PLAYOFF PICTURE SET
At 39, Colts QB Philip Rivers is headed back to the NFL playoffs after many trips with the Chargers.
At 39, Philip Rivers is headed back to the NFL playoffs and, by golly, you can be sure of this:
Marty Schottenheimer would love it.
Recalling the “Marty Ball” style that sent him into the playoffs when he first started with the San Diego Chargers, Rivers on Sunday rode the Colts’ explosive ground game and sack-happy defense into the Super Bowl tournament — his sixth — via a 28-14 win over the Jaguars.
Playing the role of LaDainian Tomlinson inside the Indianapolis dome was Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. A rookie from Wisconsin, he rushed for a franchiserecord 253 yards and two scores.
So for Rivers, the March divorce from the Chargers worked out.
The turnaround began when Rivers wisely signed with the Colts, who provided him “Marty Ball-ish” ingredients as did Schottenheimer’s 2006 team: good blockers, a stout ground game that has overcome starter Marlon Mack’s season-ending injury in Week 1, helpful special teams, a top-10 defense in points. And as Schottenheimer did, Colts coach Frank Reich showed a feel for complementary football.
Doing his part, too, Rivers cut down on the costly interceptions that contributed to his final Chargers team going 0-6 in the division and 5-11 overall.
He led the Colts to an average of 28.2 points per game, ninth in the league, while beating his career averages in passer rating and interception percentage. Once again, he made every start, giving him 251 for his career including the postseason.