I know this probably happens a lot, but we actually have some pretty interesting legacy defining games coming up the next few weeks.

1) Tony Romo. This is it for him. If he leads them to the playoffs, and wins a game or two I think a lot of the doubters of him will go away. He's had a real nice season and is the reason the Cowboys are where they are. He could go a long way to erasing the memory of him fumbling that snap on the extra point, which in reality is a pretty unfair way to judge him.
2) Matt Ryan. He could really use a playoff win to quiet the doubters. His numbers are elite, but his teams don't win in the playoffs they say. I think it changes this year. They look like they'll avoid the Packers/49ers until the title game, and I think they can beat either at home. Everyone thinks they are weak, but with how the playoffs look now, they are my pick to go to the Super Bowl.
3) Jay Cutler. Yeah, I know. However, he has to be included. He's had a really bad season and has regressed. However, this can all be erased with a good performance this weekend and then a good performance(even in a loss) in a road playoff game. Also, it's a lot easier to give him an extension coming off a playoff win, rather than a flameout by the whole team while he continued to be mediocre.
4) RGIII. He'll get more chances going forward, but he can become a household name in the next few weeks. If he can lead the Redskins to the playoffs and get a win he'll be the biggest story in the NFL since Tebowmania, but this time it will be deserved.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I don't disagree with any of that except I already think RGIII is a household name. My mom knows his name. That's my litmus test.

I think the next few weeks will tell us a lot about Kaepernick too, although I wouldn't say any are legacy defining games, but I'm not sure I would I say they are for RGIII either.

Peyton needs at least one playoff win this season too. If he loses in the first game again it'll start getting really tough to say he is/was better than Brady.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

That's fair.
I couldn't decide if Peyton should be on the list. I ultimately decided that someone who already is considered one of the greatest of all time can't really be defined more. If he wins the Super Bowl, his legacy improves greatly, but even if Peyton throws 5 interceptions in the first game he's still one of the greats.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Start getting really tough?

Seriously?

I would take Brady over Goober any day of the week.

_________________

Me too, but as far as I can tell its still debated. There's some smart people who say Manning was better. Iirc IB is one of them.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I'll let him know that he can retire after having defined his legacy in his rookie year.

_________________
"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Poor Romo. I think it's about done for him. I think he'll still be in Dallas next year, but he's basically going to have to win a Super Bowl to shed the label of a guy who just doesn't get it done even though he's the only reason Dallas even had a chance.

Jay Cutler kind of gets an incomplete. He had a decent game in a win to end the season.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That may be the nicest thing you have ever said about him.

Romo's legacy is firmly cemented. He is done.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Gotta disagree, cutlers stats were misleading ...that screen should have been a three yard gain...they got great field position. N did little against a very bad team with nothing to play for.....and nobody that knows even a little about football would take goober over Brady.

_________________

I think Manning was better. The margins are very close either way.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

I think Manning was better.

One of the primary knocks on Manning has been how he has had a ton of weapons. While true, we are seeing in Denver that he basically makes it look like he has weapons with whoever you put in front of him.

If Peyton Manning was on the Bears, he'd probably make Earl Bennett look like he's a lot better than Earl Bennett.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

RGIII: Incomplete.

Matt Ryan: He won a playoff game! That one can go away.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think of it as Seattle gave it away but I guess all that matters in the end is who has the W

_________________
Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

The knock on Ryan has always been that he's never won a game. This helps a lot with that. The Falcons looked to be in big trouble too. The end was a really good job by him.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Crazy how his legacy is "defined" after that game. Timeout not called, and his legacy is the opposite. I'm not arguing that the win didn't change the perception (it did), but a game like that makes me dislike the notion of QBs "winning or losing" a game more and more. QBs still get too much credit/blame, IMO.

You mean the last 30 seconds?


He was horrible in the second half and allowed the comeback to happen.

He won though. The knock was he had never won a playoff game.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

But he was fantastic in the first half and a big reason why a comeback was necessary. I think he played well considering Seattle was a top 3 defense this season. The only terrible throw he made was the Earl Thomas INT.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I think the knock was that like Peyton Manning (to a much lesser degree) he is great in the regulars season and mediocre at best in the playoffs.

Yesterday, he showed up for a half, albeit a very good half

Fair enough, but that great first half was almost a footnote if not for a last second 50 yd field goal. He has to learn to play a complete game if he wants to be considered great.

Regardless of how you split his production, he put 30 points on a team that gave up a little over half of that on average, and on top of that he made three(I think) plays in a row in the last 30 seconds to give their kicker a chance. I don't think it's fair to criticize him after the game he played.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I disagree.


How many drives did they come up with no points after it was 27-7 ?


The greats know how to finish


Like Brady did and Manning Didnt

But Matt Ryan did yesterday. That's why I don't get your point. We're you just gonna criticize him regardless unless he put up 45 points? He wasn't facing the Packers defense out there. That was an elite defense that he put 30 points up against.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

They rushed for over 160 yards too, btw.

_________________

I don't think anyone thinks Matt Ryan is Tom Brady.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

No he didnt.

He got a field goal at the end. A great QB would have put em away earlier.

He was not good in the second half. Its that simple. Yes, Seattle's defense is good. Did they get better from the first to second half? Because he sure got worse

Im not saying there are comparisons being made

I AM saying that to be considered one of the best, he's gonna have to be better in playoffs. Both halves.

Ryan had three drives in the 4th quarter with a chance to put the game out of reach

INT
3 and out PUNT
4 and out PUNT


That's all Im saying.

He beat the Seahawks who everyone loved even that terrible prognosticator Nate Silver.

No one in the entire world for the rest of eternity will be able to say Matt Ryan never won a playoff game.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Matt Ryan's reputation for coming up small in big games isn't absolved forever though. Tony Romo has also won a playoff game and is almost universally regarded as the least clutch QB in the league.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul