[More Cowbell]

Manning has proven time after time when he faces a high quality defense, he fails. Just watch replays of any Steeler or Patriot games in the playoffs. In a meaningless game in September give me Manning. In the clutch, Super Bowl on the line I would take Brady or Roethlisberger anytime. A top notch QB does not panic and leads the team in big games. Manning has yet to prove that to me. The offensive talent Manning has had around him, they could score 35 points in their sleep. The point that I have been trying to say is, a great QB will find a way to win in the big games. To me, that is what makes the a great QB. Quarterbacks greatness is defined by the postseason. Do think Bradshaw is in the HOF if he only won one or two SB's? I don't think so. His numbers are not HOF quality. When his defense failed in a big game he found a way to make a play.

I have to disagree with this. You can't just look at the postseason to compare quarterbacks and ignore the regular season. Why would you use a small sample size of 2 or 3 games instead of 16? The more games, the more accuarte the assessment.

Also, you can't say a QB isn't great just because they lost a "big game". Too many other factors come into play, a game is not just won or lost simply by how the quarterback did. Look at Dan Marino. He never won a Super Bowl, but he is universally regarded as one of the all-time greats, and rightfully so. Why penalize Marino just because his TEAM wasn't as good as the opponent once he got to the playoffs? For that matter, a QB could even be the best in the league at his position, but may not even make the playoffs because the rest of his team sucks. That still doesn't change the fact that he is the best.

Everyone gives QB's so much credit for team victories. But imagine that Roethlisberger (or Brady or Manning) was the QB for the Lions. If his team only won 2-3 games, would you say that he is no longer an elite QB, even if he's still the same player?

Again, here's how I look at comparing QB's. Imagine that Brady, Manning, Big Ben, and all other NFL QB's were placed in identical situations; receivers of equal talent, similar running games, similar O-line's, equally talented defenses. Which QB would prove himself the best?