First, let me say that I have much respect for Roger Staubach. However, I was watching the 1977 NFC Championship Game and thought after he overthrew a short TD pass to Drew Pearson about how much his career might be different if Dallas didn't have the Doomsday Defense.
The Cowboys beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-6 to reach the Super Bowl, but turnovers and the defense were the main reason for the victory. Staubach had a few nice passes, and Dorsett and Newhouse had a few nice runs, but the defense hardly gave up anything and more than made up for it with the turnovers it forced (although the back-breaker came on special teams).
I know there are many who judge quarterbacks on winning and Super Bowls, but games like this just show how much of a team game football is. One missed TD throw might end up costing a team with a poor defense, but it didn't mar Staubach's career because the defense never really let the Vikings into the game.
Just thought I'd share that example. I'm not trying to diminish Staubach's accomplishments (you can find missed TD throws by other great QBs that didn't affect the result). I just think of other QBs who never got the benefit of having one big mistake be inconsequential.
Interesting thread.
I see the OP's point. However, we can look at (even scrutinize) many former and current QBs in a similar fashion.
Look at Brady. His D held the explosive Rams offense to 17 pts in SB 36. Does he win that SB if the Rams put up 31? How about last year's SB and the 2nd half of SB 51 vs Atlanta? Over six quarters the Pats D gave up a grand total of 3 pts. In SB 49 vs Seattle, the NE D gave up 24 pts and stopped Seattle at the goal line late in the game. What would Brady's legacy be if his defense didn't step up in those games and his SB record would be 2-7 instead of 6-3?
Joe Montana's defense came up with a goal line stand at the end of the 1st half vs Cincy (SB 16) and allowed the 49ers to win 26-21. Seven years later, again vs. Cincy, the 49ers had 13 points late in the 4th. Montana was leading a drive and a Bengals DB dropped a sure INT. SF won 20-16, thanks in large measure to a defense that held the Bengals in check. What is Montana's legacy if he's 2-2 instead of 4-0 in the SB?
Bradshaw had a pedestrian game in SB 9 vs Minnesota, but the Steel Curtain dominated. The following year, he was 9 of 19 vs the Cowboys, but thanks to Swann's acrobatic catches and a smothering D that registered 7 sacks and shut down the Dallas running game in the 2nd half, the Steelers won SB X, 21-17. Doesn't Bradshaw owe his stellar SB record in large part to one of the best defensive units of all time?
Namath is in Canton, but the Jets D held the Colts, a powerful team at the time, to 7 pts in SB 3.
Bob Griese benefitted from the No Name Defense as it held Washington and Minnesota to a combined 7 pts in 8 quarters in winning BTB SBs. Griese also played with two HOF O-linemen to go with HOFers Larry Czonka and Paul Warfield. And he had a HOF coach too who wasn't too bad as I recall.
We could go on and on, back and forth. I agree with your premise in that even great QBs need solid, if not great, defenses to win consistently.
What would Dan Fouts have accomplished if he had the Steel Curtain or Doomsday or the 70s Vikings defenses to go with that explosive Chargers offense? How about Marino having the 85 Bears when he faced Montana's 49ers and was hammered by 22 pts?
Yes, Staubach benefitted from Doomsday. And, yes, he had some clunker games. But defenses were harder to throw against back then.
Consider this: Roger led the Cowboys to 51 combined points vs Miami and Denver in SBs 6 and 12. During the regular season, the 71 Dolphins gave up 14 pts or less in 12 of 14 games. The 77 Broncos gave up 14 points or less in 13 of 14 games. Roger led victories over two pretty good defensive units. And in the NFC playoffs, he faced some good defenses from Los Angeles and Minnesota on a regular basis.
His wins were not always pretty. But then again, the game was a lot different back then. In SBs 10 and 13 (10 especially), the Dallas WRs were getting physically beat up by the Pittsburgh defense. Roger didn't have guys running wide open, untouched beyond five yards, as we often see today.