Super Bowl 49: Which current QB’s can and cannot win the big game?
By Marc Ryan
Which current QB’s could win a Super Bowl?
One of the worst financial decisions I’ve ever seen took place on August 4, 2014. If you’re a Bengals fan, you know it well – the day your team inked Andy Dalton to a six-year, $115 million deal. $18 million of this already lines Dalton’s wallet, and despite the fact he’s indistinguishable from you or me to 95 percent of American citizens, another $4 million is due by the end of next month.
He’s 0-4 in the playoffs, with a postseason QB rating, 57.8, which qualifies as an “F” in any grading system – football, grade school or otherwise. He’s just not good enough to win big – whether that’s in Cincinnati, or anywhere else. And therein lies the primary issue many NFL organizations just don’t see. In layman’s terms, if you don’t have a top ten quarterback this season or any season, you’re spinning your wheels.
In this jazzed up passing era, the quality of your quarterback has never been more important. The last 11 Super Bowl Championship quarterbacks would easily qualify in said top ten the year they won. Yet while this is a critical factor, it isn’t the only one.
I present to you an exclusive list ofeight — the ONLY quarterbacks in the NFL who are good enough to win a Super Bowl for your team today – and as an added bonus, a few that aren’t.
1.) Aaron Rodgers – already with one Super Bowl under his “discount double-check” belt, Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood is poised to add more. If not for a historic collapse by Green Bay’s defense in Seattle, I’d be picking him to obtain #2 this season. There is no more talented player at the position, or any position, in the NFL.
2.) Ben Roethlisberger – As he’s aged, Ben is becoming more of a prolific passer and less of a scrambler, but he’s always been an A level gamer and clutch performer. In a must-win situation, I can’t count on one hand the number of signal callers I’d prefer under center to Big Ben, and I do believe, at age 32, he’s got at least one more Super Bowl run in him.
3.) Matt Ryan – More the victim of a roster with a dearth of talent than anything else. Make no mistake – Matt Ryan has the ability to lead the Falcons to the promised land. At age 29, Ryan already has 27 game winning drives to his name, the only player under the age of 30 in the top 10. If the Falcons come to their senses and realize they need to ditch their “Draft For Need” Strategy in favor of best available, Ryan’s profile will rise to the level of elite status.
4.) Russell Wilson – If I was to start an NFL team today, and the league granted me the wish of picking any player to start my franchise with, Wilson’s my guy, and it’s not a difficult decision. If there was a rating for “clutch,” Russell would have shattered all existing marks long ago. He’s a great leader and teammate to boot. Leading with intangibles almost makes one wonder if the tangibles are lacking, yet with Wilson they are not. He can make all the throws, scramble out of trouble, and perhaps most importantly, knows how to avoid the big hits. I didn’t think Seattle was going to make a comeback against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game. I knew it.
5.) Tom Brady – Yes, Mr. Gisele Bundchen hasn’t won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season – yet every time I’m ready to write off Tom, or encourage him to ride off into the sunset, he shows me there are many more bullets in his chamber. Teammates call him the most competitive person they’ve ever been around. He refuses to allow any backup quarterback to take even one snap of his at practice. Sure, Brady has all the tangibles – but I believe, his drive to win from within is his greatest asset.
Others who could still carry the Lombardi Trophy
Eli Manning – like Matt Ryan, his recent struggles are more a product of him trying to do too much with a weak supporting cast. Eli still has the ability to flip a switch and become dominant again if the rest of his team gets its act together.
Joe Flacco – always seems to elevate his status to top ten caliber come playoff time.
Drew Brees – Still struggling to make sense of all that went wrong in The Big Easy this season, but I know one thing – Breesy isn’t the issue.
Now for the bad news…..the quarterbacks listed below are not yet where they need to be to win the Super Bowl. If I was to make a prerequisite list for a quarterback on what’s required to be the world’s best, it would appear as follows:
– generally regarded as a top ten player at his position
– a galvanizing leader for his team, both in the huddle and in the locker room
– keeps mistakes/turnovers to a minimum
– performs his best in the playoffs/when it matters most
These quarterbacks are presently falling short in one of the above key areas.
1.) Tony Romo – The ultimate point of contention player among NFL fans. He’s got all of the tangibles, but few of the intangibles. He led the league in QB rating this season (113.2), yet in a ten year career, nine as starter, he has one more playoff win (2) than the penultimate intangibles player, Tim Tebow (1.) Does Romo deserve all the blame for the Cowboys’ failures? Of course not. Yet until he does it, until he gets the Cowboys to a Super Bowl, doubt reigns down as to whether he can. His track record of not playing his best when it matters most is the biggest hurdle he must overcome.
2.) Peyton Manning – With a one player exception, the last time a quarterback over the age of 34 won a Super Bowl was in 1971 – when Johnny Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to the title at the age of 37. The one exception? Manning’s boss – John Elway, who won titles at 37 and 38, respectively. What I do know is this – Manning no longer possesses his fastball. On a scale of 1-10, he’s anywhere from a 3 to a 6 in arm strength these days, depending upon the elements on a given day and what nagging injuries he’s dealing with. Sadly, like Romo above him, the fact that Peyton Manning has lost his team’s first playoff game nine times in his career, will stay with him.
3.) Andrew Luck – the flavor of the month in NFL circles, Andrew seemingly can do no wrong. First, let’s accentuate the positives. Indianapolis finished 2-14 the year before Luck was drafted, and has fared 11-5 in every season since. No one is disputing Luck’s talent. But among 32 starting QB’s, where has Luck ranked in quarterback rating each season? 26th, 18th, and 7th. He’s trending in the right direction, but twice in his three year career, he’s also placed in the top six in interceptions thrown. He’s got a world of talent and a future so bright he should be wearing shades, but until he reduces those turnovers, Indianapolis will not be going to Disney World.
4.) Colin Kaepernick – my, how the mighty have fallen? Two years ago, he was viewed as the Calvin Johnson of quarterbacks – Robo QB, if you will. But as the case with many an NFL fad, defenses have adjusted. You’re not seeing much of the Wildcat any longer, and you’re not seeing Kaepernick in the Super Bowl, either. I’m not as concerned as others with the passing yards, but I do have questions about Colin’s leadership. For all the talent he possesses, there’s a leadership difference between he and a player like Russell Wilson between the ears. He’s piqued until that changes.
5.) Matt Stafford – like the player above him on the list, you’ve got to love Stafford’s tangibles – the proverbial and overused “laser, rocket arm,” great accuracy, good awareness and pocket presence. So why hasn’t Detroit fared better? With the best defense in the NFL this season, and with he and Calvin Johnson on offense, they couldn’t muster even one playoff win? The buck stops with Stafford on that – it has to. From ill-advised throws to coming into camp out of shape, for just not appearing as though he cares as much as others on the positive list, Stafford isn’t there yet – and I have serious doubts as to whether he ever will be.
Others missing the cut
Philip Rivers – I view him as a B+ quarterback, and that won’t get it done when it comes to winning a Super Bowl
Cam Newton – good enough not to be called a bust, but not good enough to justify his #1 overall selection. Before the season, I classified this as a tell-all season for Cam, and here I am, still unsure of the contents.