Colts Sign Rivers, See Their Super Bowl Odds Improve to +2800
By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: April 21, 2020 at 1:27 pm EDTPublished:
- The odds of Indianapolis winning Super Bowl 55 improved from +3500 to +2800 following Tuesday’s addition of QB Philip Rivers
- Can the Colts set sail with Rivers toward Super Bowl glory?
- Analysis of the odds, plus picks and predictions on Colts futures can be found in the story below
Are the Indianapolis Colts about to set sail toward the Super Bowl with Philip Rivers? Or is Indy up the same creek, albeit with a new and improved paddle?
Tuesday’s decision by the Colts to sign the veteran free-agent quarterback is being viewed with skepticism by the leading online sports betting sites.
At one book the odds of the Colts winning Super Bowl 55 improved from +3500 to +2800. But they’re still the 16th choice to win the NFL championship in the Super Bowl odds.
Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl 55 Odds
| Indianapolis Colts’ Status | Odds |
|---|---|
| After Signing Philip Rivers | +2800 |
| Prior To Signing Philip Rivers | +3500 |
Odds taken March 17th.
Colts Upgrade From Brissett
For the second time in three seasons, the Colts were left to roll with Jacoby Brissett under center. In 2017, a season-ending injury to Andrew Luck put Brissett in charge. Indy went 4-12.
Colts QB Jacoby Brissett was a very impressive 59.6% accurate (adjusted for drops and depth) in 2019-20. The Colts receivers dropped 7.2% of his throws, 32 passes.
The Colts traded the 13th pick in a wide receiver heavy draft. pic.twitter.com/CEK1HFrsIv
— QB Data Mine (@QBDataMine) March 16, 2020
Last season, Luck’s shocking decision to announce his retirement on the eve of the season again left Brissett as the Colts’ #1 QB. Indianapolis went 7-9 and once more missed the playoffs.
In 2018, with a healthy Luck at the helm, the Colts were 10-6 and earned an AFC Wild Card playoff position.
Rivers Puts Up Numbers
There’s no questioning that during his 16 seasons with the Chargers, Rivers has posted some gaudy digits next to his name. He led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes in 2008.
Rivers is sixth all-time in the NFL in passing yardage (59,271) and in TD passes (397). His career passer rating of 95.1 is 10th in league history.
16 electric seasons with the Chargers.
Philip Rivers starts a new chapter in Indy. pic.twitter.com/Eo6pD7cVO6
— NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020
There’s other numbers next to his name that aren’t nearly so flattering. Rivers has twice led the NFL in interceptions. He was picked off 21 times in 2016 and 18 times in 2014. Three times during the past six seasons, his interception percentage was 3.2 or higher.
Rivers was picked off 20 times last season against 23 TD passes. He’s also sixth all-time and second among active NFL QBs with 24 pick sixes.
Philip No Postseason Prince
With the Chargers, Rivers operated an offense that featured Melvin Gordon in the backfield and Keenan Allen as a receiving threat. In previous years, he lined up with LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates at his disposal.
Rivers never led the Chargers to a Super Bowl. He got them to one AFC Championship Game. That was 13 years ago.
Philip Rivers is headed to the @Colts! (via @judybattista + @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/t5JggzzvWb
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 17, 2020
He’s 5-6 in the postseason over his NFL career. Rivers owns a career passer rating of 84.2 in the playoffs. He’s thrown 14 TD passes and been intercepted 10 times.
Others Have Tried And Failed
Rivers, 38, isn’t the first one-team QB to head to a new club in the late stages of his NFL career. Many more famous, and more successful than him, have tried and failed before.
Joe Montana won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and couldn’t get it done with the Kansas City Chiefs. Brett Favre won a Super Bowl in Green Bay and flamed out with both the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
For a 38-year-old QB, Philip Rivers is walking into a hell of a situation w/ the Colts. QB expert at head coach, elite offensive line in front of him, great young RB to hand off to, TY Hilton/Jack Doyle/likely more offensive weapons in the draft to throw to.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) March 17, 2020
Interestingly, the two guys who made it work were Peyton Manning, who left Colts for Denver, and Drew Brees, who departed the Chargers for the Saints.
However, Rivers doesn’t possess their winning resumes.
The Colts weren’t going to win the Super Bowl with Brissett. They still aren’t going to win it with Rivers.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
