Ranking the NFL's top 10 QBs
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Ranking the NFL's top 10 QBs
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
I got an e-mail from reader Ross today, asking me to help settle an argument he was having with some friends.
They were trying to determine who the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL are. Specifically, whether Eli Manning fits into that group and whether he would be ranked ahead or behind of Michael Vick.
I gave Ross my take and figured this would make for a fun blog post on the day before the NFL might be shutting down.
Let's first clarify the criteria, as described by Ross: Going into 2011, which quarterback would you want to have lead your team in order to win the Super Bowl next season?
That's simple enough. It means age isn't a huge factor because we're only talking about one season. It also means this is not simply a list of which quarterbacks have the most impressive resumes. The past should be used as a guide, but these are not rankings of who has the best career stats or the most Super Bowl rings right now.
I should also be clear that I generally stay away from comments like He's never won a Super Bowl! I'm of the belief that football is the ultimate team sport, and while quarterbacks are important, so are supporting casts, coaches, defenses, injuries, etc. In other words, there are a lot of factors to winning or not winning a Super Bowl.
Without further ado, here's what I came up with as my top 10. Feel free to rip me in the comments below and offer your take on where I went wrong (as if you need any encouragement):
1. Aaron Rodgers
Explanation: Is it true that my opinion is probably affected by Rodgers' performance being the freshest in my mind? Sure. But he has thrown 86 touchdowns in the last three seasons and raised his level of play when it mattered. In five postseason starts, Rodgers has completed 67.8 percent of his passes while tossing 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. He's the complete package: smart, athletic and accurate. Those things put him atop the list.
2. Tom Brady
Explanation: He just turned in one of the greatest regular seasons a quarterback's ever had, throwing for 36 touchdowns and four interceptions. Think about that. Brady was picked off just once every 123 attempts in 2010. And he's thrown 114 touchdowns in his last 49 starts. Brady has not led the Patriots to a playoff win since the 2007 AFC championship game, but he's still got three rings.
3. Peyton Manning
Explanation: His 91.9 QB rating in 2010 was Manning's lowest mark in eight seasons. His 6.9 yards per attempt were the lowest since Manning's rookie season. And he was picked off 15 times in his last nine regular-season starts. Still, it would surprise no one if Manning put together the best season of anyone in this group in 2011 and led the Colts to a Super Bowl.
4. Drew Brees
Explanation: A year ago, he might have been No. 1. Such is the nature of lists like this one. Brees' 22 interceptions in 2010 were a career worst and second-most in the NFL. Brees was not to blame for the playoff loss to Seattle, as he threw for 404 yards and led New Orleans to 36 points. He led the NFL, completing 68.1 percent of his passes in 2010, and Brees has completed 65 percent or better in each of his last four seasons. He's thrown 101 touchdowns since the start of the 2008 season.
5. Ben Roethlisberger
Explanation: He turns 29 today, has been to three Super Bowls and has won two of them. Roethlisberger is perhaps the most difficult quarterback in the league to bring down and can demoralize defenses by buying time and hitting on plays downfield. His 8.23 yards per attempt ranked third in the league, and no one had a better fourth-quarter QB rating (110.3).
6. Philip Rivers
Explanation: The Chargers finished just 9-7 and missed out on the playoffs, but it's tough to blame Rivers for that. He's strung together three straight seasons of QB ratings over 100. And Rivers is arguably the best big-play quarterback in the NFL, having led the league in yards per attempt in each of the past three seasons. No one had more completions of 25 yards or more (43) than Rivers in 2010.
7.Michael Vick
Explanation: In his first year as the Eagles' starter, Vick set career highs in completion percentage (62.6), passing yards (3,018), touchdowns (21), yards per attempt (8.1) and QB rating (100.2). His fourth-quarter QB rating of 106.8 was better than everyone on this list except for Roethlisberger. People point to his troubles against the blitz later in the season, but Vick completed 7 of 13 attempts for 144 yards when Green Bay blitzed hiim in the playoffs. What cost him was turnovers. Vick went without an interception in his first six starts, but was picked off seven times in his last six. As a runner, he averaged 6.76 yards per carry and had 27 carries of 10 yards or more.
8. Joe Flacco
Explanation: He's just 26 and has improved in passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per attempt and QB rating in each of his three seasons as a starter. Flacco's playoff numbers aren't great, but he played well in the Ravens' road win against the Chiefs and didn't get much help from his receivers in their playoff loss to the Steelers.
9. Matt Ryan
Explanation: He also took a leap last season, setting career highs in completion percentage (62.5), passing yards, (3,705), touchdowns (28) and QB rating (91.0) as the Falcons won an NFC-best 13 wins. Unlike many of the other guys on this list, Ryan and the Falcons did not have a big-play offense. His 6.49 yards per attempt ranked 27th in the NFL, and Ryan did not rank among the top 20 QBs in big plays of 25 yards or more. He's been picked off four times in two career playoff starts.
10. Eli Manning
Explanation: He's one of six players on this list with a Super Bowl ring, but I don't think Manning would provide a better chance to win a title in 2011 than the nine QBs listed ahead of him. He led the league (and set a career high) with 25 interceptions in 2010. That's the third-highest mark in the NFL since 2002. He still has the ability to play at a high level and was behind only Rodgers and Rivers in pass plays of 25 yards or more (35), but Manning's turnovers knock him down the list.
Left off (in no particular order): Matt Schaub, Matt Cassel, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Josh Freeman, Mass Hasselbeck, Sam Bradford.
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I'd honestly have Michael Vick as #1, above Rodgers, Brady, and Manning. Michael Vick is phenomenal. The Michael Vick Experience will be in the Philly for the next 5 years. It will be awesome, folks.— brmorgen81- Is Vick a Top 10 QB??
Could James Brown get down?
Is a Bean Green?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Is Pig Poochie pork? - I was at this Eli Manning debate on Friday night with Ross and I for one do not believe Eli Manning is a top 10 quarterback. He had one season that people remember him for, and that's only because of the defense, P. Burress and Tyree catching a ball on his helmet. If he had never won that season, there would be no talk of him being a top 10 quarterback. His playoff record? 4-3. He swept the season he won the Superbowl, but his other 3 times in the playoffs he's been one and done. I think the Giants would take Schaub, Freeman, and even Romo over Eli any day of the week. I do like this list, but I think someone like Freeman should be considered at 10. 25 TDs, only 6 Ints in his first year as a starting QB bringing the embarrassing Bucs to a 10-6 record and nearly a playoff birth in one of the hardest divisions in football? I would take him over Eli any day.— theINTmachineELI
- I agree with your list completely except I would switch Flacco and Ryan— Lemur
Good list. I would probably switch Vick and Rivers & replace Eli with Kevin Kolb...lol, not. It's probably a toss-up between Freeman and Bradford, given the criteria for the list. I think both are only going to improve.— Mabus- I think there is a huge drop off between the top five and everybody else. especially in the biggest games. Most of the rest have come up small in the playoffs pretty consistently, except for Eli. If he ever makes it to the HOF, he should be carried to the podium by David Tyree, over his shoulder pushed up against his head!— jimmyj
- his first six games maybe,but absolutely not in the last six games,,Matt Ryan-Josh Freeman-Tony Romo-Joe Flacco-Eli Manning-Peyton Manning-Tom Brady-Aaron Rodgers-Drew Brees-Jay Cutler-Big Ben-Sam Bradford-i would take all these QB's over mcVick..6 of them are SB champions and SB MVPs......wolf.— wolf 4
- When is hte last time a team won the superbowl with a purely "athletic" QB? And by atheltic I also mean unable to read defenses, blitzes, and plainly put not a intelligent QB. Answer: Steelers with Rothlesburgers first SB win. They won with defense and Running the ball which is something that Andy Reid knows nothing about even though he was a O-lineman. So the Eagles will never win the Sueprbowl no matter who the QB is next year. A bad o-lineman coach is now the d-coord. Nuff Said— Atlas
brmorgen81 -- i like vick and all but he's not #1. wolf 4 -- you are still the village idiot that everybody laughs at. you have no football knowledge what so ever. romo, cutler, flacco and bradford over vick? really? you are about as dumb as a bag of bricks.- That is a very disparaging remark. I've known many, many fine bags of bricks who would be offended. You must be a "brickist" — Mabus
- i apologize to any brick that I may have offended! it was very insensitive of me to compare the intellect of a brick to that of a brainless wiff. i am truly sorry
- I may disagree slightly with positioning, but that's a darn good call, and I really like your reasonings behind each. And here is the clincher: None of the guys you picked would be left off ANYBODY'S list, and nobody you left off would be ON anybody's top 10.— TBear
- Vick was 20th in passing yds, fragile as glass and a toss of the dice gamble that he stays out of jail or avoids a suspension. His legs looked a lot slower last 6 games and he is turnover prone. Top 10?? You must be joking LOL— bill19666
- The fact that someone can make an argument for Eli as a top 10 QB shows how weak the position is right now. Kolb could be starting on about a third of the league's teams. Where have all the good QB's gone?— hoyaray
- Man, if there's a list that needs posting wiff is Johnny on the spot. Atta boy wiff. Let's see, Eli led the world in INTs but that's OK right? Romo? You laughed at him last year and was about winless this year but that's OK, right wiff? Cutler...really? I mean that's inexplicable, well then again you do need a name to add to your list don't you? Talk about no guts and a turnover factory and you have Cutler in a nutshell, but that's OK, right wiff? Bradford is a rookie, please! Where is Farve? He's still a superstar according to you. Ah, and now I get Freeman, despite the fact you called him a clown and an Arena League QB last year you gotta have a token black, right klanwiff? Man are you easy to read. At least you didn't put KK on the list...surprisingly. The "sure to be traded this off-season list" is tomorrow.— tpizza
- Seriously, lists are fun blog topics but you have to wonder at the QB depth in the league when Eli can still make a top 10 on anybody's list. Even the Giant fans don't want him and think he's over rated. Always thought the same about Pmanning. Waaaay too many one and dones in the playoffs IMO. No real problem with the others. Ryan and Rivers still haven't proven anything but appear on the right track and a SB ring isn't the end all for a QB either. Looks nice on the resume but some great ones never got there. Last I heard teams won games. By the same token getting one years ago doesn't reserve you a space on any list until the end of time. I'm satisfied that one on that list is on the Eagles and that an objective person like Sheil feels that way is a bonus.
Mabus, ya here yet?
Mabus, you still here?— tpizza - Kevin Kolb is 11 right?— joncoctosen
- ppizzaboy,i won't smack you around like The Cuz and Wokmaster did to you,so don't worry,,my list is a list for the long term as well as today,,Cutler (he threw for more yards and TDs) took his team to the NFC championship and if not for a severe knee injury may have went to the SB,,as far as Freeman i've been one of his #1 fans,,refresh my memory how many votes did mcVick have for the MVP award??was it more then ELI or Mattie Ryan or Rivers ans:no he was tied for second with the rest of the list,,if mcVick continues to play the way he did the last six ganes you will be on here saying you didn't want him here,right pizzacrite..........w.— wolf 4
- Man wiff, I keep missing these smackdowns, give me a heads up next time will ya? You may have to leave the unicorns on there own and find a phone there on wifftron but I'm sure they will survive. The rest of that tripe is so funny it isn't worth a comment. Cutler, Romo and Freeman over Vick? Hahahahahahahaha, delusional. Long term list? Hahahahahahahaha, too bad the article is about TODAY, idiot. Man are you lost...tick...tick...tick...getting closer wiff.— tpizza
- If you look at the list, you have what I believe are 3 sure Hall of Famers in Brady, P Manning and Big Ben. A few good possibilities in Rodgers and Brees if they continue to win, and the others if they can get get to the SB. I know Eli won one, but he has to win another. Thats not too bad. The dropff comes after these guys, although players like Freeman, Bradford and Stafford of Detroit are still learning. But thats why QB's get drafted high in the 1st round every year. There are never 32 Hall of Fame Qb's in the league at the same time. Each year the league is filled with journeyman.— watsonmr
- Watsommr, Sheil has them about right. Rivers puts up stats but hasn't really done much in the playoffs. Other than that you can't really argue with his top 6 and Vick is about right at 7 too [IMO]. Not sure you can put anyone like Bradford ahead of him based on potential. Lists do tend to bring on the debates though. Looks like the writers are starting to scratch at the bottom of the barrel though. Hopefully there will be something tangible to read soon.— tpizza
- Well tpizza it gets worse tomorrow. That group in Virginia has likened or compared Vick to Jesus. Gonzo has a video interview someone, and I just heard its a story on Fox news tonight. So beware. And I agree, that Sheil has it about right. My point was that there are Hall of Famers and potential Hall of Famers in the game at the position of QB in todays NFL.— watsonmr
- yeah I saw it watsonmr. It made me cringe. Now the crackpots will come out of the woodwork again. Hard to believe this stuff goes on. I really would like to read exactly what Vick HAS done in regards to speaking engagements but I guess that would be giving him credit for trying to do the right thing and we can't have that now can we? Disgraceful.— tpizza
- I can't believe it, Sheil. Now that you said we can rip you, I don't feel like at anymore ! Good list. Peace.— landt
- Eli Manning has been an average qb AT BEST since Plaxico shot himself and went to the slammer. It's comforting to me as an Eagles fan to know that the Midgets will be saddled with Eli Manning for the foreseeable future.— p-diddy
- This tabloid can only get hits from the trailer trash if they put Vick's name in a article so what do you expect from the 2 leading pwt Bill `966 wolf4 and rest of the trailer park. Vick does not care what you or this tabloid thinks thinks about where he is ranked, neither do the Eagles, his agent and most real Eagles fans. We know what this is about and it is as old as the racism in your family is. We will see who is last laugh and who makes the most money in the end it won't be any of you losers.— Blessed8251
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