The NFL is an interesting entity in that things are always changing as far as the style of football and which aspects of the game impact a season the most.

When the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl after the 2000 season, everyone was talking about defense. I heard analysts talk about how it’s a new brand of football and the high-powered offense won’t be as effective. This theory ended quickly when the St. Louis Rams made the Super Bowl the next season.

Last season, I commented on how much kickers were affecting the game of football more than ever. So many games were decided by the foot of one man, all the way up to Adam Vinatieri’s Super Bowl-winning kick for the New England Patriots. It seemed to be the year of the kicker.

This season, however, is the year of the quarterback. Whether it be the no-name guy who has led his team to numerous victories, or the good quarterback that is having a career year, the quarterback has been the vital key to winning and losing for many teams.

The biggest story so far has been the Rams’ Marc Bulger. No quarterback has thrown for more yards in his first five starts than Bulger, who is 5-0 as a starter.

Tommy Maddox, the former MVP of the XFL, was having a career year with the Pittsburgh Steelers after replacing Kordell Stewart early in the season. His status is questionable at this point due to an injury, but his success has put the Steelers back into the mix of the AFC teams that could go to the Super Bowl.

Drew Bledsoe has rejuvenated his career with the Buffalo Bills and his name is being thrown in the MVP race. He has the highest quarterback rating of his career and the Bills are surprise playoff contenders.

Drew Brees started one game for the San Diego Chargers last season but has led them to a 7-3 record as a starter this year. He has already thrown for 2,000 yards and put the Chargers in playoff contention.

The explosive Michael Vick, in his first year as a starter, has thrown just two interceptions and has not only put the Atlanta Falcons back into the playoff race, but has helped set the standard for a new breed of quarterback with his running abilities.

Donovan McNabb is like Vick in that he too uses his feet to make plays. Before breaking his ankle Sunday, sidelining himself for six to eight weeks, he was having a career year and has made Philadelphia Eagles an NFC powerhouse.

The San Francisco 49ers’ Jeff Garcia has built a reputation as a mobile quarterback as well, and has his team competing for a top spot in the playoffs. He single-handedly beat the Oakland Raiders in week nine because his kicker sucks and he is definitely living up to the reputation of his predecessors, Joe Montana and Steve Young, quite nicely.

Brett Favre, who is usually pretty solid but has struggled the last couple seasons, is back in MVP form while at the helm of a team tied with a league best 8-2 record, the Green Bay Packers.

Chad Pennington has conjured up a buzz with his play in New York as the Jets are back in the playoff race. Pennington replaced Vinny Testaverde early in the season and has won four of the last six games for the Jets.

Rich Gannon has continued his success with the Raiders and is sitting at his best quarterback rating of his long career. The soon-to-be 37-year-old might set the record for completion percentage in a season and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

Then there are teams such as the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys that need to cut their entire quarterback rosters and start from scratch because they are doing nothing but hurting their teams.

The Detroit Lions and Houston Texans have decided to start rookie quarterbacks in Joey Harrington and David Carr, respectively, this year and haven’t found much success, but both are showing positive signs of what’s to come for them.

The quarterback is perhaps one of the hardest positions to predict, given the fact that some of the best in the league such as Kurt Warner, Garcia, Bulger and Maddox were either drafted very late or not drafted at all.

Obviously the quarterback has always been an important part to any team, but success of teams this season has proven to start with the quarterback.

The MVP and the Super Bowl champions will both involve a strong performer at this position. With so many playing well, it makes the games more exciting and has made this season unforgettable.

Kyle Moss

is a senior in journalism

and mass communication from Urbandale.