808vikingsfan wrote:Here's the rest of the league (QBs that started 16 games)
Link
It is my opinion that this ultimately points to the question of whether getting the Franchise QB is skill or luck? I would argue strongly that it is the latter and that our friends to the East are the luckiest of them all, not just in getting two, but getting them back to back. It could be worse. Look at the AFC. In past 16 seasons only once has a QB not named Ben, Tom, or Peyton won the AFCCG.
Another observation: Going through the whole list, most of the QBs with many 16 season starts are not SB winners, so in that respect this graphic on it's own is not an indication of championship potential. Consider that the much maligned Saints are on this list at #3 and have only one championship despite the 3rd highest total and only 1 behind #2. GB, with it's vaunted 26 seasons, only had 2 championships in that time. (they went to a 3rd and lost.) Conversely, arguably four of the most storied of NFL franchises make up the bottom third in PIT, DAL, SF, and OAK.
One thing I ponder is whether the QB stats are a result of many great passers or a result of lower overall league quality defenses? I'm not sure of the answer there, just something to think about. When you look at stats on a game by game basis it is obvious that many teams feast on meager opposition before hitting a hard wall in the playoffs when they face more well constructed teams. Last season the most obvious example of this was DAL, they feasted on a soft schedule and a dysfunctional division before having their defense deservedly exposed in the playoffs when they finally played an elite passer.
A question to consider is how the QB being a matter of luck affect the analysis of the whether or not a GM is successful. The reality to me is that the majority of NFL franchises field flawed rosters in one way or another. Few are complete and balanced and even then, those that are need the luck of at least a competent passer to win it all. Jim Harbaugh 49ers and current KC Chiefs are examples teams being very good to great everywhere except where it mattered most. It is thus no surprise that KC drafted a QB in this draft. They know where they need juice to get over the playoff hump.