Of QBs and Big Calls

As I mention in today's column, the NFL isn't as unpredictable as it pretends to be.

The Final Eight teams all feature franchise quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Tony Romo and Andrew Luck remain alive in the tournament. Five have won Super Bowls. Two of the remaining three were overall first picks. Romo, as an undrafted free agent who has not made it to a Super Bowl, is the outlier, and he is one of the most productive NFL quarterbacks of the last 10 years.

Romo also led the NFL in passer rating this season.

--------------------------

The complaining about the picked-up flag in Dallas is over the top.

The teams ran 125 plays in the game. There were 14 accepted penalties. The Lions allowed a fourth-and-6 conversion, had a 10-yard punt in the fourth quarter, and scored just 20 points against a weak defense with a high-priced offensive attack.

They also fumbled twice on the last drive.

As for a conspiracy headed by the NFL to advance the Cowboys in the playoffs, there are two counter-arguments:

1. If the NFL wanted Dallas to advance, the Cowboys might have won more than two playoff games in the last 15 years.

2. The NFL overturned the suspension of Ndomukong Suh, allowing him to play against the Dallas. Suh's presence could have made the difference for Detroit, if his team had played well enough.

--------------------------

My next live podcast at SouhanUnfiltered.com will be Wednesday night at 5 p.m. at Kieran's, across from Target Center. Twins GM Terry Ryan will be my guest. The podcast will stream live or be available later at the website.