San Diego Chargers rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen has insisted that if he wins the Rookie of the Year award it would be an achievement for the whole team to celebrate.

Allen praised the club's quarterback Philip Rivers and said that he would deserve a lot of credit for the way he ran his offense during 2013.

"I never really thought about it, but everyone kept talking to me about it for the last couple hours," he told the club's official website. "It's been a long journey thinking about where I was a year ago. I was rehabbing my knee and it was pretty tough to start out that way. But I kept working hard, stayed patient, took my opportunities and kept trying to get better.

"It would mean a lot because it would show what we were able to accomplish and do as an offense. Without Philip putting me in the best position and getting me the ball like he did to let me make a play, I wouldn't be nominated. Just being nominated says a lot about the team, so winning would mean a lot."

The Chargers lost in the divisional playoffs to the Denver Broncos.