Rodgers-Elway debate

[Crazy Packers Fan]

This whole Aaron Rodgers vs. John Elway debate broke out on social media thanks to talking heads on ESPN making it a thing. All the Packers fans are posting raw stats, while Elway fans point to the 5 Super Bowl appearances.

I'm on the Elway side. You can't compare eras with stats. Elway was unlike any other quarterback of his era. You could say he was 20 years too soon. Not just a winner. Not just a strong arm. Not just a great scrambler. Not just a fantastic leader. He was everything. And while he broke my heart in January 1998, I appreciate greatness, even when it comes at the expense of the Packers.

Anyone have any strong opinions on this subject?

[ChrisBabcock]

I have an ongoing top 100 QBs of all time list that I update at the end of each season. I just went and checked where I had these guys since each side in the debate has valid argument.
Current ranking...
#10. Elway
#11. Rodgers

[SeahawkFever]

This whole Aaron Rodgers vs. John Elway debate broke out on social media thanks to talking heads on ESPN making it a thing. All the Packers fans are posting raw stats, while Elway fans point to the 5 Super Bowl appearances.

I'm on the Elway side. You can't compare eras with stats. Elway was unlike any other quarterback of his era. You could say he was 20 years too soon. Not just a winner. Not just a strong arm. Not just a great scrambler. Not just a fantastic leader. He was everything. And while he broke my heart in January 1998, I appreciate greatness, even when it comes at the expense of the Packers.

Anyone have any strong opinions on this subject?

I wouldn’t call this a strong opinion, but I would say that if you are arguing Rodgers for stats, and Elway for rings and number of deeper playoff runs, both have their faults.

First off the stats:
If you are going to use raw stats, you have to acknowledge the context of the eras that they were put up in, as well as the teams.

I’m not sure about the years Wade Phillips was his coach, or Mike Shanahan later, but I’ve heard that the Broncos in the 80’s when Dan Reeves was head coach ran the ball a lot.

Also even when he was asked to throw, Elway played in the 80’s and 90’s, and unlike Aaron Rodgers, illegal contact was not strictly enforced for him, and the quarterback safety rules that were implemented after 2008 wouldn’t have been a thing.

As for the Elway side of this argument citing that he made more Super Bowls, and won two:

He did, and credit him for doing so, but regardless of what you think of the whole NFC and AFC of the 80’s-90’s, I think it could perhaps be argued that the NFC of the late 2000’s to early 2020’s (which is the bulk of Rodgers’s prime) was a better conference than the AFC of the 80’s and 90’s.

Elway made five Super Bowls, but he only made one more conference championship game than Rodgers did (1991 being the one he lost)

I might favor Elway in that comparison, but both are consensus Hall of Fame quarterbacks at the end of the day.

[Brian wolf]

Rodgers benefitted from rules changes from 2013 onward, that protected passers. Elway never had that benefit.

[pgconboy]

Acknowledging that Rodgers in aggregate generally benefited from various aspects (team, coaches, rules) compared to Elway, I would still pick Rodgers. Not that anyone here has, but I don't see how that could be interpreted as a slight, despite how annoying ESPN commentators can be.

[JuggernautJ]

All the stats are (arguably) era specific except possibly the AP MVPs which are heavily in Rodgers favor, 4:1 and Super Bowl Championships in which Elway holds a slight edge 2:1. Elway also has a large lead in Super Bowl appearances, 5:1.

But, on heart alone, I'll take Elway all day long.
He's who I'd rather play with. He's who I'd rather coach. He's who I'd rather block for. He's who I'd rather follow.

(And then there's that whole Stanford vs. Cal thing...)

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... waJo00.htm

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... dgAa00.htm

[CSKreager]

When Denver made 3 SB’s in 4 years, at no point did they have a top 3 roster in the AFC…. Yet they made it because of Elway

[7DnBrnc53]

When Denver made 3 SB’s in 4 years, at no point did they have a top 3 roster in the AFC…. Yet they made it because of Elway

Elway didn't have top-3 AFC Rosters until after Dan Reeves left. Reeves should have been fired after the 1990 season, when the Broncos finished 5-11.

[SeahawkFever]

When Denver made 3 SB’s in 4 years, at no point did they have a top 3 roster in the AFC…. Yet they made it because of Elway

Elway didn't have top-3 AFC Rosters until after Dan Reeves left. Reeves should have been fired after the 1990 season, when the Broncos finished 5-11.

I presume Cleveland and Cincinnati would be two of the rosters, who else would you take over Denver’s roster in the 80’s?

I’ve heard they had a good defense (and I do see I believe three top five finishes there, and at least two other top tens), but didn’t give Elway much to work with on offense. (at least at the other skill positions)

[CSKreager]

When Denver made 3 SB’s in 4 years, at no point did they have a top 3 roster in the AFC…. Yet they made it because of Elway

Elway didn't have top-3 AFC Rosters until after Dan Reeves left. Reeves should have been fired after the 1990 season, when the Broncos finished 5-11.

I presume Cleveland and Cincinnati would be two of the rosters, who else would you take over Denver’s roster in the 80’s?

I’ve heard they had a good defense (and I do see I believe three top five finishes there, and at least two other top tens), but didn’t give Elway much to work with on offense. (at least at the other skill positions)

Houston