New York Giants Prove It Takes More Than Just A QB

irYou hear it all the time that all you need in the NFL is a top-tier quarterback to win championships. And when you consider that modern Super Bowl winners have had quarterbacks with the last names like Brady, Manning, Roethlisberger, Brees, Flacco and Rodgers, this is a compelling case. But the New York Giants are proof that it takes more than just a good quarterback.

Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Eagles defeated the Giants 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants have won two Super Bowls with Eli Manning under center. He is a proven franchise quarterback that you can win with. That being said the Giants have missed the NFL Playoffs three seasons in a row. The Giants haven’t been contending for championships for these past three seasons yet they have a championship caliber quarterback.

The franchise quarterback is an ingredient of a winning team. In fact it is probably the most important ingredient. Without a quarterback that makes the plays that change football games your team will only go so far. A great quarterback can turn a good team into an unstoppable team.

But a bad team with a great quarterback is still a bad team. The Giants had the 29th ranked defense in 2014, an inconsistent and sometimes nonexistent running game and poor offensive line play. There was no amount of yards that Manning could throw for that would make up for what the Giants lacked.

At the end of the day winning is a team statistic and so is losing. John Elway, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are three of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and they only have 4 Super Bowl rings amongst them. Dan Marino was a legend and he is ring-less.

Feb 3, 2008; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates with wide receiver David Tyree (85) after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Yes, a franchise quarterback gives you a chance to win but it doesn’t promise anything. When the Giants won their two Super Bowls with Eli Manning, Manning was far from the only reason for the Giants’ glory. The defensive line, good receiving play and a solid offensive line had a lot to do with it too. So did David Tyree’s miraculous helmet.

Great quarterbacks fall short of the Super Bowl all the time, not even having a great overall team guarantees a crown in the NFL. The 2007 New England Patriots were as good as any team that I have ever seen as evidenced by them making it to the Super Bowl with an 18-0 record. That team fell to the Patriots.

In more ways than one, the Giants are proof that it takes more than just a great quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy.

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