No. 4: Replicating the 2017 Version of Philip Rivers

As with most teams around the league, any squad’s fortune ultimately hinges on the ability of its quarterback to be effective. And if playoffs are a part of the equation, he has to be, well… good.

So it’s no surprise a lot of the focus will be on the veteran, Philip Rivers.

Had we gone through this conversation a year ago at this time, we’d be worried Rivers would be replicating his 2016 efforts — a season in which he led the league in interceptions (21) and whose 87.9 passer rating ranked 19th out of all qualifiers.

But Rivers didn’t repeat those apparent signs of regression in 2017. No, all he did was post an impressive 28-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and finish with a 96.0 passer rating — 10th in the league.

Now there are some X-factors here, for sure. Losing tight end Hunter Henry to a torn ACL hurts a lot. And we’ve yet to see wide receiver Mike Williams make an impact at the NFL level after being a star at Clemson. Yet if veteran wideout Keenan Allen stays healthy all year, and Williams provides a nice complementary role, there’s no reason to assume Rivers emulates his 2017 self this season.

Looking around the rest of the AFC West, perhaps only the Raiders’ Derek Carr carries fewer question marks than Rivers. Yet even Carr will be working under an entirely new coaching staff this season, and it’s anyone’s guess how that goes.

Next Page: No. 2