Tennessee Titans are better than the Indianapolis Colts
By Brady Akins
An Elite Secondary vs A Turnover Prone Quarterback
As of March 2020, former Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is the new face of the Colts offense. He will be leaving Los Angeles and taking his 20 interceptions along with him to Indianapolis.
Rivers, the third most interception prone quarterback in the league in 2019, is set to take over the starting quarterback job for his Colts in 2020– which will mark the first time in Rivers’ 16 going on 17 year career that he will be with a new team, learning a new offense. And even if he does pick up the offense well, and is a better passer than last year’s starter Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers brings a whole host of issues and question marks along with him.
Rivers’ turnover-prone nature is nothing new. In fact, 2019 marked the third time in his career that the quarterback threw for over 20 interceptions, and the fifth time he threw for more than 15. The quarterback’s struggles to keep the ball safe might be more of a sign of things to come rather than an anomaly, especially considering that Rivers will be 39 by the time the season finishes– and playing in an offense with far less talent at the skill positions than he’s grown used to in Los Angeles.
Enter into the equation the Titans defense. More specifically, the Titans secondary. A unit packed with elite talents and playmakers, from Malcolm Butler and Adoree Jackson to the rookie Kristian Fulton and the ball-hawking All-Pro Kevin Byard.
If Rivers can’t spin it as he used to in his borderline Hall of Fame career, he could have to deal with two nightmare matchups against the Titans. Facing a secondary with so many playmakers, without the help of an elite receiver talent, could prove problematic for the Colts’ veteran quarterback. Even if he can stay accurate, a turnover-prone night could be a major difference-maker against a Titans team with a clear advantage in the passing game.