In terms of this conversation and talking about what an above average to good but not great QB can do relative to winning a Super Bowl, Ryan is relevant. That game was lost by their defense and primarily Shannahan for being a moron with his situational play-calling.
One QB stepped up and started applying pressure while the other failed to respond.
This is the modern NFL where we’ve seen some crazy comebacks once defenses go soft. That defense stymied Brady for most of three quarters, and that’s hard to do. We’ve seen him come back vs the best defenses time and again.
When the comeback started and everyone was tired with it easy to imagine the lead was safe— is when leaders step up. Ryan in position to win at about the 20 up 28-20 with 4 minutes to play, lackadaisically took a horrible sack when he absolutely could not afford to take one.
That more than any other single play lost the game. A quick throwaway at someone’s feet probably results in a game-winning FG. Instead the next play is a hold that ends any FG chance whatsoever.
That presence of mind is huge, and Ryan didn’t execute. Also, the faces of the Falcon players to a man besides Jones showed a nervous uncertainty. Brady meanwhile was visibly and emotionally charged on the sidelines.
The difference between Ryan who had ridden Julio Jones and his defense to that point and Brady was never more stark than on that play.
