Originally Posted by: " 
Yes, the rating system has not changed but the numbers being inputted into that rating system have changed significantly. In the other thread, someone pointed out that 13 of the 15 all time passer rating leaders are active players. Are the QBs today that much better than all of the other QBs in NFL history? I doubt it.
In 1996, Favre had 39 TDs, 13 INTs, 3900 yards and a 95.8 rating.
In 2009, Favre has a 107.2 rating. Even if everyone accepts that Favre was better in 2009 than 1996, is he really 11+ rating points better than he was in 1996??? He would be ranked the 10th best QB according to QB rating in 2009 with the 1996 numbers.
In 1997, in a league that had Marino, Young, Elway, Aikman, Favre, Moon, etc. Favre was 2nd in the league with 3,800 yards. In 2009, 1997 Favre would be 11th (just barely in front of Kyle Orten). Thats nuts.
There is clearly something going on with QBs ratings, yards, etc.
Exactly.
Several changes - OT is now one of the most important positions in the game, period. LT especially. That's huge when it comes to pass protection.
League rules favoring passing. Truth is, football sells well in America because it's NOT soccer. You don't have games that go 0-0 into OT and win with a penalty shot. That's exactly what the NFL is trying to prevent. So even in Favre's career, rules have made it easier to complete passes and harder for defenders to defend passes.
One of the major changes is that the NFL is making protecting QBs a high priority. Just note the number of games starting QBs play in '09 and compare it to the number of games starting QBs played in '92. HUGE difference.
Heck, NSD mentioned Joe Montana. Are today's QB's all tougher than Joe Montana? I doubt it. Better protected by better OLs and stricter rules on protecting QBs? Yup. If Montana had been born 20 years later, he would have played more games.
Favre's 94-97 campaigns were perhaps the best consecutive QB campaigns in NFL history. Ratings? Whatever. He threw TD passes that other QBs couldn't have thrown. '09 was amazing, but you can't convince me that he was better in '09 than he was in '95, '96, or '97.