Philip Rivers has plenty to prove in the 2020 NFL season. The quarterback struggled last year with the Los Angeles Chargers, so much so that the team didn’t attempt to re-sign him in free agency.

The Indianapolis Colts inked Rivers to a one-year, $25 million contract this offseason, making him their new starter. Both the team and Rivers appear to believe the signal caller has plenty left in the tank.

“At times what may have aggravated me a little bit last year was [critics saying] that I couldn’t play anymore,” Rivers said Wednesday, via ESPN. “When you heard that, it bothered me because I wanted to go, ‘Shoot, let's go turn on the tape and watch all the good things.’ There were some bad plays. Certainly some throws I want back and certainly some very costly mistakes. I own up to all those. There was so much good and I had some throws last year that were probably as good as I've had my whole career. I knew. So I didn’t feel like I had to sell that to anyone. But at the same time, it did aggravate you little bit. I think it's OK to be aware. I’m one of those guys that likes to be aware.”

Rivers’ stats in the 2019 season have led some to believe he’s in the twilight of his career. He finished third in the NFL with 20 interceptions. Rivers led the league in interceptions in 2014 and 2016, but 23 touchdowns last year marked his worst touchdown-to-interception ratio since becoming the Chargers’ starter in 2006.

The 88.5 passer rating was Rivers’ second-worst over a 12-year span. Los Angeles ranked 21st in points scored and missed the playoffs with a 5-11 record, winning seven fewer games than it had the season prior.

Rivers did rank fifth in the NFL with 4,615 passing yards last season. He completed 66% of his attempts, good for 10th among starting quarterbacks. Rivers ranked 11th with 7.8 yards per attempt.

It wasn’t long ago that Rivers was one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He was a fringe MVP candidate until very late in the 2018 season, during which he led the Chargers to a 12-4 record and one playoff win. Rivers posted 4,308 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 105.5 passer rating that year.

Rivers threw for 4,515 yards, 28 scores and 10 picks in 2017. He has made the Pro Bowl eight times, including three straight selections from 2016-2018.

Jacoby Brissett went 7-8 as the Colts quarterback last season. He threw for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and an 88.0 passer rating.

Before the 2020 season is over, Rivers will turn 39 years old. He was in the same draft class as Eli Manning, who was benched in 2019 and subsequently retired.

Rivers never missed a start in 14 straight seasons with the Chargers. He has a career 95.1 passer rating.

Philip Rivers Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers throws against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
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