Since when did playing in a dome become a "huge" advantage for a QB? Oh, I know: Since this year, when the top three QB's all happen to play in domes. If that's ever happened before, I don't remember it. I'd say that a dome gives a slight advantage to a QB, stat-wise, but it's a minor factor.
How many of the great QB's in recent years have played in domes? Manning is the only one I can think of. Once you get past him, you've got Brady, Favre, Elway, Steve Young, Aikman, Marino, Montana...all outdoor guys, and a few of them played in cold weather cities.
"Greg C." wrote:
Playing with no wind, the same 70 temperature is not an advantage to rain, snow, wind, differing temperatures?
Aaron Rodgers said a week ago that he'd "rather 75 every game, as a Quarterback you like the consistency."
To answer your question of 'Since when did playing in a dome become a "huge" advantage for a QB?' and then you said, oh this year. That's wrong. Very wrong. I've said this about football for years. I think the first time I started griping about the advantages of dome play came when I was 12 and played a game of street ball in rainy muddy grass field across the street from Lutheran Church on St Agnes Drive. After playing in that for a few hours, I was sold, to me, that was football, that's how it should be played. Playing the game on carpet, or a controlled climate, to me, gives the teams an advantage.
Would Brees, Peyton or any other dome playing QB have worse stats if they did not play in a dome? At this point and time, I'd say unlikely. The only difference in their stats would be felt in the final quarter of the season.
But no one should be implying that NOT having to play with wind, rain, sleet, snow, etc is NOT an advantage over having to. Especially for a Quarterback and you could throw in Punters and Kickers too.