So what happened to the era of the Quarterback?

The first day of the playoffs are over. The favorites have lost, and two potential future hall of fame quarterbacks have gone home.

Drew Bress did everything he could, but, well, the Seahawks wanted it more. Alot more.

And Payton Manning, he only plays quarterback, you can't blame him for that loss.

They were good close games, at both ends of the spectrum, one high scoring, the other a defensive slug fest. But both games were won because the winning teams had something winning teams always need.

A good running game.

Now, you can't be mad at the Saints, there's no way you loose your top two backs before the game, then loose a third during it and expect to be OK. The passing game can only do so much, even against a team that got lit up by 9 opponents during the regular season.

But regular season records don't matter once you have an every down workhorse to lead the way.

As Matt Hassleback.

Matter of fact, ask Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, and John Elway.

Marino has no rings, and never had a great back. His best RB was Lamar Smith.

Aikman had arguably the greatest of all time, and he's got three rings.

Elway went an entire career with no rings, sure he had comeback victories and records up the yin yang, but you never introduce him to Terrell Davis, and he's sitting at home now wondering what could have been.

Peyton's easiest years were with Edgerrin James being the lead back, since then, its been a lot harder than necessary to get the W's. Sure he get TD's and accolades, but people are figuring him out, and beating up his wide outs. Blair White and Austin Collie get hit on more than stripper right after work.

Year after year, no matter what happens during the regular season, when it comes to crunch time, the running backs are what make NFL teams great.

So who's gonna win the Lombardi Trophy this year.

I don't know, but they're gonna have to run for it.