Rivers was atrocious in that Patriots game. I don't think he even completed half his passes with a stacked offense and he threw no touchdowns. Against the Jets, there was no way SD should have lost that. Kaeding missing definitely isn't Rivers fault but even if he makes some kicks it wasn't a good game. The 2009 Chargers was the last real shot he had looking back.
I just don't see what is HoF with this guy besides bulk stats from being healthy and a warrior. The issue is, lots of other guys will have stats from playing so long. Stafford is one of them. Ryan is another, but he did win and MVP and make a SB, also has a bit more playoff success. Idk, I just don't get it. Rivers was always behind Brady/Peyton/Brees when he came in and then lots of QBs like Rodgers/Wilson/Mahomes passed him up quickly too. In a given year, many other QBs outperformed him as well- Luck, old Favre, Flacco, Smith, Cam, etc
Then you have the 2004 class. Ben has similar stats but team success so he gets in. Eli was prob the worst of the 3 but his 2007 and 2011 playoff runs are legendary, even though the defense carried them a lot and he only scored 17 and 19 points in the SBs. But you can't tell the history of the NFL without them..... So Eli gets in likely.
I just don't see what is so special about Rivers. It sucks but if he gets in you're gonna have to crowd the HoF with anyone that compiles numbers in a passing era.