Russell Wilson's most important stat: Wins
PHOENIX - Russell Wilson has studied Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has tried to learn what it takes to have the "clutch" quality, an intangible characteristic that is often attributed to a sport's best winners.
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PHOENIX - Russell Wilson has studied Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has tried to learn what it takes to have the "clutch" quality, an intangible characteristic that is often attributed to a sport's best winners.
"I just love trying to play like that," Wilson said. "I love trying to visualize being successful."
Before every game, Wilson finds a spot in the stadium that brings him "back down to zero." He gazes at it during the game to relax and focus on the moment.
Whatever Wilson is doing, it's working. The undersized quarterback (5-foot-11, 206 pounds) slipped to the third round of the 2012 draft. The Eagles had interest in him that spring, but Wilson was off the board by the time they selected Nick Foles at No. 88 overall.
Wilson earned a starting spot in Seattle and has since won 42 of 55 games, including the postseason. That's the most ever by a quarterback in his first three seasons.
Wilson is also at his best on the biggest stages. He is 10-0 in his career against starting quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls. He is 8-0 against the quartet that is generally considered the NFL's elite: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees. That number would swell if Wilson and the Seahawks beat Brady and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
"You're very conscious of who the other quarterback is and who the other team is," Wilson said. "Usually when you have a great quarterback on the other team, the other team's great. . . . Tom Brady and I aren't out there tackling each other. But I think it's a 'rise to the occasion' type moment. You always want to step up and you always want to make a difference. That's what makes great players and that's what makes a great team."
If the Seahawks win, Wilson would become the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win two Super Bowls in his first three seasons. Winning has become Wilson's defining characteristic. When Patriots coach Bill Belichick complimented Wilson this week, the first label he used was "winner."
He has benefited from playing with perhaps the NFL's finest defense and an offense that focuses on running the ball and controlling the clock.
The most yards Wilson has thrown for in a season is 3,475 yards this year, but he is efficient more than prolific. Wilson has averaged 24 touchdowns per season and only 8.67 interceptions. He also led all quarterbacks in rushing yards this season.
"If you judge by wins and losses, he's definitely an elite quarterback," backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson said. "People have different criteria. Guys will talk about this guy has these stats, but what does he do in the playoffs? What's his win-loss record in the playoffs when it counts? So far, Russ has proven that, still has some proving to do - [we] still have the big game Sunday."
If there's any quarterback to be measured against when it comes to winning, it's Brady. The Patriots quarterback has won three Super Bowls and more postseason games than any quarterback in NFL history. But like other Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in the NFL, he has not yet beaten Wilson.
"It's a collective effort," Wilson said. "It's not just my record. It's a team record."
Wilson vs. Elite
8-0
vs. Manning
2-0
vs. Brees
2-0
vs. Brady
1-0
vs. RodgersEndText