If what follows sounds like a scolding, be advised I’m also scolding myself. Because I do it, too. In unguarded moments, I resort to the ESPN-fueled shorthand of judging quarterbacks by Super Bowl “wins.”
Matthew Stafford has “won” as many Super Bowls as Aaron Rodgers/Drew Brees/Russell Wilson. Stafford has “won” one more Super Bowl than Matt Ryan/Philip Rivers. Ergo, Stafford belongs among the upper crust of 21st century quarterbacks, even though it took him 13 seasons and a change of employers just to “win” a playoff game.
If not for Aaron Donald and Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, Stafford wouldn’t have “won” anything Sunday. The quote marks around “win” and “won” should give us – again, I’m including myself – pause, but it’s so convenient to speak in terms of a quarterback’s “wins” that we fail to grasp the obvious.
