Who Has the Best Chance to Win a Playoff Game This Year: Kolb, McNabb or Vick?

Who would have known the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles had three starting quarterbacks on their roster?

If you thought Donovan McNabb would still be a starter, you probably assumed it would be with the Eagles and Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb would be flops.

Those who thought Kolb would be a starter probably thought McNabb's career would be over and he would be holding a clipboard somewhere.

And for those who thought Vick would emerge as a starter knew something no one else did.

Incredibly, the 2011 free agency frenzy led McNabb to Minnesota where he is the favorite to start over rookie Christian Ponder. The offseason moves also led Kolb to Arizona where he has been anointed the franchise quarterback. Kolb's move out West also gave Vick job security in Philadelphia.

Each still resides in the NFC and each has an opportunity to win.

So which quarterback has the best opportunity to win in the postseason this year? 

Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb and the Arizona Cardinals play in the worst division based on common sense and have the easiest schedule based on opponents' 2010 record.

Those two factors alone give Kolb a huge advantage over Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, who play in two of the toughest divisions.

But the biggest advantage Kolb has is home-field advantage.

Last year the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record. When everyone was done laughing, they were awarded a home game against the New Orleans Saints, who finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.

The trip out to the great Northwest proved too much for the defending Super Bowl champs, and they lost 41-36.

Why can't the Cardinals emerge from a slop-filled division and host a playoff game? Are the 49ers, Seahawks and Rams that much better?  

The Cardinals could win the NFC West, host a team from the East Coast who is coming off a tough game on the final week of the regular season and spring the upset.

Give me a team playing in the easiest division and I'll show you a quarterback with the best opportunity to win a playoff game.

Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb was never an accurate quarterback, and he was never the type of quarterback who could take a team on his shoulders and carry them to greatness.

He is the kind of player who relies on those around him to succeed.

In Philadelphia he needed great receivers because Andy Reid's offense was predicated on the pass. It was a shame because McNabb never consistently had a great receiver and Reid's offense highlighted his weaknesses.

It's a completely different story in Minnesota.

McNabb will no longer be asked to throw the ball 40 times per game. He will need to manage the game effectively and hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson, who is one of the best running backs in the league.

He will finally have the opportunity to play in a system where is set up to succeed.

While the system is great for McNabb it is even better for the playoffs. If you can run the ball well in postseason, you have a great chance to win regardless where the game is played.

The Vikings certainly have a tough road ahead of them with Green Bay and Chicago coming off successful 2010 campaigns and Detroit showing signs of being a breakout team in 2011.

But if they can find a way to get in their running game gives McNabb an opportunity to win a couple games in the playoffs. 

Michael Vick

Michael Vick is clearly on the best team.

He will have the most explosive offense when DeSean Jackson returns, and he has the support of a vastly improved defense with the additions of Jason Babin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nnamdi Asomugha and Cullen Jenkins.

But having the best offense and defense doesn't always produce wins. Ask the San Diego Chargers, who missed the playoffs despite finishing the 2010 season with the league's top ranked offense and defense.

The major downside to Vick's chances rest on Andy Reid's play calling and his offensive line.

Reid will once again base his offense on the pass and in doing so it will expose Vick to hits. The O-line can obviously prevent Vick from taking a beating, but there are a lot of questions before the regular season has even started.

Starting right tackle Winston Justice is on the physically unable to perform list and first-round draft pick Danny Watkins, who is scheduled to start at guard, has not signed a contract yet.

Defensively, the Eagles have the pieces in place to succeed. How good will those parts work under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who has no prior experience as a defensive coach in the NFL?

The Verdict

I'll look at what happened the Chargers last year more as an aberration and not a trend.

Why wouldn't you side with the quarterback who is playing with the most talented team?

There isn't a team on their schedule who presents a matchup problem the Eagles can't solve. And that includes the regular division foes along with the Falcons, Bears, Patriots and Jets.

I also like my odds when I take the better quarterback. There is no doubt in my mind Vick is the better quarterback heading into the 2011 season. Kolb may be better in two or three years and McNabb's body of work may be more impressive.

But right now? Vick has the edge.

Vick may not stay healthy throughout the season, but there are so many great players around him to make up for a short-lived absence.

The offensive line is not going to take a major hit with Winston Justice out and Danny Watkins will get his deal finished soon.

The talent on defense will overcome any errors on Juan Castillo's end.

Who you got? Kolb, McNabb or Vick?