The Curious Case Of Philip Rivers Legacy
San Diego or Los Angeles; it doesn’t matter. The Chargers can’t capture lightning in a bottle and their curse remains as strong as ever. Going back to last year, the Chargers continue to collapse under pressure. Since 2015 the Chargers win-loss record stands at a paltry 9-25 with 18 of those losses being seven points or less.
You name it and the unfortunate situation creating a loss has happened. A frantic Steelers drive led by Michael Vick which resulted in a Le’Veon Bell wildcat touchdown as time expired on Monday Night. Green Bay deflecting a fourth and goal touchdown throw with 15 seconds left. A dropped Danny Woodhead touchdown against the Chiefs on the last play in a 10-3 loss. An overtime loss to Oakland after a fumble set up a late score. Philip Rivers watching a 21-point lead evaporate against Alex Smith which led to a game-winning rushing touchdown by the quarterback. Even a Jay Culter comeback drive with Zach Miller on primetime TV? Only the Chargers. This is the lone ballclub that prevented the Browns from a winless campaign.
Not to mention all the mishappenings of kicking. They witnessed a Justin Tucker game-winner for Baltimore while they fumbled a snap on a game-tying field goal against the Raiders. Now in 2017, Younghoe Koo missed a game-winner against Miami and had a game-tying kick blocked by Denver.
Their season currently stands at 0-2.
A new home. A new head coach. But new hope has yet to prosper as the glitter and gleam of Hollywood’s sun-kissed landscape turn toward a bitter reality. A soccer stadium with a cancerous front office and soured veterans.
Philip Rivers watched his draft brothers find eternal glory with Lombardi trophies. Ben Roethlisberger carries two rings while Eli Manning has two Super Bowl MVPs to his name. Even Drew Brees, the starter for San Diego during Rivers’ first two seasons, has a championship under his belt when he left for the far east of Louisiana.
Now Rivers stands alone. Isolated in the desert wasteland of Death Valley watching his career coming to a close. His team can’t close a game or hold a lead and he can’t add to his legacy.
Rivers will make football pundits debate for hours whether or not he is Hall of Fame material, but the gaucho will always feel unsatisfied with his career. It was a legendary draft class that he is left out of. Now he plays for a city that isn’t his. It’s the reverse of the Marshawn Lynch renaissance.
Just like Rivers, Hall of Famer Dan Fouts felt trapped and cursed by the Chargers. While he made the lone trip into February football, he could never eclipse the goal of a world championship. It was always just out of reach. Fouts’ winning percentage is 57 percent, 16 points higher than his expected win-loss of 41 percent. Now Rivers stands in his empty shoes with the losses continuing to pile up for a stagnant franchise.
The role of Fouts passed down to Rivers; a lone gunslinger in a dehydrated oasis. Instead of a duster, a jersey and instead of a gun, a football. Audiences will always feel sympathetic for Rivers when he hangs up the cleats, especially now as his departure is giving everyone a bitter taste in their mouths.
The Chargers, with LaDainian Tomlinson and company, will go down as one of the best teams of the 21st century to never win a Super Bowl, but those days seem like eons ago. The roster is here and ready to compete, but the football continues to bounce in the wrong direction.
Los Angeles will search for its first win of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) September 24th.