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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6722758


Quarterbacks must endure ups and downs

By Boomer Esiason
Special to NFL.com


(Oct. 15, 2003) -- Playing quarterback in the NFL can fluctuate from week to week. One week you are flying high, the next you are lying low. The mental and physical aspects of the game can change as you play one week with great confidence and execution and the next week with uncertainty and inaccuracy. As we watched Week 6 unfold, we again saw prime examples of the volatility at the quarterback position. Some quarterbacks play well. Some quarterbacks play poorly. All quarterbacks feel the pressure.


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What can be said about the Tennessee Titans' Steve McNair that hasn't already been said? How about "NFL MVP?" McNair has fully grasped the position of quarterback and has gained the appreciation of his teammates. He continues to rack up staggering numbers, leads by example while playing with injury and calmly delivers the football under duress from the pocket. "Air McNair" is finally in full force in the NFL.

In previous years, this quarterback had largely gone unnoticed because the Titans were known outside of Nashville as Eddie George's team. McNair's statistics haven't been as flashy as those of Oakland's Rich Gannon, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning or Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe, so his value outside of the Titans' locker room has always been diminished. Head coach Jeff Fisher and McNair's fellow teammates will tell you that he has been the heart and soul of the Titans' franchise since he arrived in Nashville.

All of us who regularly watch the NFL continually talk about McNair's ability to play with injury and are amazed by his productivity under those circumstances. But now his numbers are starting to speak for themselves and McNair's flare for the dramatic and near-perfect performances are starting to garner a great deal of attention around the league.

His humble and easy-going attitude off the field sometimes works against his popularity across the country. No Chunky Soup commercials for this guy. Instead, consider him the NFL's Mr. Football. McNair, an appreciative example of leadership, productivity and focus, now has a new campaign manager in me.

Supporting cast counts
McNair had one of the best games statistically for NFL quarterbacks in Week 6. Some not-so-well-known quarterbacks also won their games this week but without achieving McNair-like numbers.


While other quarterbacks have struggled, Steve McNair is having an MVP-type season.
Speaking of those performances… from the NFL's "Who's He?" quarterback category, here are guys flying high after Sunday victories:

Carolina's Jake Delhomme, Miami's Jay Fiedler and Dallas' Quincy Carter won their respective games while they only completed a combined 40 passes and one touchdown. A quarterback can certainly make a difference in a game and most often times he does, but when the supporting cast around him is functioning well, a quarterback's performance can lead to victories without him putting up stellar statistics.

From the NFL's Well-Known quarterback category, here are guys lying low after Sunday's losses:

Bledsoe, Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb and Gannon all lost on Sunday. Each of these quarterbacks is frustrated and is being hampered not only by that frustration, but also by the lack of support that the above-mentioned quarterbacks have been enjoying. These three quarterbacks have struggled since the beginning of the season. These setbacks are not one-game blips on the radar screen. The respective offenses that they lead are in deep trouble. Going into Week 6, none of these teams' overall offenses were in the top 20 of the NFL. As a matter of fact, Buffalo and Philadelphia possess two of the worst running games in the league. Symptoms include poor offensive line play, injuries, age and lack of execution in the most important situations during games -- fourth quarter and third down.

Opponents have no fear when facing these three quarterbacks right now. All three offenses have been smothered, kicked around and overwhelmed. In order for Bledsoe, McNabb and Gannon to regain their form, breakout games must happen quickly as their seasons are beginning to slip away -- especially in Oakland as the Raiders are looking up to both Kansas City and Denver in their division.

Sleepless Nights
1. Drew Bledsoe, Bills: Seven sacks. Enough said.

2. Kerry Collins, Giants: Four interceptions. Enough said.

3. Ahman Green, Packers: One fumble can ruin an entire performance.

4. Bill Callahan, Raiders: From a Super Bowl team to a team that looks lost--staring up at Kansas City and Denver in the division standings.

5. Steve Spurrier, Redskins: Back-to-back losses put fast start into perspective.