The Chargers had to win their last four games to finish 8-8, winning their division and qualifying for the playoffs. After a very difficult start to the season, the Chargers found themselves on the outside looking in.
The 2008 season was supposed to be Rivers' turn to win his ring. Then, Manning won his first Super Bowl with the Giants, defeating the previously unbeaten Patriots. San Diego survived until the AFC Championship, losing to the undefeated New England Patriots.
Pittsburgh was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the running game, the Steelers were third, the Giants fourth, and the Chargers seventh. The Giants were seventh overall, and the Chargers had moved up to 14th. In 2007, the Steelers had the top-rated defense in the league. The Steelers missed the playoffs completely. The Giants and Chargers both made the playoffs, both losing in the first round. It was at this point that the Giants defense started coming around and began playing like the dominating unit they are today. The defenses were ranked ninth (Steelers), 10th (Chargers), and 25th (Giants). While the running game of the Chargers ranked second, the Giants third, and the Steelers 10th. Rivers was brought into the mix in 2006, when all three members of the draft class were starters. Pittsburgh rode this wave all the way to win their its Super Bowl. The running games were ranked fifth (Steelers) and sixth (Giants). In 2005, when Manning and Roethlisberger were both starters, their defenses were ranked fourth (Steelers) and 24th (Giants).
There is one similarity between the three that is unquestionable: All three teams are built out of the same mold. Manning followed him three years later, then not to be outdone, Roethlisberger won his second the following year. Roethlisberger was the first one to win a Super Bowl. Though all three are completely different players, they will be bound together forever with comparisons. The Steelers selected Roethlisberger with the 11th pick. ESPN cameras were interviewing Ben when the Steelers were on the clock. The Giants traded Rivers, a third-round pick in the 2004 draft, (which was used to select Nate Keading), a first-round pick in the 2005 draft, (which was used to select Shawne Merriman) and a fifth rounder that was eventually traded to Tampa Bay.
It was two or three picks later that the deal was announced. I remember hearing Chris Berman say it looked like a trade could be in the works. With the selection, the Giants select, Philip Rivers, NC State.īen looked heartbroken, and Rivers looked confused. When the Giants turned in the card with their selection, the cameras were on Roethlisberger in the back. Roethlisberger waited back stage in New York, while Philip Rivers sat at home, hoping the Steelers were going to draft him at No. They had Kurt Warner to run the show while Roethlisberger learned the game. Most analysts believed Roethlisberger was going to have to sit for at least a year, coming from a smaller school, Miami (Ohio), and that was fine with the Giants. He had the size and arm strength to handle himself in the Meadowland winds. With the Giants selecting fourth, the consensus was that the Giants were going to select Ben Roethlisberger. Having no choice but to take him, the Chargers did, and the insanity began. The only problem was, Eli had told the Chargers, who held the first pick, that he was not going to play for them.
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