Man, there are some great quarterbacks left in the NFL playoffs. We have three Super Bowl champions, six Super Bowl appearances and a lot of playoff experience. We also have some of the greatest storylines amongst these guys that you can choke on.
1-PEYTON MANNING, COLTS: Manning is the NFL's lone four-time MVP. He is virtually the quarterback and offensive coordinator in one swoop. No one has more command of his offense than Peyton. Storyline? Manning hasn't been the best postseason quarterback. Will this be another year where Indy comes up short?
2-DREW BREES, SAINTS: Brees is a freak. Deemed too small to be a franchise quarterback, Brees nearly set the passing yards record last year and set the completion percentage mark this year. Despite numerous injuries in the Saints' offense, Brees kept this offense rolling. Storyline? Well, there is bringing New Orleans to the Super Bowl and not the other way around. There is also a possible clash with the Chargers and Philip Rivers in the Bowl. Remember that San Diego dropped Brees for Rivers a few years ago.
3-PHILIP RIVERS, CHARGERS: If Rivers was on the east coast, we'd all be crowning him as one of the greatest QBs. Rivers' problem is that Brees' insane passing stats get in the way, Peyton's MVPs get in the way and the fact that the guy that San Diego dealt away for him (Eli Manning) plays in New York and has won a Super Bowl. Storyline? Well, this is the first time the Chargers have been one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Oh, and there's that Brees game that could be huge.
4-BRETT FAVRE, VIKINGS: Favre owns tons of records, never takes a game off and at 70 years old still flies around the stadium. Storyline? Well, this is why he came back. This is why the Vikings waited all offseason for him. Minnesota went all in and now you're at the big table. You gotta cash in.
5-KURT WARNER, CARDINALS: Warner has three of the top passing yard games in Super Bowl history as well as the all-time passing yardage leader in the big game. He's the rare guy that has led two franchises to the Super Bowl. Storyline? The cat's out of the bag that Warner will retire after the playoffs. He's a nice guy with a great story and people root for him to succeed. Plus, we wouldn't mind seeing that arm in another Super Bowl.
6-TONY ROMO, COWBOYS: He's finally won a playoff game so, technically, everything beyond this is cheesecake. Storyline? Well, Dallas is the league's glamour team and if Romo could get them back in the Super Bowl would add to his aura.
7-JOE FLACCO, RAVENS: How is this? Two seasons, two playoff appearances. A win over the Colts and that would be two AFC Championship games. Granted, the defense and three-headed running attack are the calling cards for the Ravens but Flacco will be asked to do a little more if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. Storyline? Flacco is the least known of these QBs ... and that may work out best for him.
8-MARK SANCHEZ, JETS: Sanchez was far exceeded any expectations. Just getting to the playoffs was a remarkable achievement. Winning a game was even better. For the Jets (who seem to be crashing the party), all this just represents a bright future. Storyline? One good thing about Sanchez is that New York really doesn't rely on him to win games. They have the best defense and the best rushing offense. That is how they got into the playoffs and that's how they beat Cincinnati. But there is a little Broadway Joe in Sanchez and his legend will grow the longer the Jets stick around.
1-PEYTON MANNING, COLTS: Manning is the NFL's lone four-time MVP. He is virtually the quarterback and offensive coordinator in one swoop. No one has more command of his offense than Peyton. Storyline? Manning hasn't been the best postseason quarterback. Will this be another year where Indy comes up short?
2-DREW BREES, SAINTS: Brees is a freak. Deemed too small to be a franchise quarterback, Brees nearly set the passing yards record last year and set the completion percentage mark this year. Despite numerous injuries in the Saints' offense, Brees kept this offense rolling. Storyline? Well, there is bringing New Orleans to the Super Bowl and not the other way around. There is also a possible clash with the Chargers and Philip Rivers in the Bowl. Remember that San Diego dropped Brees for Rivers a few years ago.
3-PHILIP RIVERS, CHARGERS: If Rivers was on the east coast, we'd all be crowning him as one of the greatest QBs. Rivers' problem is that Brees' insane passing stats get in the way, Peyton's MVPs get in the way and the fact that the guy that San Diego dealt away for him (Eli Manning) plays in New York and has won a Super Bowl. Storyline? Well, this is the first time the Chargers have been one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Oh, and there's that Brees game that could be huge.
4-BRETT FAVRE, VIKINGS: Favre owns tons of records, never takes a game off and at 70 years old still flies around the stadium. Storyline? Well, this is why he came back. This is why the Vikings waited all offseason for him. Minnesota went all in and now you're at the big table. You gotta cash in.
5-KURT WARNER, CARDINALS: Warner has three of the top passing yard games in Super Bowl history as well as the all-time passing yardage leader in the big game. He's the rare guy that has led two franchises to the Super Bowl. Storyline? The cat's out of the bag that Warner will retire after the playoffs. He's a nice guy with a great story and people root for him to succeed. Plus, we wouldn't mind seeing that arm in another Super Bowl.
6-TONY ROMO, COWBOYS: He's finally won a playoff game so, technically, everything beyond this is cheesecake. Storyline? Well, Dallas is the league's glamour team and if Romo could get them back in the Super Bowl would add to his aura.
7-JOE FLACCO, RAVENS: How is this? Two seasons, two playoff appearances. A win over the Colts and that would be two AFC Championship games. Granted, the defense and three-headed running attack are the calling cards for the Ravens but Flacco will be asked to do a little more if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. Storyline? Flacco is the least known of these QBs ... and that may work out best for him.
8-MARK SANCHEZ, JETS: Sanchez was far exceeded any expectations. Just getting to the playoffs was a remarkable achievement. Winning a game was even better. For the Jets (who seem to be crashing the party), all this just represents a bright future. Storyline? One good thing about Sanchez is that New York really doesn't rely on him to win games. They have the best defense and the best rushing offense. That is how they got into the playoffs and that's how they beat Cincinnati. But there is a little Broadway Joe in Sanchez and his legend will grow the longer the Jets stick around.
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