The NFL playoffs are upon us as the Wild Card round gets set to kickoff Saturday afternoon. As is the case every season, quarterback play will be magnified during the postseason, but this year’s group of playoff signal-callers looks to be one that can handle the pressure.
The 12 quarterbacks that make up this year’s playoff field may be the most intriguing ever with nine combined Super Bowl victories. Of the 12, four were taken first overall in the NFL Draft.
With the exception of Peyton Manning, the former No. 1 overall picks may have the most to prove this weekend. Carolina’s Cam Newton and Detroit’s Matthew Stafford are each looking for their first playoff wins as starters while Andrew Luck hopes to take the Indianapolis Colts to the next level.
Among those looking to silence his doubters is Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys were among the biggest surprises in the NFL, but Romo continues to carry the label of a quarterback that can’t win the big game.
Romo has just one career playoff victory, but will be at home as the Cowboys host Detroit on Sunday.
Another quarterback whose been scrutinized for his performances in meaningful games is Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton. Despite leading Cincinnati to its longest stretch of prosperity ever, Dalton is 0-3 in playoff starts.
In last season’s 27-10 Wild Card loss at home to San Diego, Dalton was intercepted twice and had two fumbles (one lost). Dalton may be the first Bengals’ quarterback to lead the team to four straight playoff berths ever, but just getting to postseason will eventually not be enough.
Despite being one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time and having a Super Bowl to his name, Manning has carried a similar label. In Super Bowls, Manning is just 1-2 as a starter which includes a 43-8 thumping at the hands of Seattle last season.
Last season’s Super Bowl winning quarterback, Russell Wilson, will be among four quarterbacks chasing a second Super Bowl, joining Manning, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco.
Wilson looks to become the first quarterback to win consecutive Super Bowls since Tom Brady, who leads the AFC’s top seed, the New England Patriots.
Brady hopes to join Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. The last title for Brady however, came a decade ago.
While Brady hopes to get a fourth ring, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks to move into elite company himself. As a winner of two Super Bowls, Roethlisberger looks to become just the fifth quarterback to win three titles. Brady, Bradshaw, Montana and Troy Aikman are the previous four.
Perhaps the biggest mystery of Wild Card weekend is Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Ryan Lindley. Arizona’s third starting quarterback this season, Lindley attempted just 93 passes this season.
With the playoffs set to get underway, the field of quarterbacks playing in postseason looks to be one of the most intriguing ever. The mix of all-time greats and signal-callers looking to prove oneself should make for a very exciting postseason. The adage may go that defense wins championships, but so does stellar play under center.
