A Lesson From the Jets and Colts Game

[Jangler]

Yeah, one of the best QBs in the league without a constant running game and banged up team...who would have thought you would need more than one player...oh yeah everybody who thought Luck would change the Panthers in one season...

[Wither]

You act like they beat Brady.

Well, all white QB's are the same anyway.

[Herb]

I feel like I'm beating on a dead horse here. I too am in agreement though. It sounds arrogant and ridiculous to say as a Panthers fan, but the Colts have not been impressive at all this season. They were quite fortunate just to make the playoffs. I'm really not sure what to make of this thread. Yes, if you have a team with an elite defense you can beat a team with an elite QB even if you don't have a good QB yourself. But it's not like this is a common trend in the modern game. And the vast majority of Super Bowl champs in recent memory have had franchise QB's as part of the team.

So no, you don't need a franchise QB to win all the time, but if you do have a franchise QB you're always going to have a chance. Plus it's just plain damn more exciting to watch your team when you have a QB who you trust completely.

[BBQ&Beer]

An "elite" QB has always been overrated.

A team that can play together and believe in each other is vastly superior to a QB that can make every throw, read any defense, and poo gold bricks.

And a team that can play together and believe in each other and has an elite QB tend to create dynasties.

[rico6]

Let's see them beat Tom Brady before anything. And yes, Sanchez will forever be an above average QB, only to be surrounded by elite talent.

[Zaximus]

If the Colts didn't have so many injuries, it would be a different team, completely. It speaks volumes about their team and Peyton that they made the playoffs at all, most teams wouldn't have. Brady is still the best right now, cause of the rings, etc, but Peyton is right there too.

[chef17]

Yeah, one of the best QBs in the league without a constant running game and banged up team...who would have thought you would need more than one player...oh yeah everybody who thought Luck would change the Panthers in one season...

This

[jma1287]

With all that's made of Manning, at the end of the day he only has one ring, as many as his brother. A franchise QB can mask weaknesses in other areas, and is by far the most valuable asset in the NFL, but with an above average QB and a combination of coaching, defense, and offensive talent, a team can win.

In the last decade three of the ten Super Bowl winners won without what I consider franchise QBs(Dilfer, Johnson, and Eli). Additionally, two won with eventual franchise QBs, but at the time in only their first or second years of starting(Brady and Roethlisberger), winning with defense, rushing the ball, and coaching.

I also noticed only 7 of the last 20 starting QBs in the Super Bowl were drafted by the playing team in the First.

Basically the last 10 Super Bowls indicate there are ways to win besides with a franchise QB, and there are other ways of finding a winning QB than with a high draft choice.

[Sandy Claws]

you can win, but its hard to win consistently. and you have to have a qb who is actually worth a damn, and not a guy who checks down 9/10 plays

Apparently, you weren't paying attention when the commentators stated that Brees' philosophy was "touchdown or check down".

[CatMan72]

At the end of the day, it's all about balance... we depend way too much on the run, Colts depend way too much on the pass.

[Davidson Deac II]

Fwiw, Brees checked down on quite a few plays yesterday. There is nothing wrong with checking down. But occassionally, your receivers downfield have to get open, and you have to throw it to them.

[pstall]

all the teams in the playoffs DO have a good if not great qb. the teams that have lost so far do NOT have a solid running game. Saints had Thomas and Ivory out and Colts have been awful at running all year.

You just just well enough to keep the D honest and then you have your qb win the game for you.

[carolinashawn]

A team with a good run game and solid defense just knocked off a team with perhaps the best quarterback of this generation.

Just sayin' -- it's not all about the quarterback.

Without Clark and Collie, Peyton really could not do what he needed. Those 2 were a hug reason why Indy struggled this year. However, because of Manning they were still able to make the playoffs. So, yeah QB is a big deal...just sayin'

[ThPantherFan]

It's all about the coaching and not any individual player.