Charger Report

Chargers' legend Philip Rivers rooting for former team in Week 17 for unusual reason

Los Angeles Chargers' icon Philip Rivers needs a win by his old team for his current Indianapolis Colts to stay alive for a playoff berth.
Richie Whitt|
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Valiantly as he's played, the Indianapolis Colts are 0-2 with 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers and are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs. Despite an 8-2 start that included a blowout win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, the Colts are now one bad result from being excluded from the postseason.

Ironically enough, one of the life rafts that could temporarily save them is the Chargers.

MORE: After shocking return to NFL, Philip Rivers vs. Chargers in playoffs is possible

If the Bolts lose to the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, the Colts will be eliminated from the AFC Playoffs. That, of course, makes a Chargers' fan out of Rivers ... the future Hall of Famer that played his first 16 seasons for the franchise.

“I’m sure I’ll be tuned in Saturday," Rivers said this week. "It’s like being a fan. Pulling for the Chargers will be an easy one to pull for.”

In Rivers' two starts in place of Daniel Jones, the Colts lost a heartbreaker at Seattle and then were blown out by the San Francisco 49ers Monday night.

MORE: Chargers legends Drew Brees and Philip Rivers head 2026 Hall of Fame candidates

Rivers, who played for the Chargers 2004-2019, is the franchise's all-time leader in every passing category including completions (4,908), yards (59,271) and touchdowns (397). He made the Pro Bowl eight times before playing his final season with the Indianapolis Colts and retiring in 2020.

The Chargers could keep alive their hopes of winning the AFC West by beating Houston, and also help out an old friend.

Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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