NFL San Diego Chargers

2014 San Diego Chargers Could Be Best In The Philip Rivers Era

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By @Paul_Jackiewicz

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Is this 4-1 San Diego Chargers team the best all-around team during Philip Rivers‘ career with the franchise?

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was a guest on The Jim Rome Show this past week, and he was asked if this is the best team he’s been a part of during his career. He answered by saying that it could be because of how deep the Chargers’ roster is. When thinking about the best teams that Rivers has quarterbacked, the two teams that come to mind are the 2004 Chargers that went 12-4, and the 2006 team that ended up with a 14-2 record, but lost to the New England Patriots in the playoffs.

Then, of course, you have the 2007 Chargers team that lost in the AFC title game while Rivers played with a torn ACL. When you look back at Rivers’ career, the last great Chargers team played in 2009, when San Diego went 13-3 and fell to the New York Jets in the divisional round of the playoffs.

It’s really too early to know if this year’s team is the best in Rivers’ career. In all honesty, this is likely not the most talented team, but could end up being the best if they’re able to win a Super Bowl. The NFL is all about cohesiveness and how a team plays together. Stars don’t carry teams in the NFL the way they do in the NBA. Star players like Rivers help a team a lot, but he wouldn’t be successful without a strong running game and an offensive line that blocks well for him.

When looking at this team, I have to agree with Gates. One of the Chargers’ most impressive traits is how deep they are at running back. Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Ronnie Brown are all injured, and undrafted rookie Branden Oliver has stepped in and has taken the NFL by storm.

While the Chargers still have 11 more games to play,  it seems as though they’re flying under the radar due to the success of the Denver Broncos and the circus that seems to follow around teams like the Patriots. That could end up benefiting San Diego in the long-run.

Paul Jackiewicz is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Paul_Jackiewicz, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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