NFL Playoffs

Well, its 2011 and I've realized how much I've been slacking on this whole blog thing. To some, I know that makes me a bad person, but I'm going to try to rectify that a little bit this year.

First and foremost, the Packers are in the playoffs and that makes me happy. Watching football yesterday, I know now more than ever how important the quarterback is to quality teams in the NFL. Of the 11 playoff teams (I'm not counting Seattle, they are 7-9. Screw them.), all of them have very stable situations at quarterback. These are the stars of their team, the stars of the league. There is no question from week to week as to who is leading that team out of the tunnel. In fact, these 11 are probably in the top 13 of who I would want as my teams QB in 2011. Let's rank them, without looking at numbers and simply going with my gut.

1. Tom Brady

2. Peyton Manning

3. Aaron Rodgers

4. Ben Roethlisberger

5. Drew Brees

6. Michael Vick

7. Matt Ryan

8. Philip Rivers

9. Joe Flacco

10. Josh Freeman

11. Matt Cassel

12. Jay Cutler

13. Mark Sanchez

The only two players on that list not in the playoffs are Rivers and Freeman. The Chargers are not in the playoffs, but it is not Phil's fault. The Bucs are on the verge of the playoffs, thanks almost entirely to Josh Freeman (10-6 this year). Both could easily be in the playoffs in 2011. The next few names on that list are Eli Manning (1o-6 ain't bad), Matt Schaub (horrendous D) and Sam Bradford (rookie).

I can't put anyone besides Brady or Manning in my top 2, but I don't think I'm being a homer by putting Rodgers at #3. The two below him do have Super Bowl rings to their names, but Rodgers kind of feels like Peyton Manning to me. He makes the players around him better, but he can scramble to create a play if needed (just remember to slide!). He has suffered injuries to every conceivable aspect of that team, yet the Packers find themselves in the playoffs with as good a chance of anyone to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Much of this credit goes to Ted Thompson, but I am all-in on Aaron Rodgers.

I obviously want the Packers in the Super Bowl, and I don't care who they play. But if that can't happen, here are the top 5 games I would like to see.

1. Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania rivalry, disgraced QBs. Great TV.

2. Falcons vs. Colts - Dome teams

3. Philly vs. Baltimore - Very close geographically, run games, Vick vs. Ed Reed/Ray Lewis

4. New England vs. Atlanta - Top seeds

5. Saints vs. Jets - Defending champs vs Rex Ryan