He only wins because of his defense

Ben Roethlisberger.

Run the ball. Create turnovers. A big play or two on special teams helps. So does having a quarterback who knows what he’s doing when the games dwindle to a precious few.

It’s a formula the defending AFC champions have used for years. It has rarely looked as effective as it did in a 35-7 win Sunday.

Or what about Joe Flacco. (stats as of fourth Quarter with Ravens leading Browns 17-3.

Baltimore Ravens Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int Rating Joe Flacco 10 23 158 43.5 6.9 1 0 0 0 66.9

or Mark Sanchise.

Sanchez completed 19 of 32 passes for only 165 yards, but avoided throwing an interception after having at least one in five straight games. He also didn’t get sacked for the second straight week.

Greene ran for three touchdowns and finished with 88 yards on 22 carries. He again carried the load despite the return of LaDainian Tomlinson, who had missed the two previous games with an ailing left knee. Tomlinson appeared to reinjure the knee in the first quarter but later came back into the game.

Matt Hasselbach

Tennessee Titans	Comp	Att	Yds	Pct	Y/A	Sack	YdsL	TD	Int	Rating
Matt Hasselbeck	16	25	140	64.0	5.6	1	10	0	0	78.8

Yeah, sure wish we had a pocket passer like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton or Matt Moore. Imagine what they could do with a good defense like ours (though to be fair, Moore does have a pretty good defense).

Now, this is not to say I wouldn't mind a Brady or Brees or Aaron Rodgers if they were our starting QB. Just that I see a player who is improving game by game after only 10 starts, no off season, and a coaching change. A second year QB who has been under pressure from day one, who has been criticized by his front office and coach (thought I forgot that "He'd be screwed" comment, did you Foxy?) and yet has led us to -- how many fourth quarter comebacks in those ten games? Is it six now? And seven second half comebacks if you count the Raiders Game where they trailed at the half 17-7.

Now far be it from me to give all the credit to one man for winning those games. Does the defense help him? Sure, just not like they helped Kyle Orton. Does the offensive lineman and running backs help him? Yes, but again, a lot more since Orton was benched and he became the starter. Does the special Teams help him? You betcha. Does having an all world defender like Von Miller help him? No question. But don't those other teams help their QB's win also? How many Superbowls would Brady or Roethlisberger or Brees or Manning (either one) have won without a little help from their friends? Yet they put up numbers like Tebow and my how amazingly poised and inspiring leaders they are! When they make a comeback, how great they must be?

Just saying, I think we have our Franchise Quarterback on our roster, if there was any doubt.

By the way, how is Phillip Rivers doing now that he doesn't have a great defense or a great O-Line? Just asking ...