How are quarterback w/l records calculated?

[Syringer]

So in baseball, a win is very clearly defined for a pitcher--pitch at least 5 full innings, leave with the lead, and hope your bullpen doesn't blow it.

But how much of a game does a QB have to play in order to earn a win in the record book? Can he just play a half, a quarter, the majority of it? For example, in the Raiders game yesterday Josh McCown played the first half, and Daunte Culpepper played the second half, who gets the win there?

 

[Deeko]

Its not defined, and its not an official stat either.

Generally though, since it isn't like baseball, the QB is expected to play start-finish, so that's what they go by. Or at least games you start and play the majority of.

 

[Syringer]

So Favre's win record is not "official"? Sure he's not a great example of it all since he tends to play 60 minutes a game no matter what, but there has to be a way to even somewhat properly define since you're always hearing about guys' records in the league, even if it's not completely official.

 

[Deeko]

Well like I said, its not like baseball where its expected you'll come out of the game and whatnot. In football, if you start the game at QB, you finish the game at QB, unless A) you get hurt, B) you get yanked, or C) you're winning so much at the end that they rest you. The only one where it could be contested as to whether or not it should count is the first one, and that happens pretty rarely anyway.

The best QBs are very rarely injured, and when they are they often finish the game anyway.

 

[Syringer]

Okay so in my example above, who would get the W?

It is interesting though, that in football it's an offensive player who tries to put points on the board that is most "responsible" for the w/l, whereas in baseball it's a guy who tries to prevent the other team from putting up points..