Phil Simms Says Playoff Experience Is Overrated

A look at the AFC teams playing this weekend shows off some top-flight NFL QBs. McNair and Brady have started in the Super Bowl before, and Manning has now won his division four years in a row. Philip Rivers, on the other hand, is the new guy on the block - but the dude is no slouch. He is a Pro Bowler and the leader of the NFL's best team. He will likely have a superstar career like his AFC Playoff counterparts have had.

But there is no denying it, he does lack experience in the playoffs.

Hall of Fame Quarterback and excellent NFL analyst Phil Simms doesn't see that as a problem:

We always hear about this "playoff experience," and what a big factor it is. Well, maybe it is to some people, but not to me. I've been preparing my notes to call the New England-San Diego game on CBS this weekend, and I have written nothing about the importance of this being Rivers' first playoff game. It never crossed my mind.

Let's take a look at Rivers. He's a third-year player in the NFL, he took every offensive snap for the Chargers this season and he was a four-year starter in college who played in several big games during that time. He might have some jitters when the game starts, but that will go away quickly. He's not going to be out there thinking, "Wow, this is a playoff game, this is different."

I don't see experience being a factor the way it's talked about. If San Diego can block well and give Rivers time, then he'll have a solid game. And if Brady is pressured by San Diego's defense, then we'll hear all this stuff about the young guy doing better than the veteran. What will everyone say if that happens? "Rivers outdueled Brady."

Of course, if the Patriots win the game and they put a lot of pressure on Rivers -- what will they say? "Rivers can't react to the playoff pressure." I don't know about the playoff pressure, but I do know about the pressure of getting hit and hurried by the Patriots defense. And that is a factor no matter how much playoff experience you have.

Philip Rivers has played a ton of football, and while he is young, he is not immature. I don't see him being overwhelmed at all. He is a competitor and if anything, I think he prefers to play on a stage like this. Look for Rivers to have a nice game as long as the line can protect him. With all of his weapons, he should have no trouble finding an open playmaker.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-11-2007 @ 12:17AM

Perennial Patriots said...

Who exactly would say, "Philip Rivers can't do it in the playoffs" if the Chargers lose this game? That is a hokey inference there. Whether Rivers wins or loses, there should be no criticism of his play; and certainly no questions about his "playoff ability"

1-11-2007 @ 1:24AM

The Belly Check said...

Remember McNabb puking in the huddle? Remember how Manning got his choker rep? Whatever happened to Steve McNair, Kurt Warner and all those quarterbacks?

Oh yeah... they run into Belly Check in a playoff game, and he wipes them out. Few recover.

Of course, Phillip Rivers is different than all those guys. There's no way that he'll be at all confounded in his first playoff game ever, especially against a wizard like Belly Check.

The Chargers win this game one way and one way only... LT runs for like 130 yards. Other than that, it won't even be close.

1-11-2007 @ 7:48PM

Towwb said...

When did Phil Simms become an excellent analyst? Heck, when did he become a decent analyst?

1-11-2007 @ 9:42PM

Leo Martin said...

I have been glued to almost every sports station for the past two weeks. I have heard almost everything about the Chargers, INCLUDING but not limited to the shoe sizes of ther children.

Will someone PLEASE address the schedules that these two teams have had. PLEASE!!!!

I'm not taking anything away from LT but COME ON.....Who did they play? I'll give them the 2 Denver wins but seriously. I really don't think the Chargers have seen anything like what they are about to see.

The Patriots have been on a steady improvement grade for the past two weeks. The boys are hadling the lack of Patriot Pro Bowl participants well. The Pro Bowl is a joke compared to wearing 4 Super Bowl rings.

The media is doing a wonderful job hyping this up. It's there job and they do it well. It will be all over Sunday about 7:30 and then we will have to listen to how Baltimore's defense is going to beat the Pats and after that.....we have to listen to how the NFC stands a snow balls chance in hell against the Killer Bee's

No respect.....and we like it that way!

1-12-2007 @ 4:35PM

benji said...

I'm curious, what exactly is it about BB that makes him so great in the playoffs? What changes does he make to his gameplan in the playoffs that are not there during the regular season? From what analysts and Patriots fans are saying, Belichick will utilize some kind of magic to stop LT in the playoffs when he couldn't stop him in the two prior regular season. So, what does he do different in the playoffs?

As for the schedule, the Chargers beat both Cinci and Seattle on the road, not to mention the Chiefs at home. The Pats, meanwhile, beat Cinci in week 3, before they found their groove, and beat Chicago, an NFC team, at home. San Diego's schedule isn't nearly what it was last year, but New England hasn't exactly been through murderer's row either.

They've improved throughout the season, but so have the Chargers. Everyone knows about Merriman's suspension, but what about injuries to Luis Castillo, one of the best 3-4 DEs in the league? And Shaun Phillips, who's about as good of a pass rusher as Merriman? Godfreys, the starting ILB, also missed the final few regular season games. Additionally, Eric Parker and Keenan Mccardell, the two starting WRs at the beginning of the year, have been either out or bothered because of injuries for the last month or so, or, coincidentally, right around the time of Rivers' struggles. They'll finally get all those guys back on Sunday. In fact, the team hasn't been this healthy since the first half of the season.

1-12-2007 @ 2:17AM

George B Vieto said...

Phillip Rivers to beat the Patriots he has to LaDaininan Tomlinson play like Superman running game, the offensive line protect Phillip and the recivers CATCH the ball and keep the Patriots offense off the field. In the words of Pro Bowler Danny Wiseman "Don't let the pressure cook you."

1-16-2007 @ 8:19PM

doreen.richards@avnet.com said...

Phil Simms commentary always seems to be on the other side of the Pats hyping up the other team no matter who they are. Are these guys negative on the Pats so that when they finally lose they can say I told you so?Keep waiting Phil.
I agree - no respect, but I hope we don't have to hear it this Sunday!

1-31-2007 @ 7:46PM

karl said...

He is a pretty good analyst, but you're incorrect calling him a Hall of Fame QB; he has not even made it as a finalist yet; why I do not know. Look up his stats, more yards than Bradshaw, Griese, Aikman, Staubach, Young, Namath. Now, name two of his wideouts over his career? The defense rests!!!