The Look

by Eisen

I remember watching the Chargers/Bengals game earlier this year. The Chargers were down three touchdowns by the half. Cut to a shot of the San Diego sideline, there was Philip Rivers standing next to LT with a huge grin on his face. Early in the third quarter, a shot of the San Diego huddle, Rivers has this confident, determined look on his face. He has complete command of that huddle. Not anxious, not overly pensive, as if he knew what was going to happen. The Chargers won the game 49 - 41. This was just his ninth NFL start.

I had this same discussion a handful of times with several different people during the course of this NFL season, all starting with "That guy at QB has the look." It is that indisputable look on the man's face where the other ten guys in the huddle know that we are going to be all right. Montana had the look. Brady has the look. Marino's look is best suited for driving around KIT, running on the beach, or singing to the Germans. This is not to trivialize anyone’s abilities or accomplishments attributing their success solely to a facial expression, far from it. In a league where talent is abundant, I believe it’s the little things that separate the good from the great and the great from the winners.

John Taylor of the San Francisco 49ers remembers being down by a field goal with just over three minutes left in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. Montana enters the huddle. Before calling a play, Montana makes a whimsical, out of place remark to loosen up his teammates before they were to start their 92-yard game winner touchdown drive. John Taylor remembers looking into Montana's eyes and knowing that they were to walk away the victors.

Peyton Manning might end up a top the all the passing records when all is said and done but I don't believe that he will ever end up leading his team in Super Bowl and hoisting the Lombardi trophy. He does not possess the look. Remember, deep into their run of 15 straight wins, when Reggie Wayne shoves Manning while in the huddle during a close game. Or that time when Vanderjagt was taking shots at Manning in the media, the kicker of all people, taking shots at your franchise QB. That does not happen to that guy at QB who has the complete trust of his teammates. Troy Brown isn’t going to compare vocal projection capabilities with Brady on the sideline. Roger Craig is not going to question Montana’s bishop-to-rook-pawn-two counter move in a post-game interview.

The Look gives you an edge over your opponent. The Look gives your teammates that confidence in you, that you are more than capable of coming through when needed. The Look makes the defense feel unease about their two-touchdown lead. The Look makes the fans stay in their seat till the clock shows all zeros.

Because it is virtually impossible to verbally depict The Look, here is a visual summary on The Look.