Quarterbackery: Round 2, Heat 6
 

Let's look at four teams that have never won a legitimate Super Bowl this round. Two of the teams are scaled up since they've existed for less than 50 years.

Denver Broncos

John Elway - 16
Craig Morton - 5
Peyton Manning - 4
Jake Plummer - 4
Brian Griese - 4
Steve Ramsey - 3
Charley Johnson - 3
Kyle Orton - 2
Jay Cutler - 2
Steve Tensi - 2
Tim Tebow - 1
Steve Deberg - 1
Pete Liske - 1
Marlin Briscoe - 1
Max Choboian - 1

The Broncos produced 15 pro bowls during that period, led by the Baltimore Colts' John Elway, who had 9.

Detroit

Matt Stafford - 6 seasons
Greg Landry - 5
Joey Harrington - 4
Eric Hipple - 4
Gary Danielson - 4
Bill Munson - 4
Charlie Batch - 3
Scott Mitchell - 3
Rodney Peete - 3
Jon Kitna - 2
Shaun Hill -1
Dan Orlovsky - 1
Gus Frerotte - 1
Dave Krieg - 1
Erik Kramer - 1
Bob Gagliano - 1
Rusty Hilger - 1
Chuck Long - 1
Jeff Komlo - 1
Joe Reed - 1
Milt Plum - 1 (Led team for 4 season, but only 1 since 1966)
Karl Sweetan - 1

The Lions produced 2 pro bowls in this period, one by Greg Landry and one by Matt Stafford.

Houston

Matt Schaub - 7 seasons (scales to 25 years of 50)
David Carr - 5 (scales to 18 years)
Bobby Hoyer - 1 (and current starter) (scales to 4 years)*
Ryan Fitzpatrick - 1 ( scales to 4 years)

The Texans have produced 2 pro bowls, both by Schwab (which would scale up to 7 pro bowls in 50 years).

Jacksonville

Mark Brunell - 8 seasons (scales up to 19 years of 50)
David Garrard - 5 (scales up to 12 years)
Bryon Leftwich - 3 (scales up to 7 years)
Blake Bortles - 2 (and current starter) (scales up to 5 years)
Chad Henne - 2 (scales up to 5 years)
Blaine Gabbert - 1 (5 percent of history)

The Jaguars produced 4 pro bowlers, led by Mark Brunell with 3. Their record would scale up to 10 in a 50-year period.

How could you allow Denver such an easy heat?

My thoughts.

First off, I know it's easy to look at the list and pick Denver based on media reputation, but it's actually a very difficult decision between Denver and Jacksonville. Let's take a look.

First, you've got a battle between Elway (16 years), and a scaled up Mark Brunell. The stats clearly point in Brunell's favor. He had a higher career QB rating, much lower interception percentage, and higher touchdown pass percentage. However, it's not quite that straightforward. Brunell was consistently above average by a little bit. In contrast, Elway sucked for 10 years and then put up good numbers for about 6 years once they converted him to a game manager.

Below that, would you rather have a scaled-up Garrard for 12 years, or would you rather have Craig Morton, Peyton Manning, and Jake Plummer for 13? I'd go with the Broncos' group due to Manning.

I'd give a slight nod to the Broncos, and two years of Jay Cutler playing pretty well pushes me to Denver. But it's actually very close.

So Denver first, Jacksonville second, and then ... yuck. But I'd easily take 25 years of Matt Schaub over what the Lions put out there. So Houston third and Detroit is my weakest group.

They're in the bracket with the first-round losers. Because like most big games, Elway's team was a loser in the first round.

As a note, the way this system will work is that I'm giving or taking away points each round. So a team in the first-round winner's bracket can sink low if they keep being the weakest in their heats, and a team in the first-round loser's bracket can climb out of the hole if they do well.

It's the Dick Shiner of heats. I abstain.

Many will cast votes in pain and suffering.

I love this heat!

I still think it's almost a draw between Denver and Jacksonville.

The only differentiation for me on the worst is that Houston has a chance to not follow the Lions pattern while this is the true history of 50 years for Detroit.

"Baltimore Colts' John Elway"
:D

I went with the Donks as the best and the Texans as the worst.

Alphabetical order is a bitch. At first I thought Rain Man was up to no good when he had Denver up against Dallas in the first round.

Hah, Rainman you aren't really trying to sell the Jags in this are you? There are plenty of teams with a better QB history then Denver. No need to resort to the Jags. :)

I'm just doing the math. If not for Manning, I think the Jags are better.

I always have noble intentions, especially when it comes to the Broncos.

ROFL