TheFunPolice

That's a good point, and I was thinking about Lamar as well here... Speaking for myself, it's a matter of comparing a career that we know the entirety of vs a career in year #7. All of that goes into the equation and makes it tough. In Year #7 with the Bills Kelly led them to their 3rd consecutive Super Bowl. Kelly's 4 SB appearances (which also came with a lot of post season wins) is the biggest difference. Lamar is amazing, but he hasn't had a lot of post season success (yet). He might. Maybe he wins it all this year, which changes things. Or maybe he (really his team) goes out in the 1st round. This is what makes hypothetical rankings between eras so tough, especially when one guy is still playing. I remember when Cam Newton looked superhuman and unstoppable. Then all of a sudden he had 1 too many injuries and he was a guy in his late 20's who looked 50 out there and couldn't play anymore. In a way, it's a question of which Jim Kelly? The young Jim Kelly who put up gaudy stats in college and USFL and then the pros but hadn't proven himself yet? Or the Jim Kelly that led a seemingly unstoppable offense to several SB appearances in a row? Because if it's the former then yeah, he's probably top 5-7. If you're going with the Jim Kelly who leads a top offense and just played in several Super Bowls in a row then he's top 3 IMO, ahead of Burrow and Lamar. To that point, why do people still rank Mahomes #1? Rings. Ok his stats are mediocre at best this season and last, but he wins when he has to. Kelly doesn't have the rings but he did win a lot of huge games to get to multiple Super Bowls. So that would absolutely factor in. After all, 99% of Burrow being "a big game QB and a winner" comes from winning vs KC in the playoffs and his 1 SB loss.

Montana is another one who would play to 45 if his entire career was under today's rules. You go back and watch old film from the 80's and 90's and it looks like a different game. guys would be suspended for weeks for what were routine defensive plays.

#3 behind Allen and Mahomes Toughness, leadership, grit, and the ability to put up big #'s Plus not getting assaulted on every play by DL 5 seconds after the throw would help with injuries. Can't put Burrow ahead of him, because Burrow is always injured in today's game. If he played in the 90's he wouldn't last 2 games. Guys like Kelly and Marino would play to 45 under today's rules.

SF if they don't sign Rodgers. Given Rodgers much better play lately and stated desire to stay on the Jets it's more likely than it was that he remains there. Can't see SF paying Purdy. Poor guy had his moment but it came too early in the contract cycle.

Achilles takes time, and for Cousins it's just over a year now since his injury. Rodgers is just starting to get back to form. In his last 2 games he's thrown for 628 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT. Rodgers also got hurt much earlier than Cousins, and he had a different surgery that speeds up recovery, whereas Cousins went the traditional repair route. I think next season Cousins will be back more to normal. Atlanta is going the Green Bay route and trying to rebuild while winning. It only gets you so far, assuming it works at all. Now, what if Penix struggles and looks bad? Do you pull him and switch back? Hopefully for them Penix does well and it's not an issue, but then you have this guaranteed contract with Cousins.

They aren't even on my radar anymore. And I can legitimately say that during their run I hated them more than I loved the Bills. A big part of that of course was the 15+ year playoff drought and all the terrible football we watched. It was hard to get too worked up about Mularkey, Williams and Jauron teams when the games were so meaningless. I used to be a little ashamed at letting a sport, a game, get me that worked up. But now I realize that level of hatred was special, and should be cherished. It's what makes sports exciting to watch. In any epic clash you need the heel. And they were central casting, Avengers: Endgame level heels: totally unlikeable to anyone but their own fans. And unlike the "anti hero" trend in entertainment, NE didn't become fan favorites for being heels. Those Patriots Super Bowls felt existential... It felt like something enormous was at stake in a way that Pittsburgh vs Green Bay or Pittsburgh vs Seattle or Baltimore vs the Giants could never live up to. Those other Super Bowls might as well have been September SNF games. Big, but not really Super Bowls. The Falcons/Patriots Super Bowl was legitimately the worst night I've ever had as a sports fan, and that includes Norwood's kick in the Bills/Giants game. At least in the Bills SB we were rooting for our team on the biggest stage. Rooting only against another team is a lot less fun, especially when they win in historic fashion. But now? There's a void for me. Nobody has truly risen to that level. I get the Chiefs haters, but now I'm the guy who used to say about Brady and the Patriots "Golly, I just can't hate them, they're just so great!" Lamar? how can anyone hate Lamar and the Ravens? Lamar is incredible, and seems like a great guy. Plus we usually win against that team anyway. Burrow and the Bengals are pretty unlikeable, I will say that. But it's more because they seem to play us tougher than almost anyone else. Dolphins? they're a comedy act with their HC looking confused and sounding stoned every time he speaks, plus they always fold and we almost always beat them. I actually kind of like McDaniel, because seeing him speak it's incomprehensible that he's an NFL head coach, or even works anywhere in athletics. The guy cracks me up, and something about him is endearing. Losing to us all the time also helps!

It's like Flair's quote "To be the man, you have to BEAT the man! " It's the game America wants and needs! Mahomes. Allen. With a trip to the SB on the line! Last time it happened Allen wasn't quite the same star he is now. Now he's every bit as big as Mahomes in terms of stardom. It's what you want as a sports fan: the biggest names in the biggest games. Does anyone really want to see an AFC Title Game of Ravens/Broncos? or Chargers/Steelers? It's like the Brady/Manning days: do you want Brady vs Manning in the AFC Title Game or Brady vs Bortles. No, we want QB1 and QB1A (in whatever order) under the lights for a shot at a ring! It's what makes the playoffs more special than games in October.

Yeah? Well we've won more games without him than with him!

Rams in the playoff spot with GB win tonight. Seattle out for now. This is why % chance to make it doesn't mean much until the last couple weeks. Rams control their own destiny as well going forward. 2 games ago it was a long shot

Game over!

Detroit is right where we were last week

Looked like a much bigger hit live I thought the same thing

Hell of a catch by Knox!

Good news for Allen's stats is we need to keep playing

Goff with 4TD and almost 400 yards passing with no INT but trailing by 17 That's how good Allen is

This onside kick is a dumb call

Come on D! At least make them burn clock

Good news on Bishop

That's what I'm thinking! Rams if they get in could beat anyone in this field. Bucs are sneaky too... They are so up and down

Detroit is a great team but imo the NFC playoff race is wide open

Nice redemption for Bass!

Josh takes a shot every time he does that sideline move but it's a hell of a move

What's up with Branch's mouth guard sticking out of his helmet?!

Great effort so far!

Why not at least try it?