As linebackers coach of the Oakland Raiders, Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale was there for Philip Rivers' first career start as he led the Chargers to a 27-0 win in the 2006 season opener.
Since then, Martindale has matched wits against Rivers a dozen times as a coach with the Raiders from 2004-2008, with the Denver Broncos from 2009-2010 and with the Ravens since 2012. Now Martindale and his defense will square off with Rivers once again, this time with Rivers in the conversation for league Most Valuable Player honors and with the Ravens' season essentially on the line.
"He's going to down as one of the greatest," Martindale said Dec. 18 after the Ravens walkthrough workout. "Everybody sees it, everybody knows it. You can't say that he's like somebody else. He's Philip Rivers. I think the young quarterbacks aspire to be like him."
