Ken Anderson, Phillip Rivers - if you can only pick ONE of them?

[Brian wolf]

In fairness Robert, Anderson also had very good seasons in 1973 and 76 as well. He struggled in 1977 but had the Bengals on the verge of a divisional title, but it slipped away against a tough Oilers team on the final sunday. Had Cincy and not Pitts won the division, could they had beaten Denver or Oak?

[rewing84]

Ill agree with that 100% Brian your point and arguements are ones that i have no issues with and fully agree with 100%

[74_75_78_79_]

I am always annoyed by folks that can't answer a simple question posed in a thread. So I'll be annoyed at my own existence for a bit.

I would pick neither. I think together they make excellent gatekeepers for setting the HOF bar. Sort of like the clubs on the old wack-a-mole arcade game.

I've opined that here at least a couple times about Anderson being a 'gatekeeper' (used that very term). But considering just how 'big' the Hall now is, it looks like both will get in after all.

Fair or not, I give Ken the nod because of he at least leading his team to a Super Bowl. Super-tough competition in the '70s with Mia/Oak/Pit in their conference as well as WHO Cincy, indeed, played in SBXVI is a nice additive to his case as well. Fair or not, had Ken won it in Pontiac, he's in Canton by now (kind-of like Namath being in because he won SBIII).

[sluggermatt15]

I am always annoyed by folks that can't answer a simple question posed in a thread. So I'll be annoyed at my own existence for a bit.

I would pick neither. I think together they make excellent gatekeepers for setting the HOF bar. Sort of like the clubs on the old wack-a-mole arcade game.

I've opined that here at least a couple times about Anderson being a 'gatekeeper' (used that very term). But considering just how 'big' the Hall now is, it looks like both will get in after all.

Fair or not, I give Ken the nod because of he at least leading his team to a Super Bowl. Super-tough competition in the '70s with Mia/Oak/Pit in their conference as well as WHO Cincy, indeed, played in SBXVI is a nice additive to his case as well. Fair or not, had Ken won it in Pontiac, he's in Canton by now (kind-of like Namath being in because he won SBIII).

Anderson also won MVP and OPOY awards. Rivers did not.

[readjack]

While I don't feel strongly about Anderson, I'm okay with him. I do feel strongly about slowing down on the Brady/Manning era QBs, especially Rivers, who I thought largely under-achieved considering the talent on some of those Chargers teams.

Stafford's performances and achievements since joining the Rams really underscores how the voters zoomed ahead on QBs. Voters made Eli a first-ballot semifinalist last year and Rivers a first-ballot semifinalist this year, with Rivers now re-setting because of his comeback. Meanwhile, Stafford has not just been a compiler in L.A. but achieved things he hadn't before. The ring is obvious, and great, but the MVP with a passing title and a TD title is massive, and he's gotten much more recognition for his abilities, not just his stats.

Just looking at Stafford and Rivers:

YARDS
Career edge: Stafford
Top 5 finishes: Rivers 7-6
LL finishes: tie 1-1

TOUCHDOWNS
Career edge: Rivers (by 2, so this year that's gone)
Top 5 finishes: Rivers 5-4
LL finishes: tie 1-1

PASSER RATING
Career edge: Rivers 95.0-92.4
Top 5 finishes: 5-2 Rivers
LL finishes: Rivers 1-0

SEASONS WITH MVP VOTES / TOP FINISHES
2 - Stafford (MVP 2025), Rivers (3rd, 2009)

So Stafford will retire higher than Rivers in yards and touchdowns, and Rivers currently has more career games, though Stafford will pass him on that. They'll be close on rating. Rivers will have an edge on top 5 finishes in the triple-crown categories but Stafford will have the only SB appearance, the only ring and the only MVP.

I think Stafford clearly has a better HOF case than Rivers, and that's before we work in Roethlisberger, Wilson and Eli, and that's without even noting that all of these guys are far behind Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers and Mahomes, and that they've got Lamar, Allen, Burrow and Hurts on the rise.

[PaulPFHOF]

Anderson, as one could make case for him among top 5 QBs in era he played-can't say same for Rivers

[PaulPFHOF]

ReadJack made little error there as Eli was among 15 finalists for class of 2025 (1st year on ballot) and again for class of 2025-not just semi-finalist

[readjack]

Truth! Apparently my psyche has blocked out that he was a finalist.