Elevating Eli for the 2 SB years when he played like crap much the rest of the year just seems like a great reach. The Giants '07 team definitely wasn't about Eli who had a lowly rating of 73. It was much more about their defense, specifically pass rush (best in the league), that allowed the fewest points scored per game in the playoffs. The Giants D did more of the same in the 2011 post season, again allowing the fewest points scored among all playoff teams. Meatballs don't seem to be able to realize how much easier it is to win games when you're holding the opponents to a low score. They simply take the opportunity to elevate the QB as if scoring 17 or 21 points was a Herculean effort only that QB led offense could accomplish.
When considering McNabb's HOF worthiness, you'd have to call on the early part of his career in which he led the Eagles to 5 consecutive playoff runs, the last 4 going to the conference championships and the last culminating in their SB appearance against those same Patriots. His play was greatly elevated in the 1 full year he had a good weapon in Owens. In those other playoff years there was not much talent around him at all so you'd have to give him more credit for the Eagles making it as far as they did. True, the Eagles missed the playoffs with him for the next 4 of his last 5 seasons with them but they maintained a winning record which is more than can be said about all the Giants failed years with Eli and the Giants have accomplished fuck all with Eli all over the past 7 seasons.
In my own opinion, McNabb does not belong in the HOF but when you say Eli is in the conversation while he is not I have to raise the bullshit flag. Also in looking at other QBs already in the HOF, the bar seems lower and more attainable. Forget Joe Namath. He's not there cause he was a consistently great QB. He's there cause he was a pioneer and big celebrity. What about others who seemed much more average even if blessed by a ton of talent surrounding them? What about Bob Griese? Were the Dolphins about him or much more about Larry Csonka and company in the backfield and a stifling defense led by HOFer Nick Buoniconti? Jim Kelly, like McNabb, led his team to many consecutive deep playoff runs. Only he was surrounded by much more talent with fellow HOFers Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith. Does Terry Bradshaw accomplish what he did without those 2 HOF WRs in Swann and Stallworth and the great Franco Harris and the Steel Curtain D that boasted many Hall of Famers? Stabler had Biletnikoff, Casper and legend John Madden calling the show. Fouts had Joiner and Winslow. Aikman had Irvin, Smith and a damn good D.
