Are Injuries Excuses?

Injured players and missing games because of injuries are part of the game of football. In the NFL it happens, and as the season continues, more opportunities occur for players to get injured.

The NFL, any football assosciation, is a team-oriented sport and requires all parts of the team to perform in order to win; however, in some situations, one part, or player, must step in and help carry the team in order to win.

Football is a team sport; however, during this time of the year, teams still blame losses on the absence of missing players. With all the other players willing to step up and play, I've grown tired of the excuses.

Drew Stanton, 3rd string QB for the Detroit Lions, won the Lions' first away game since 2007 (0-26 in away games since '07) this 3rd string QB also lead the team to back-to-back wins, which the Lions haven't done since 2007 as well.

Frank Reich, 2nd string QB for the Buffalo Bills (1985-1994), lead the Bills to the biggest comeback ever (NFL and NCAA included) Reich also secured an AFC Ttitle, leading the Bills to Super Bowl XXVII. 

Jeff Hostetler, NY Giants QB from 1984-1992, stepped in for an injured Phil Simms; won the final two regular season games (1989), swept through the playoffs and defeated the Bills in Super Bowl XXV; Hostetler, 20 of 32 for 222 yards during Super Bowl XXV, threw a touchdown and didn’t have an interception.

In addition, Trent Dilfer, back-up QB for the Baltimore Ravens (2000) took over for Tony Banks during Week 3 and took the Ravens to Super Bowl XXXV; Dilfer didn't step in for an injured QB, but he was the Ravens' 2nd string QB.

The point is, when teams/individuals in the NFL blame or point to the fact that they lost, or are losing, because of a missing player, we as fans should never accept that answer, as an answer.

Football is a team sport.