As we head towards the post-season, I want to take a step back and look at everything that happened in the NFL in the 2011 season. We saw Drew Brees and Tom Brady topple a record that few thought would ever be touched, the Indianapolis went from boom to bust with the injury of their star quarterback, and a star in Denver seemed to rise only before fizzling at the end of the season. It was among the strangest of NFL seasons, and it only strengthened our love for NFL football.
In 1984, a young Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards in a season that can only be described as astounding. Then in 2008, Drew Brees thew for 5,069 yards, just 15 yards shy of the all time single season record. At that point, most began to wonder whether anyone would get so close again. In what ESPN dubbed “the year of the quarterback,” both Drew Brees and Tom Brady shot past that record with Brees setting the new mark at 5,476. At this point, I don’t see any reason that another quarterback somewhere down the road won’t break that record.
Still, the fall of Dan Marino’s record is a landmark event in the NFL. For years, we’ve been seeing the landscape of the league change from “run the ball, stop the run” to the new style of “pass the ball, stop the pass.” It’s not often that I consider how many great quarterbacks are currently active in the NFL. Tom Brady led the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories, and he’s still got time left. Peyton Manning has consistently been among the best passers in the league for a decade. Drew Brees has been throwing the ball all over the yard since entering Sean Payton’s pass happy offense in 2006. Ben Roethlisberger has already won two Super Bowls with the Steelers, and he’s still 29 years young. Finally, Aaron Rodgers is showing promise that is seldom seen in the NFL, especially immediately after the departure of a great quarterback such as Brett Favre.
Now, as we head into the post-season, all the story lines revolve around quarterbacks and which ones will make the clutch plays. Eli Manning out-dueled Tony Romo to make it into the dance. Tim Tebow dropped three games in a row, but still made it in. ESPN has it right. It is the year of the quarterback, but it’s more likely to be something far greater. It’s the generation of the quarterback. As with all things, the NFL does go in cycles. We’re currently in an age where the NFL protects its stars at all costs, especially its quarterbacks. Teams put their faith in young guns that can bloom such as Matthew Stafford has or they can wilt like JaMarcus Russell. As with all cycles, the generation of the quarterback won’t go on forever. The rules pendulum will eventually once again favor the run, so let’s enjoy this while it lasts.
I’ve got high hopes for this season’s playoffs. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Matthew Stafford, and Matt Ryan represent the best of the best at their position. This isn’t the season for defense. With apologies to the Baltimore Ravens, I will be enjoying some shootouts from the best arms in the league. Now, it’s time to take one last deep breath before the storm hits. It’s gonna be a great ride that may well be spoken of for decades to come. Get ready, the NFL playoffs are finally back.
