Rivers: Adding Danny Woodhead elevated Chargers offense

• Woodhead caught 70 passes in regular season%2C and led all NFL backs with six TD catches
• Versatile player had 1%2C034 total yards this season - including the first rushing TD of his career
• At 5-8%2C 200 pounds%2C Woodhead adds dimension team lost when Darren Sproles left for Saints in 2010

SAN DIEGO – He wasn't the splashiest free-agent acquisition of the offseason, but Danny Woodhead has sparkled as bright as any.

"Danny's been awesome," said San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers of his backfield mate. "Any time you have a running back that has 70 catches, I don't know exactly how many carries he has had, but he has ran the ball effectively for us all year long and he is just so versatile. It's been great to have him as a part of our team.

"I've said this all the way back earlier in the year. And no disrespect to any of our other free-agent signings this season because we needed every one of them, but he was the one I was most excited about, just because of what he can bring to an offense. He has lived up to every one of our expectations."

Woodhead, who said he had no expectations or personal goals when he joined the Chargers after three seasons with the New England Patriots, has experienced a career year. Despite serving as Ryan Mathews' backup and sharing time with Ronnie Brown, Woodhead became arguably the NFL's most versatile running back.

And with Mathews' questionable status – he's been hobbling with an ankle injury since a Week 15 victory over the Oakland Raiders and hasn't practiced this week – Woodhead could be a key when the Chargers visit the Denver Broncos in Sunday's AFC divisional playoffs.

"When Danny's played, he's made big plays for us, so I hope he plays a big role for us Sunday," said San Diego offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt with a grin, keeping his plans to himself. "He makes a lot of plays for us."

Woodhead led NFL running backs with six touchdown catches and finished second in receptions with 76 for 605 yards during the regular season. He rushed for 429 yards and two touchdowns in 106 attempts (4.0 yards per carry) for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns overall. He also earned his first career rushing TD, a 5-yard run in the first quarter of the Chargers' 27-10 romp over the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's wild-card game.

Despite all he's done, Woodhead gives Rivers the credit.

"He's a quarterback that's obviously elite, and he can mesh with anyone," Woodhead said. "It's definitely been good with our relationship on the field."

That relationship has translated off the field, too.

"He's a great teammate, great leader and great friend,'' Woodhead said. "I'm happy to be a teammate of his.''

Woodhead frequently is a trump card for Rivers.

Woodhead has not gotten lost in the shuffle despite a number of Chargers turning in great offensive seasons. Tight end Antonio Gates has had another strong year, wide receiver and former Bronco Eddie Royal caught a career-high eight touchdowns, rookie Keenan Allen emerged as a reliable wide out and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and Mathews had his best season with 1,255 rushing yards.

Instead Woodhead has added a dimension to the offense missing since Darren Sproles bolted to New Orleans in 2010.

"He's been the guy who can do a little of everything for us," Royal said. "Some people call him the 'X' factor. But he's come in and run routes, run the ball and he's a good blocker. I think what a lot of people learned about him this year is how well he runs the ball out of the backfield. I know a lot people knew he could catch the ball out of the backfield, but he's showed this year how good of a running back he is.

"I think we all benefit on offense. When he's in the game, it keeps the defense off-balance. If he's in the backfield, you don't know if he's going to run the ball or split out because he runs routes like a receiver. He's a threat anytime he's in the game."

The veteran Brown has been impressed, too.

"He adds versatility to our offense and obviously we can put him in a lot of different spots," said Brown, who said the Chargers running game has thrived because the trio roots for each other and is more concerned with the team's success than individual achievement. "That helps to make defenses to study something extra."

Add extra elements such as desire and versatility to Woodhead's game and you have a player with an unlimited passion to win, Rivers said.

"Obviously, I know he's probably been told he's too small his whole life," said Rivers of the 5-foot-8 (and that might be a stretch), 200-pounder. "He's one strong, fast football player. He hasn't surprised us by what he's done this year. I've had respect for him from afar in New England. Obviously, he's had more opportunities this year and he's made the most of all of them."

A victory in Denver would propel the Chargers into their first AFC Championship Game since the 2007 season, when they lost to New England.

"We're excited about being in the playoffs," Woodhead said. "We're going to prepare as hard as we can for this one. They're a great team. It's going to be a hostile environment. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Woodhead isn't thinking about a possible return to New England. If the Chargers and Patriots both prevail this weekend, San Diego would travel to New England for the AFC Championship Game.

"I'm not worried about that right now," he said. "I'm more so worried about what we can do this weekend. I'm not worried about what's after."