Footballblogging
Vikings 19 - Redskins 16.
1. Drat.
2. Thus did the Football Gods contrive to show how quarterback play is of overriding importance and all that “managing the game” stuff is mostly crap.
Point 2 overstates for effect, but it’s very simple: no NFL team is so good that it can count on playing from in front in the fourth quarter of every game. To have a very good record, the kind that gets you bye weeks in the playoffs, increasing your chances of getting to the Super Bowl, every NFL team is going to need to be able to score in a hurry at the ends of multiple close games every season. That means being able to complete passes for big gains. That’s not something you can snap your fingers and be good at only in those circumstances. You need to be a good passing team, which means you need to have a playmaking quarterback. The few exceptions to this requirement are interesting curiousities. It is extremely unlikely your team will be one of them.
Tonight was an interesting case study because both Brad Johnson and Mark Brunnell were effective “game managers.” But Johnson was the better playmaker. His team won.
Comment by Brett —
September 11, 2006 @ 11:12 pm
Call it “The Elway Effect.”
Comment by Rob —
September 11, 2006 @ 11:48 pm
So Mark Brunell would have been the better QB if the Redskins had a saftey who didn’t tackle by the facemask or a highly paid wide receiver able to locate the 1st down marker or a kicker that could make field goal of moderate length?
Comment by Kristian —
September 13, 2006 @ 2:58 pm
First, Brunell isn’t really all that poor for a Gibb’s QB. Joe Gobbs has made a career of winning with marginal quarterbacks. With the exception of Trent Dilfer (the jury is still out on Ben R.), Gibbs won the big one with the 3 worst QBs in superbowl history.
As for making plays in multiple games, perhaps. But 2 or 3 of 19 doesn’t matter much if none of the three are among the last 4 games. (See also the Colts).
Lastly, the Skins will be better as Portis heals.
Baltimore is still better, though (and that is a place where better QB can make the DEFENSE better by giving them rest and field position).
Comment by kat30 —
September 18, 2006 @ 12:30 am
Speaking of Mark. Might be hoax that he won’t be playing next season. But just wondering, how true is this? I just want to hear others opinion about it.