But three offensive veterans voiced their support of the team's young quarterback moments after the 2008 season ended.

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and receivers Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade emphatically backed Jackson for the '09 campaign.

Said Shiancoe: "I'm not thinking about any other quarterback in the offseason, at all. I feel like he's the man. He's proved that he can make plays."

Said Berrian: "You see all the intangibles. He's got the physical tools. It's a matter of us helping him out and not leaving him out there on his own."

Said Wade: "There's no doubt (he should start). He is what we need."

Jackson looked shaky on Sunday, in his first postseason appearance, completing just 15 of 35 passes for 164 yards, with one interception that was returned 44 yards for a touchdown.

But Wade and Berrian said this experience should be invaluable to the young quarterback.

"I see a lot of potential in him. He needed this today," Berrian said. "The more experience that a young quarterback gets, the better it's going to be for him. Looking back at the season as a whole, he can take a lot from it."

Wade said Jackson was in a tough situation because the offense is so reliant on being able to run the ball.

"It's tough on a team that's a running team," Wade said. "We can be effective passing the ball as long as we still have our running game involved. When they take that away, it's really hard. That's a tough situation for us."

Wade said he was more impressed with Jackson's body of work, from being benched to rebounding late in the season.

"I feel the experience that he had this year is irreplaceable," Wade said. "The way he's come back is unbelievable. You always wish you had a guy who has been in a situation like that."

Veteran center Matt Birk said Jackson has proved himself over the past month.

"He's showed the nation he certainly belongs in the league," he said.

After the game, Jackson declined to answer when asked if he should start next year.

"I'm not going to get into that," he said. "I'm just going to take this for what it is worth and reflect back on this season."