Summary

The article discusses the importance of quarterback talent and belief in the NFL, highlighting the diverse styles of successful quarterbacks and the psychological edge that separates the great from the good.

Abstract

The NFL's current quarterback landscape is rich and varied, with athletes like Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray showcasing agility and elusiveness, while others like Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford excel in traditional drop-back roles. The article emphasizes that a team's success hinges significantly on the quarterback's ability to process information quickly and make smart decisions under pressure. It also suggests that a quarterback's belief in their ability to perform in clutch moments is a crucial intangible that can lead to remarkable comebacks and overcoming historical playoff droughts, as seen with the Cincinnati Bengals' recent success. The contrast between the confident demeanor of players like Joe Burrow and the doubtful body language of predecessors like Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis is presented as a key factor in the mental game that can determine the outcome of critical matches.

Opinions

Great quarterbacking in the NFL is not one-size-fits-all; it encompasses a range of styles and abilities.
The talent gap among NFL players is not vast; the differentiator often lies in the cognitive aspects such as IQ and processing speed, particularly for quarterbacks.
Belief in oneself is a pivotal intangible asset for elite quarterbacks, enabling them to execute under high-pressure situations.
The Cincinnati Bengals' unexpected success is attributed to the team's and coaching staff's belief in their capabilities, overcoming a long playoff drought.
The article implies that the body language and eyes of players like Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis conveyed doubt and nervousness, which may have contributed to their lack of success in primetime and playoff games.
The psychological edge provided by belief is seen as more impactful than doubt, both in the NFL and in life in general.

Quarterbacking in The NFL is All About The Eyes

Here’s what makes the great ones

The beauty of the quarterback situation in the NFL right now — and, let’s face it, you can talk ad nauseum about coaching, scheming, home-field advantage, defense, etc. but if you don’t have a quarterback you’re sunk — is that great quarterbacking comes in all flavors.

Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray are like human jackknives, shimmying their way through defenders grasping at air.

Josh Allen had the game of his life against the Chiefs, and at times looked like he was playing a game of tag, backing up, darting left and right, until finally finding an open receiver. His two-point conversion to put the Bills ahead 29–26 against the Chiefs might have been the best ever.

Then you have the classic drop-back guys — Brady, Stafford, Burrow. Hybrids like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. I don’t know how to even classify guys like Mahomes — great at both. Pretty much unstoppable.

The talent gap in the NFL isn’t necessarily huge. Mostly it comes down to IQs and processing speeds, especially with quarterbacks.

They are given huge amounts of data that they have to process through in a matter of seconds — where’s the blitz coming from, who is dropping back in coverage, what protection do I need to call.

That’s what separates good from great. The ability to process all of that and still make great decisions.

The most important intangible that needs to be pointed out about the great ones? Belief.

Pure and simple. Do you believe that you can go out there and deliver a dime right in the breadbasket of Jamar Chase when you need to like Burrow did Saturday night? Or when you’re down 28–3 in the third quarter like the Patriots were to the Falcons in Super Bowl LI? Brady came back and won that game.

The shock of the year is the Cincinnati Bengals. They were supposed to be in a re-build and now they’re one game away from the Super Bowl.

Yes, they have insane talent at the offensive skill positions. It’s the belief that creates the separation.

Joe Burrow believes in Joe Burrow. Zac Taylor believes in Zac Taylor. They have shaken off the most absurd playoff drought in sports -30+ years — in two weeks.

I could look in the eyes and notice the body language of Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton in primetime games, regular and post-season. Doubtful. Nervous. And the numbers prove it: Dalton is 6–19 in non-day games including his stint with Dallas (1 pm) and 0–5 in the playoffs with Cincinnati. Marvin Lewis was even worse, 8–31 in 15 years, including 0–7 in the playoffs.

Andy Dalton was good but he didn’t have the belief these other guys do. Look in his eyes, then look in Brady’s eyes. Game over. I don’t know why some guys believe and others don’t.

Belief is a powerful thing. It will propel you to places that doubt cannot. Doubt just doesn’t work in life or the NFL.

Here’s what would be really crazy: San Francisco and Cincinnati could meet for the third time in a Super Bowl.

Could you believe that?