The ‘real’ NFL passing yardage leaderboards

Barring something catastrophic, on Thursday night in Tennessee, Philip Rivers will step into an exclusive club. With his first or second completion of a prime-time showdown between the Indianapolis Colts and Titans, he’ll leapfrog Dan Marino on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage leaderboard. He’ll ascend into fifth place, barring the 20th century from the top five forever. And he’ll help tell a story.

Marino retired after the 1999 season atop that list and many others. He was widely regarded as the NFL’s quarterbacking GOAT. But since, countless records have fallen. Active quarterbacks touched two others on Sunday. Rivers will be the third to equal or top a Marino mark this week. And he…