There’s no question that Russell Wilson’s sheer will to win in the wake of throwing four interceptions while trailing the Green Bay Packers by two scores with under four minutes remaining in Sunday’s contest will be praised for many years to come. So, I ask the question: Is Russell Wilson an elite NFL quarterback?

Wilson’s passing numbers don’t seem to lend to the elite title. He finished 15th in total passing yards this season. He also finished with a total QBR of 62.4, good enough for 12th best in the NFL.

However, despite the average statistics, I believe that Russell Wilson is more than deserving of an elite status for one reason and one reason only — the man is clutch.

Forget about the fact that Wilson threw four interceptions in Sunday’s contest and what you’re left with is the fact that he essentially had to string together three game saving/winning drives to defeat Green Bay.

Whether it was Wilson’s 35-yard completion to Marshawn Lynch to make it first-and-goal with Seattle down 19-7, his two-point conversion success that featured an incredible 18-yard off-balanced throw to Luke Wilson or the 35-yard clincher to Jermaine Kearse, Wilson made the big plays when his team needed it most.

And this is nothing new for Wilson. In his young three-year career, he has amassed 15 game-winning drives along with 10 fourth-quarter comebacks.

Still, the biggest knock will be that Wilson relies on the strength of his defense to win games. I challenge those skeptics to look back on Ben Roethlisberger’s career.

From 2004-2012, the Steelers ranked first in the NFL in fewest yards allowed five times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012). Sounds like the same formula for success that the Seahawks have concocted right?

Yet when you look at that era for the Steelers, you will see that the Steelers missed the playoffs three times during that span and lost in the AFC Wild Card twice. Granted you do have the two Super Bowl wins in 2005 and 2008, but Russell Wilson is on the verge of accomplishing that feat after just his third season.

My point in all this, even Ben Roethlisberger, a border-line hall-of-famer, had outstanding defenses and fell short. Defenses can get you there, but in the end the quarterback makes all the difference.

The Seahawks wouldn’t be where they are without the clutch play of Wilson. That alone justifies Wilson as being an elite NFL quarterback.

Check out senior staff writer Zack Tanner’s rebuttal at http://www.technicianonline.com/sports/article_6e2c7646-a12b-11e4-a528-0ba8c16584da.html