Rivers or Eli? You make the call

Who would you rather have at QB? The Giants' Eli Manning or San Diego's Philip Rivers?

It seems like a no-brainer since Manning was the MVP in the Giants' upset of an 18-0 Patriots team in the Super Bowl two years ago. But not so fast, former Giants QB Phil Simms tells the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“If I just took their bodies of work and judged them, Philip Rivers has been consistent, at many times dynamic,” Simms said. "Of course Eli's got a Super Bowl victory and all that, but I just think on the consistent side of it, Philip Rivers has been such a part of many games of the Chargers and many times – many times – he's the difference between winning and losing. It's really been an incredible start to his career.”

Sunday's game at Giants Stadium will mark the first time the two have played against each other since they were traded for one another on draft day in 2004. Manning had already said he wouldn't play for the Chargers, who had the No. 1 overall pick. So then-Giants GM Ernie Accorsi swung the team that brought Eli to New York and Rivers to San Diego.

Manning became a starter in his ninth game. He's 47-26 as a starter with a 77.2 passer rating, 111 touchdown passes and 82 INTs. Rivers sat behind Drew Brees for two years before becoming the starter. He's 40-21 with a 92.4 passer rating, 95 TDs and 47 INTs.

I'd still rather have Eli. Plus, if I was Chargers' GM A.J. Smith, I wouldn't be thinking about whether I'd want Eli or Rivers. I'd be asking myself why Drew Brees is in New Orleans leading the Saints to the Super Bowl.