Rivers playing like an MVP

QB has Chargers in position to take lead in AFC West.

COSTA MESA, CALIF. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers likes to think of himself as “old school.”

He has had to be per- suaded to spend more time stretching. He cannot be talked out of playing come Sunday. He gains yards with his arm, not his feet.

But some “new school” statistics could be the back- bone to an argument that would’ve been unthinkable even as recent as a month ago — Rivers could be the NFL’s most valuable player.

According to Football Out- siders, Rivers is the NFL’s top quarterback when using the DYAR metric, which measures Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement. In simple terms, it measures how effective Rivers is, in a cumulative sense, when you take into account fac- tors such as what down it is and the distance needed for a first down.

Rivers is second in DVOA, a stat that measures the same value, but on a per- play basis, trailing only New England’s Tom Brady.

While Rivers is likely on the outside of the MVP race, the injury to Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz paired with the Chargers’ late-season run could open the door for the Chargers veteran quarterback to be consid- ered for an award he has never won.

“I think individual recognition, things come when people have success. If that comes with us having a lot of success, certainly, you’d be grateful,” Rivers said. “We’ve got a good thing going. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Rivers has passed for 3,611 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, completing 62.8 percent of his passes. The traditional numbers are good, but probably not good enough to earn MVP considerations.

When you look at Rivers since the Chargers started winning, however, it’s easier to see why, as coach Anthony Lynn said, the veteran has “played as good as any QB in the NFL.”

During the Chargers’ past four games, all victories, he has thrown for 1,348 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions while com- pleting nearly 70 percent of his passes.

Since throwing three interceptions in the Chargers’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, Rivers has had only three passes inter- cepted in 350-plus attempts.

“He’s on fire right now,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said this week.

The Chargers play at the Chiefs tonight, and the win- ner will claim the top spot in the AFC West with two games remaining.