William Bishop Sports  

Defenses don't get any credit usually because they do not have the ball ever unless on a turnover. It seems that a whole team is centered around its quarterback. Once again, unless you're the Chicago Bears or Baltimore Ravens. The quarterback has the ball was frequently for the offense and defense over the span of the game. Usually that's why all the credit for winning or losing is given to the quarterback.

This started a couple years ago when Tom Brady was without a couple of his starting line men. He was also throwing to receivers that had hardly ever even played to snap or caught a ball. (Besides Deion branch and Troy Brown) by this time Troy Brown was already washed up though, besides defense.

The offense continued to do OK but it wasn't like anything it was before. He didn't have a lot of time to get off his passes because the defense of line men were able to get to him right away. His receivers weren't smart enough to come back to the quarterback when the play was broken. So what happens is pretty much a massacre on the field. Interceptions, fumbles, dropped passes, and losing games.

We are saying the exact same thing with Peyton Manning and Indianapolis Colts. He has few line may go down and he's without good receivers. So what happens with the team? A massacre. He throws six interceptions against a average Chargers team. (Average ever since Norm Turner came into town and stop playing Marty ball) fumbles are starting to happen all over the field and mostly because the line doesn't hold up against a defense. Receivers don't come back to the quarterback on a broken play which causes sacks and interceptions. They were lucky enough to play the Chiefs who doesn't have a good offense of play and their playbook even if it would save their life.

We all know that the Patriots and the Colts are the best two teams on the field when they have all their All-Stars. It isn't because the quarterback is so godly good. Peyton Manning is starting to get beat up like he did his first two years in the league. Tom Brady had the same problems also.

But like always, the quarterback gets the credit for the good times and bad times. While it's time to start giving credit to all the other players that play on the field. Offense of line men don't get enough credit for allowing the quarterbacks to have enough time to pick a target on a passing play. A bad offensive line equals a bad quarterback rating and losses. A good offense of line also makes a good running back. Look at the system at Denver, they are practically good with every running back they bring in. Now that they are getting older and not as good the running backs aren't as successful.

Wide receivers also do not get enough credit for what they do. As soon as Marvin Harrison went down with the injury Peyton Manning has had a hard time progressing downfield. Tom Brady had the same problems when he didn't have David Givens, Randy Moss, and others. Wide receivers can extremely make a team.

Defenses can also help the offense. If the defense is good like the Colts and the Patriots, it gives the offense many more opportunities on the field. They get more downs which in turn gives them more opportunities to score. We all know if the Colts defense would have played the postseason last year as they were playing in the regular season they probably wouldn't have won the Super Bowl. But they got better in the postseason and gave Peyton Manning and his offense more opportunities to score.