Monday, August 08, 2011

Quarterbacks and Playoff Wins

I have wanted to do this post for a while, even though I know it will be misconstrued by many as my attempting to build or defend an agenda (usually Tony Romo's).

Honestly, this is simply a database that will hopefully allow us to just simply look at a QBs resume as it pertains to the most important statistics available: Starts and Playoff Wins. I think it is important to look at a QBs starts rather than age because if we look at purely age it is always going to be apples and oranges. But, if we compare 64 starts to 61 starts, we are discussing 2 QBs that have basically had 4 years worth of NFL starts to show us what he is all about.

John Beck is slated to start for Washington in Week 1. He will be 30 years old on opening day with 4 career starts. Josh Freeman is 22 and already has 25 starts under his belt. We can debate which player is "more mature" but we cannot debate who has seen more real snaps and real situations in actual game play. That is Freeman by a mile.

Then, I wanted to look at playoff records and "away playoff records". I think it is interesting which QBs have such things as winning playoff records and a high win total away from their home stadium. Keep in mind that the "away" totals will include neutral fields, which is another way to say "Super Bowls".

Finally, Rings. Quite self explanatory. It is interesting that once you get a ring, you are elevated to a new level. I wonder how fair that is. For instance, Eli Manning has 103 career starts - the 6th most! - and has a ring and 4 playoff wins in that magical 2007 post-season. Otherwise, he is 0-3 in his other 6 seasons, but he has the ring so he is off limits.

Basically, we reduce all of these QB discussions to whether or not a player like Eli or Aaron Rodgers catch fire over the span of 1 month and win it all. If they do, they are heroes. If they don't, they are failed. And that is how we judge 12 year careers. It seems like a terribly faulty premise in a sport that depends on so many things outside of a QBs control, but that is how we do it.

By the way, the Giants in 2007 and the Packers in 2010 both needed help to even qualify for the playoffs. If another team did not help them in the final weeks of each season, that team doesn't even get in the playoffs. They did not control their own destiny and they did not dominate the league. They received help and then pounced.

I used the 32 Quarterbacks who are thought to be "QB1" with their respective teams this year. Obviously, some are a bit more open than others.

Lots of conclusions that one could draw and discoveries that could be made. Did you know Jason Campbell has more career starts than Tony Romo? In that Romo class with 1 playoff win are 2 QBs with more starts in David Garrard (76) and Jay Cutler (68). Meanwhile, Kyle Orton (61) and Matt Schaub (56) have never even played in a playoff game.

Anyway, here we go:

NFC EAST

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
NYGE Manning1034-34-11
PHIVick792-31-20
DALRomo611-30-20
WASBeck40-00-00

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NFC NORTH

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
MINMcNabb1559-73-50
CHICutler681-10-00
GBRodgers474-14-11
DETStafford130-00-00

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NFC SOUTH

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
NOBrees1374-31-21
ATLRyan460-20-10
TBFreeman250-00-00
CARNewton00-00-00

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NFC WEST

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
SFSmith500-00-00
SEAT Jackson200-10-00
STLBradford160-00-00
ARIKolb70-00-00

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And now, to the AFC:
AFC EAST

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
NEBrady14314-56-33
BUFFitzpatrick360-00-00
NYJSanchez314-24-20
MIAHenne270-00-00

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AFC NORTH

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
PITRoethlisberger9810-35-12
BALFlacco484-34-30
CLEMcCoy80-00-00
CINDalton00-00-00

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AFC SOUTH

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
INDP Manning2089-103-61
TENHasselbeck1315-60-50
JACGarrard761-11-10
HOUSchaub560-00-00

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AFC WEST

TeamStarting QBStartsPlayoff RecAway RecRings
SDRivers803-41-20
OAKCampbell640-00-00
DENOrton610-00-00
KCCassel450-10-00

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