Philip Rivers Is 2014 NFL MVP At The Halfway Point

By Tyler Ruby on October 28, 2014

It’s never too early to begin the MVP discussion in the NFL, and at the halfway point this season, the MVP has to be Philip Rivers.

Ever since Mike McCoy came to the San Diego Chargers from the Denver Broncos two years ago, Rivers has put together two of the best seasons of his career. He doesn’t lead any major statistical category for quarterbacks, but he is in the top five for many of them. Rivers is third in the league with 20 touchdowns, sixth in the league in yards with 2,213, and he is third in quarterback rating with 109.9.

Those numbers put him on pace for 40 touchdowns and 4,426 yards. He has been unbelievably consistent for San Diego.

Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo and Andrew Luck all have legitimate cases, but if you are looking at the pure definition of MVP, Rivers best fits that description. He doesn’t have the outstanding receivers that Rodgers or Manning has, but he has turned Eddie Royal and Malcolm Floyd into serviceable threats downfield.

He has dealt with a number of injuries on the offensive line, including losing Nick Hardwick, one of the best centers in the game. Also out are Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown in the run game. Branden Oliver, an undrafted rookie, has been the guy in the backfield. That’s a far cry from Eddie Lacy or DeMarco Murray.

Despite all of the issues that were just mentioned, Rivers has never missed a beat. The Chargers are 5-3 and a 1.5 games out of first place in the AFC West. That’s all due to Rivers’ outstanding performance this season. He has been the rock for the Chargers for 10 years, and that is never more evident than in 2014.

At the halfway point of this season, Rivers is the MVP.