44-Year-Old Philip Rivers Needed Just One Game To Expose Major Issue With NFL’s Current Crop Of Quarterbacks [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Football fans who enjoyed the last generation of NFL quarterbacks more than the current wave better appreciate whatever is left in Philip Rivers’ arm.
NFL fans were blessed with a handful of all-time great quarterbacks in the 2000s and 2010s. This obviously starts with the consensus GOAT, Tom Brady. Five-time MVP Peyton Manning, four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger also carved out storied careers.
The following tiers weren’t so bad, either. Eli Manning and Joe Flacco were Tom Brady-like in the postseason. Tony Romo dazzled for almost a full decade in Dallas. Matt Ryan would have a stronger Hall of Fame case if he had gotten the job done in Super Bowl 53.
Rivers shocked the NFL world when he came out of retirement last week to help the desperate Indianapolis Colts. Making his first start in almost five full years, Rivers completed 18 passes for 120 yards, a touchdown and one interception (it was a last-second miracle heave downfield) in an 18-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, per ESPN.
Philip Rivers Displayed A Special Skill That Younger QBs Need To Pick Up
NFL analyst Max Toscano and Pro Football Focus data expert Timo Riske highlighted a notable trait that Rivers exhibited in a tough loss to Seattle. Specifically, his ability to read defenses at the line of scrimmage:
Guys do not do this anymore.
Checks the protection, D disguises Cover-3 but he sees the S fly into the flat to replace the WLB and the MLB drop to hook.
Goes right to the over which he knows has a tiny window because the MLB has to flip his hips to make a play. Elite process pic.twitter.com/237yN4Xckz
— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) December 14, 2025
Riske echoed similar comments that Brady had previously made.
This is basically what Tom Brady has been talking about all the time since he retired. QBs basically don’t do anymore what Rivers does. He always knows where to go with the ball and he has to, because if he wouldn’t be decisive, he would be killed out there.
Great to see
— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) December 14, 2025
“I think Philip rivers’ performance today showed us how awful current QBs are at reading defenses. They are top tier athletes, not QBs,” wrote another.
I think Philip river’s performance today showed us how awful current QBs are at reading defenses. They are top tier athletes, not QBs
— Ben Wellick Baldwin (@ben_wellick_V) December 15, 2025
Rivers certainly showed his age on some throws. But like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, Rivers’ strength has always been his football IQ more than anything else. They knew to put the ball where the receiver was going. They didn’t have to scramble and improvise like today’s top quarterbacks.
Philip Rivers and the top quarterbacks of his generation enjoyed longevity due to their football smarts. Even when they declined physically.
If today’s quarterbacks could focus just as much (if not more) on reading defenses than their own physical abilities, thee’s no telling how unstoppable they could be.
