---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think time of possession is overrated…"
description: "\"I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are scoring.\" — Philip Rivers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png"
---

#  I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are…

![“I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are scoring.” quote by Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png)

> “I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are scoring.”

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Possession time is valuable mainly for scoring; otherwise it’s less important.

**In simple terms:** Time with the ball matters when scoring.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize scoring opportunities.

Themes

sports strategy efficiency performance

Mood

competitive analytical

Type

sports strategic

When to use this quote

- football
- basketball
- soccer
- hockey
- coaching

Key Concepts

time management game theory

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you sacrifice possession for defense?
- How does possession affect team morale?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on possession can neglect defense.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Scoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoring/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [I think walks are overrated unless you can run... If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-baker/i-think-walks-are-overrated-unless-you-can-run-if-you-get-a-walk-and/)

[Dusty Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-baker/)

> [Bench scoring overall I think is overrated. The question is, do you have enough scoring?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ainge/bench-scoring-overall-i-think-is-overrated-the-question-is-do-you/)

[Danny Ainge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-ainge/)

> [Not scoring in the red zone and turning it over, man, that gets you beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/not-scoring-in-the-red-zone-and-turning-it-over-man-that-gets-you-beat/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Rome's just a city like anywhere else. A vastly overrated city, I'd say. It trades on belief just as Stratford trades on Shakespeare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/rome-s-just-a-city-like-anywhere-else-a-vastly-overrated-city-i-d-say/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

> [Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it's not liable to ever happen. More often than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/inspiration-is-highly-overrated-if-you-sit-around-and-wait-for-the/)

[Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/)

> [I despise computers in many ways. I think they’re hopelessly underevolved and overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-despise-computers-in-many-ways-i-think-they-re-hopelessly/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [The great pyramid is overrated. It's a bad design. The lounge is going to be huge, but the bedroom is going to be tiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/the-great-pyramid-is-overrated-it-s-a-bad-design-the-lounge-is-going/)

[Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/)

> [Vacations prove that a life of pleasure is overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/vacations-prove-that-a-life-of-pleasure-is-overrated/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [Being a Punjabi, it is very hard to say this, but Punjabi food is very overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranveer-brar/being-a-punjabi-it-is-very-hard-to-say-this-but-punjabi-food-is-very/)

[Ranveer Brar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranveer-brar/)

> [The element of chance in basic research is overrated. Chance is a lady who smiles only upon those few who know how to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-selye/the-element-of-chance-in-basic-research-is-overrated-chance-is-a-lady/)

[Hans Selye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-selye/)

> [I think audibles, the way people talk about it, it's overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flacco/i-think-audibles-the-way-people-talk-about-it-it-s-overrated/)

[Joe Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flacco/)

> [“Appropriate is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-w-kohlhagen/appropriate-is-overrated/)

Steven W. Kohlhagen

> [Creation's probably overrated. After all, God made the world in only six days and rested on the seventh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/creation-s-probably-overrated-after-all-god-made-the-world-in-only/)

[Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/)

> [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/)

[Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/)

## More by Philip Rivers

> [I don't ever try to sound like, 'it's a piece of cake. Be chaste 'til your married.' But you strive and battle. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-don-t-ever-try-to-sound-like-it-s-a-piece-of-cake-be-chaste-til/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Don't get bored with little things - little completions here and there. They are all valuable, because I know that's a trap to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/don-t-get-bored-with-little-things-little-completions-here-and-there/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [When I went to college is really when it became my own. I had to get up out of that dorm room and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/when-i-went-to-college-is-really-when-it-became-my-own-i-had-to-get/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Look, I'm my own worst critic. I've made mistakes in areas that I need to improve - most notably, turning the ball over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/look-i-m-my-own-worst-critic-i-ve-made-mistakes-in-areas-that-i-need/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Discover your passion and do it to the best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/discover-your-passion-and-do-it-to-the-best-of-your-ability/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [I've been able to have some longevity here with the Chargers. It is unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-ve-been-able-to-have-some-longevity-here-with-the-chargers-it-is/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [My happiness is not going to be driven solely on whether we win a Super Bowl or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/my-happiness-is-not-going-to-be-driven-solely-on-whether-we-win-a/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Not scoring in the red zone and turning it over, man, that gets you beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/not-scoring-in-the-red-zone-and-turning-it-over-man-that-gets-you-beat/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [It's funny, I see my dad in myself when I say certain things or I do certain things. I'll say, 'That was my dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/it-s-funny-i-see-my-dad-in-myself-when-i-say-certain-things-or-i-do/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [You want our team to have the best chance to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/you-want-our-team-to-have-the-best-chance-to-win/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [It's always good to get back in game action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/it-s-always-good-to-get-back-in-game-action/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [I don't want to sacrifice and be a backup to be a Charger. That's not something I want to do or I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-don-t-want-to-sacrifice-and-be-a-backup-to-be-a-charger-that-s-not/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [We can only control what we can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/we-can-only-control-what-we-can-control/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [Once I've received the Eucharist, then I'm prepared to go out and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/once-i-ve-received-the-eucharist-then-i-m-prepared-to-go-out-and-play/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

> [The practice days, the walkthroughs, the bus rides - all those things you can't come back to. When you are getting into Year 15,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/the-practice-days-the-walkthroughs-the-bus-rides-all-those-things-you/)

[Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

[Explore all 115 Philip Rivers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/)

## More Football quotes

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/)

Brendan Mundorf

> [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/)

[Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/)

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/)

[Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/)

[Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/)

> [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/)

[Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/)

> [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/)

[Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

[Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are scoring.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philip Rivers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated-unless-you-are-scoring/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Football"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated-unless-you-are-scoring/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f0/philip-rivers-4159_football_i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated_874097.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think time of possession is overrated, unless you are scoring.” — Philip Rivers",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Philip Rivers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think time of possession is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated-unless-you-are-scoring/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-think-time-of-possession-is-overrated-unless-you-are-scoring/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
