Hello fellow Wolfpackers. I just completed this post at SBN's Steelers blog, Behind the Steel Curtain. In it, I wrote up an analysis comparing NFL quarterbacks' performances through the first seven years of their careers. The purpose was to see how Ben Roethlisberger stacked up against all other quarterbacks in NFL history who passed for 16000 or more yards in their first 7 years. However, I thought Backing the Pack readers may also be interested in it, since Philip Rivers topped the list in my analysis. I knew that he was performing pretty well for the Chargers since taking over for Drew Brees in 2006, but frankly, I was surprised at how high he ranked in so many passing categories.

Rivers ranked first in 3 of the 8 categories that I included in my analysis. He was top 5 in 6 of the categories and ranked no lower than 8th in any of the categories. Every other player in the analysis ranked outside of the top 10 in at least one category. I recently saw a link to this article wondering if Rivers is on his way to the Hall of Fame (in fact, the link may have been here on BTP), and this rate, I think he's well on his way. He certainly would be helped by a Super Bowl ring, but I'm afraid that is unlikely with Norv Turner as his Head Coach. However, he certainly has the numbers to be a Hall of Famer, particularly if he continues this level of play, or even close to it, for another 7-10 years.