This is arguably the best NFL weekend of the year. You get four divisional playoff games between Saturday and Sunday. It's not too little. It's not too much. It's the perfect amount of great football, plus it gives you plenty of time for good conversation.
So here's a few talking points for whatever porch you are chillin on today.
- How much does college success really impact success at the next level?
There is a big part of me who thinks asking this is like asking if a great sit-com actor is assured of taking that leap into film success. Sure it doesn't hurt to be golden on the tube, but that quality transition to the big screen is far from a guarantee. (see Matt Leblanc and Jason Alexander's transition from comedic TV glory to movies with monkeys.)
On the other hand, check out Ryan Reynolds' unheralded TV spots . Granted Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place was money, but unheralded none the less. Since then he's pumped out gems like Just Friends, Waiting, and Van Wilder. Heck, even Definitely, Maybe was solid. The big screen is where the dude shines, not The John Larroquette Show.
Maybe different people are just built for different stages.
Saturday's game slate would definitely give you that impression. Of the four quarterbacks playing there are zero Heisman trophies, zero national titles, and zero BCS bowl victories. Sure there's a GMAC bowl victory, a Insight Bowl victory, and even a MPC Computers bowl victory in there, but nothing huge.
With that sad, is there any doubt Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger are at the top of the guys under center in the league? At worst, they are the second tier behind Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and it is likely that is just for now.
So how much does college success, playing on the best team, and leaving that large national footprint really mean?
Who would be the Bandits QB?
Let's say you are starting a team today. Let's call it the (insert your city's name here) Bandits, because Bandits is an awesome nickname that no one is taking advantage of. You can have one of those four guys to start your team with. Who do you take?
Ben Roethlisberger -- 3200 yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs, 97 rating * missed four games
Of course each quarterback has his positives and negatives, and of course the numbers don't tell the full story of each guy.
Take Rodgers for instance. Sure he has thrown for the most yardage, but I don't even think Green Bay played a running back for about five games this season. (By the way, Rodgers is also the shortest QB of this group, listed at 6-2.)
On the other hand Roethlisberger only trails Rodgers by 722 yards, an amount you have to think he could have achieved in those missed four games. But that is what happens when you break life rule #33: Good things never come from crowded bathroom stalls. It always ends bad.
Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan are similar in that they both are assisted by quality running attacks. Ray Rice an the Ravens ranking 14 in the league and the Michael Turner led Falcons attack ranking 12. Of course, one hand does shake the other and you could argue their passing presence increases their rushing ability rather than vice versa.
Post Season Experience:
Roethlisberger has the obvious advantage here with an 8-2 record in the playoffs. Oh, and two Super Bowl rings. Flacco comes in second at 4-2, while Rodgers is 1-1, and Ryan is 0-1.
Now of course Ben and Joe being drafted by teams with plenty of guys already in place can't be ignored, but they still helped pilot the squads to those victories.
Joe Flacco spent the first part of his college career at Pittsburgh, where he saw the field in three contests in 2004, tallying a stellar one completion for 11 yards.
In his four visits to Pittsburgh as a pro, Flacco has thrown four touchdowns, five interceptions, and been sacked 13 times.
He might come in a little chippy today.
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