and off the field.
Unfortunately however, it’s Rivers’s new mean streak which is getting most of the attention rather than some clinical post season performances. Rivers carried the team past the Titans in the Wild Card and then put his side in a position to win against the Colts before hobbling off injured. Indicative of Rivers’ attitude he didn’t leave quietly, baiting the home crowd as he went to receive some attention in the medical room. The Chargers quarterback is quickly turning into a panto-villain; you love him and hate him in equal measures.
*****
His 4th quarter mocking of Jay Cutler in week 16 brought to attention Rivers’s mouthy side and it just seemed a little unnecessary with the Chargers leading 23-3 in the game and on their way to a playoff berth. Denver had fallen away from the playoff running long before that game.
Since then Rivers has seemingly been on a one man mission to get noticed. Yelling at his team mates and the crowd in the Wild Card weekend and then carrying that into the RCA Dome last week, some will argue it’s unsportsmanlike. Yet the fact is you just can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next. That counts with the ball in his hands too.
With Tomlinson banged up and momentarily lacking the kind of form which saw him lead the rushing charts for a second year in a row, Rivers has stepped up to the plate over the last couple of weeks with a 17-6 win over Tennessee followed by a 28-24 success against Indianapolis.
Ranked only 15th amongst QBs in the regular season (ironically five places below Jay Cutler) he recovered from an early interception to fire three touchdown passes against the Colts. The first TD utilised the height and athleticism of Vincent Jackson, fired into the back left corner of the end zone showing great awareness and understanding of the receivers talents.
His second TD exemplified everything that there is to love about Rivers. As Chris Chambers moved down the left hand side, the quarterback managed to hit him in stride with exact precision. Chambers was well covered by two Colts defenders and had the pass been marginally lacking in accuracy it could easily have been intercepted by safety Antoine Bethea, who already had four picks in the season. As it was Chambers never even had to adjust his route to collect the pass and simply strolled into the end zone.
 The camera immediately panned back to Rivers, who for once was uncharacteristically subdued, simply trotting over to the touchline aware that everyone watching the game knew what a great play it was. He’s happy to let his game do the talking just as much as he is to run his mouth.
The mannerisms somewhat cloud the achievements and the accomplishment of winning in Indianapolis has arguably been neglected. It was the Colts’ final game at the RCA Dome, the Chargers were facing the defending Super Bowl Champions and it was Peyton Manning’s home turf. When San Diego defeated the Colts 23-21 at Qualcomm in the regular season, much was made of Manning’s six interceptions or the blown field goal by the usually safe Adam Vinatieri. The credit perhaps wasn’t rightly given to the Chargers on the night and with Manning in more assured form and on his own patch, this time nobody had any reason not to praise San Diego. Except for Philip Rivers.
The Chargers head into the AFC Championship this Sunday to take on the unbeaten New England Patriots. Last time the two sides met back in Week 2, it was the proverbial stroll in the park for Bill Belichick’s side as they marched to a 24-0 halftime lead and a winning score of 38-14. Rivers had a night to forget, sacked three times and throwing two interceptions, one of which was returned 65 yards by Adalius Thomas for a touchdown.
It’s form the Patriots have maintained ever since, going 17-0 after last week’s Divisional Playoff victory over Jacksonville. You assume Rivers and his team will have little time to praise the Patriots’ efforts in their previous meeting or the season in general. But this is a different Chargers side and a different Chargers QB that started the season so shakily, having won eight straight themselves.
The Patriots are expecting a tougher game too.
Maybe a team encompassing Rivers’s attitude is exactly the kind of side that has the best opportunity to defeat Brady and co? They will try and get under the skin of the Pats, unsettle them early on and you can just see Rivers leading from the front. Whether he’ll be shouting at the crowd, his team mates, Tom Brady or anyone else, it won’t go unnoticed. On the field he’ll be looking to lead his team to a second consecutive upset victory on the road and a first Super Bowl appearance since 1994.
The panto-villain’s supporting cast will for once be taking second billing, with Tomlinson and Turner working a running game tandem. If they steal the limelight, expect Rivers to have something planned to grab it back.
|
