ClutchPoints
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has played like a guy who has already bagged a Lombardi Trophy. The rest of the field is a lot younger, including Caleb Williams. But if Stafford doesn’t win this year’s Super Bowl, one quarterback’s career will change forever.
The 37-year-old Stafford still has a great shot. If the Rams beat the Bears on the road in the Divisional Round, you have to give them a strong chance to knock off the 49ers or Seahawks. And if Stafford gets to the Super Bowl again, it’s hard not to see him leading his team to the title.
But if he doesn’t, man oh man, the opportunity is there. Allen is 29, Sam Darnold is 28, and Brock Purdy is 26. They’ve all been around for a minute, but none of them has broken through the Super Bowl barrier.
The rest of the bunch? Young guns who don’t seem ready. Let’s take a look at how there’s a big chance to chart a new and unchangeable course for everybody but Stafford.
There’s nothing similar about their games, but Marino didn’t win the big one. Marino was great at his position, but simply couldn’t find a path to a title.
Allen has been awesome. The 2024 MVP is a four-time Pro Bowler. But he has been knocking at the door for so long that he looks a little pathetic on the wrong side.
If he gets a title this year, the narrative changes for good. Look at Aaron Rodgers. One title. And yet he’s considered one of the best to ever play quarterback.
Allen could silence all of the doubters, for good.
It’s hard not to look at him that way. He played with the Jets (3 years), Panthers (2 years), 49ers (1 year), Vikings (1 year), and now the Seahawks. Darnold is such a journeyman that it seems almost impossible he could win the Super Bowl.
But he’s in a great position. He may never get to this spot again. It’s now or never to change his NFL perspective.
The good news for Darnold is that he has plenty of help from that Seahawks’ defense. And that defense is the reason he actually has a chance.
He’s different from the other young quarterbacks on this list. He has been to the Super Bowl and played great when he got there. Against the Chiefs, he went 24 of 39 for 272 yards with two touchdowns in an overtime loss.
Unfortunately, the 49ers may not be healthy enough to get Purdy back to the Super Bowl this year. If they do, with a victory, Purdy elevates to a level that will likely stay with him. He’s already 5-2 in the playoffs. A mark of 8-2 would be an other worldly start to his career.
**So who is the best...
