Rivers makes first start for Colts vs. Jaguars
Will it be the old Philip Rivers or an old Philip Rivers?
The answer to that question might not become 明らかな Sunday when Rivers makes his first start for the Indianapolis Colts in their NFL opener with Jacksonville.
But Indianapolis really needs the former instead of the latter if it's to realize its goals of bouncing 支援する from a 悲惨な second half of 2019 that cost the Colts an AFC プレーオフ 寝台／地位.
Rivers has been the ultimate gamer over the past 14 years, making 224 straight 正規の／正選手-season starts for the Chargers while often playing with 傷害s. In fact, he even answered the bell for the 2007 AFC 肩書を与える game in New England a week after 涙／ほころびing an ACL, a feat that probably never got the credit it deserved.
However, his 16th NFL season was a 失望. Rivers threw 20 interceptions against only 23 touchdown passes for a team that was 選ぶd by some to 勝利，勝つ the 最高の Bowl and instead つまずくd to last place in the AFC West.
Los Angeles waved goodbye to the 38-year-old and 草案d Justin Herbert in the first 一連の会議、交渉／完成する as his 結局の 後継者. Rivers 選ぶd Indianapolis, coached by his old 不快な／攻撃 調整者／コーディネーター, Frank Reich, as his 上陸 位置／汚点／見つけ出す to の近くに a successful career that only 欠如（する）s a 最高の Bowl.
And a major 推論する／理由 he did so was the Colts' 不快な／攻撃 line. There were times as a Charger when Rivers was 基本的に 減ずるd to playing chuck and duck behind an inconsistent 前線 塀で囲む. The likes of Anthony Castonzo and Quenton Nelson should keep him upright far more often.
"The fact that these guys played every game last year together and certainly have been together now for a handful of years ... I think that's 抱擁する," Rivers said. "It makes you feel good as a quarterback."
So should Indianapolis' running game. Marlon Mack 急ぐd for a career-high 1,091 yards last year and seems to be a worthwhile fantasy play this week against a Jacksonville 弁護 that some would say has been stripped and sold for p arts.
Since logging its second straight last-place finish in the AFC South, Jacksonville 貿易（する）d 防御の ends Calais Campbell (Baltimore) and Yannick Ngakoue (Minnesota), 同様に as cornerback A.J. Bouye (Denver).
And even with those guys around last year, the Jaguars were 攻撃を受けやすい to good running games. Mack and Jonathan Williams each piled up over 100 yards on the ground in a 33-13 勝利，勝つ in Week 11.
But Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone, who starts his fourth 十分な year with a franchise roundly 推定する／予想するd to have the worst 記録，記録的な／記録する in the league, is 推定する／予想するing good things.
"I really think this team can be special," he said. "I really do. We've got to go out there and 勝利，勝つ games, and I'm 確信して this football team will be able to do that."
If that's the 事例／患者, second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew will likely have a lot to do with it. He is the Jaguars' guy for the long run, even if their 罪／違反 might not have much run to it after letting 最高の，を越す rusher Leonard Fournette go recently.
In fact, Minshew, who 地位，任命するd a nice 21-6 touchdown-interception 割合 last year and went 6-6 as a starter, has been 指名するd a team captain.
"That's one of the highest 栄誉（を受ける）s you can have," he said. "It means everything."
Castonzo and 中心 Ryan Kelly were 限られた／立憲的な in practice Wednesday for the Colts and are 疑わしい for Sunday's opener.
Jacksonville will 許す just under 17,000 fans to …に出席する this game -- about 25 パーセント of TIAA Bank Field's capacity.
--Field Level マスコミ
