Patriotic pontification

I'm looking back on a crazy weekend of playoff football games, and I just can't help but kick myself.

Of course I was wrong about the Giants having a glimmer of hope in the NFC playoffs! That should have been painfully obvious to me, even before the opening kickoff of Week 1. Yes, the Giants were among the best teams in all of football throughout 2005. And yes, Eli Manning melted down completely as soon as he caught a whiff of postseason play, and the team's offense proceeded to fall apart at the seams. But no, this was not at all unexpected... or at least, it shouldn't have been.

I could just explain my point by simply stating "well... he's a Manning," but no, I think it would be nobler of me to go a bit further than that. Eli is part of much more than a Manning family tradition of never accomplishing anything in January. He's part of a growing trend in playoff football. It's the simple fact that an inexperienced quarterback just can't cut it in a big game.

Look at the four losing teams from this past weekend. They were led by Eli (a measly 113 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions), Byron Leftwich (a relatively impressive 179 yards, no TDs, and one pick), Chris Simms (198 yards, two INTs, and yes, you guessed it, no touchdowns), and Carson Palmer (who threw just one pass before tearing his ACL). None of the four were above the age of 26, and none of them had a lick of postseason experience. And now, all four will be watching Super Bowl XL from the comfort of their own homes.

This is a growing trend, yes, but it's by no means a brand new one. Just look at Drew Brees last year, or one of several guys in the 2004 playoffs (do the names Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck, or Quincy Carter ring a bell?). We can go even further back than that if you'd like. It took Peyton Manning six years to win his first playoff game (he's still just 3-5 in postseason play, but like I said, he's a Manning). Even legends like Marino and Elway couldn't win in the playoffs on their first tries.

The point I'm trying to make here is twofold. First, I'm saying that even exceptional quarterbacks (as Eli, Simms, and Leftwich all have the potential to be, and Palmer already is) are only human. It takes time for them to develop the temperament needed to win the big games. No one should have expected the Bucs, Jags, Bengals, or... sigh... Giants to go deep in this year's playoffs, but at the same time, no one should count them out a couple of years down the road.

And second, I'm saying...

Tom Brady is not "only human." Tom Brady is the exception to the rule. If there is anyone in all of pro sports who should be considered superhuman, it's him. Not only did he win his first playoff game, but he won his next nine to boot. He's the only quarterback in NFL history to win his first ten playoff games, and he shows no signs of slowing. Quite simply, the game has never seen anyone this good at performing under pressure. It probably hasn't seen anyone even close.

Yes, I'm sticking with the Pats as the favorites to win another title. I'd have to be crazy not to.