Ranking the NFL QBs
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Who is the best quarterback in the NFL this season (so far)? The NFL is a quarterback league, and well, I'm here to go through all the stats, look at all the wins and losses this season, using an eye test, looking at ways their offense responds to them for my rankings to see who is the best through 12 weeks of football.
The quarterbacks I'm using are the QBs who were active Week 12. There will be no Tony Romo, Vince Young, Trent Edwards, Chad Pennington, Jason Campbell or Tyler Thigpen on this list.
Here is my list, separated into different categories. What do you think? Is your No. 1 different or the same? Let me know what your list is. Here is mine.
The Ryan Leaf Category
32. Rusty Smith (Titans)
No idea where this guy is from. Only seen him play a few plays. All I know is he was QB in Week 12 and Chris Johnson (a 2,000 yard rusher last season) had five yards on the ground. Insert Kerry Collins in Week 13.
31. Jimmy Clausen (Panthers)
The quarterbacks of the Carolina Panthers this season have been the following "who's not" of NFL QBs: Jimmy Clausen (Week 12), Tony Pike, Brian St. Pierre and Matt Moore. Stats for Carolina passing: 1,964 yards, seven TDs, 17 interceptions, 33 sacks (lost 225 yards on sacks). I'd rather have the fictional QB Shane Falco played by Keanu Reeves in "The Replacements" lead my team than Clausen. Remember when Clausen said he was going to win national titles with Notre Dame? (I'm still laughing.)
30. Carson Palmer (Bengals)
Speaking of Carson Palmer, though he is eighth in passing yards, my question is: How many of those yards have come in garbage time? In 11 starts this year, he's passed for 2,760 yards and 19 touchdowns. Here is where it gets bad. Palmer has thrown 15 interceptions with a QB rating of 78.5. He's been sacked 20 times for a loss of 145 yards. I know some of his INTs have been tips, but he stays in the pocket forever and misses open receivers. Maybe he needs a new jersey, but the sad and/or confused look on his face nowadays makes me wonder if he is related to the Manning family.
29. Derek Anderson (Cardinals)
He was replaced by rookie Max Hall (BYU) earlier this season but had a tirade (for laughing) after losing to the 49ers this past Monday. He takes these games serious, ya know. My question is, who is Max Hall? You have to be struggling if you are replaced by a rookie named Max Hall. The formerly high-powered offense of the Cards has gone from rocket fuel to double-A battery powered.
One-and-Done
28. Jake Delhomme (Browns)
I can rarely understand what he says. He's played in two games this season. Almost lost it for the Browns with late interceptions against the Jaguars. But there is one thing he proved he is great at in Week 12: Hut, hut … HIKE, drop back, hand ball to Peyton Hillis, repeat. He's ranked ahead of Rusty Smith for his diving, get-in-the-way block attempt he made to help the running game.
27. Bruce Gradkowski (Raiders)
The come-and-go weekly Raider QB is 83-of-157 for a QB rating of 66.3. Actually, he's below Derek Anderson, but he's ahead of Clausen, so that's all that really matters, right? Remember when Clausen was said to be NFL ready while at Notre Dame? Me neither.
26. Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks)
He used to be a productive QB, even went to the Super Bowl. He's lucky I don't have him last, just for the fact his family reunions and holidays involve sister-in-law Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Against the Chiefs, Matt was 20-of-37 for 282 yards and two touchdowns, last Sunday. For the year in 10 games, he has 10 TDs and nine picks. His best days are behind him.
25. Troy Smith (49ers)
He's been cut in the preseason by the Ravens, he was picked up by San Francisco, and he wouldn't be playing today if Alex Smith wasn't injury-prone and didn't have a different offensive coordinator every other week. On the bright side, Troy Smith can improve and has some weapons to work with on the 49ers' offense. He has some upside, but he has the Heisman curse too.
24. Chad Henne (Dolphins)
Henne was on the last Michigan team that actually gave Ohio State a game in the Buckeye-Wolverine rivalry. Since then, his time in the NFL isn't up to par for that of a second-round pick. He's played in nine games this year, was benched for poor play, and the Dolphins are 6-5 overall. If he continues to play like he did this past week against the Raiders (17-of-30, 307 yards, two TDs, one INT), he has the chance to move up this list before the season is over.
23. Shaun Hill (Lions)
He's playing because Matthew Stafford can't stay healthy. He can throw the football, and he gets free rein to throw it. His last three games he's had attempts of 50, 47 and 48, completing 88. Hill started eight games, going 215-of-351 for 2,206 with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. Not a franchise QB, but better than anyone that's been on the list already.
22. Jon Kitna (Cowboys)
If it wasn't for Dez Bryant, I don't know if the Cowboys would have the three wins they've somehow obtained. Kitna is a good enough band-aid for the injured Romo, but he's 38. He did have a 29-yard run against the Detroit Lions this year, but that's like saying the library will have books when you walk through the doors … it's a given against the Lions.
They've seen better days
21. Brett Favre (Vikings)
Seems like he took the "Pants On the Ground" song from last year a little too seriously. Just retire, already. (Again.)
20. Donovan McNabb (Redskins)
His coach doesn't really like him. They did beat the Philadelphia Eagles, but that wasn't one of his better games. He was benched this year during the final two-minute game-winning drive for … gulp … Rex Grossman. I can't rank anyone better who was replaced by the worst QB to ever start a Super Bowl, during the most important possession of the game.
Not sure about these guys, but better than most
19. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)
The dude gets to throw the football. He has emerging receivers, but plays in Buffalo, so that's a strike against him. My question is, do you think the Bengals miss him? Would you rather have kept him as your backup, or a starter/backup combo of Palmer and Palmer? One plus Fitzpatrick has is his playoff hockey beard, and he is a good fantasy QB. He's helped save my team, and that is good enough for me.
18. Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)
He has to face two quality teams twice a season in the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Freeman has improved a lot this year and has thrown for 2,261 yards (20th) with 15 TDs and five INTs.
System QBs?
17. Matt Cassel (Chiefs)
He could be higher, but this is a safe spot for Cassel. He's fifth in the NFL with 22 TD passes, with just four INTs. What worries me is his 60.4 competition percentage, but he has a nice 99.7 QB rating. He's more of a system QB than anything, with Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator. Last year, without Weis by his side, he had 16 INTs, and he has surpassed most of his numbers from last year in four fewer games.
16. Sam Bradford (Rams)
He could be the future of the NFL. As a rookie, I'd rather have him as a QB than most of the QBs I've discussed so far. He has a competition percentage of 60.5, with 17 TDs and nine INTs. His QB rating is 82.0 ... not bad for a rookie playing for a team that went 1-15. This year, they are 5-6 (tied for first in the NFC West), so he could be a good starting point for a franchise whose best days came when they had a coach (Dick Vermeil) who cried more than Tim Tebow.
15. Jay Cutler (Bears)
I like good Jay. I don't like bad Jay. He is absolutely Mr. yin-and-yang. One week he looks like one of the best in the league. The next game or a game later, it is like he thinks he's Brett Favre and just slings the ball into double or triple coverage to throw INTs, or he'll just play like he has Crisco on his hands and fumbles. He has talent but scares the bejeezus out of me.
These four are close
14. Matt Schaub (Texans)
Has the ability to have a big game. Not the numbers he put up last year, but that is due in large part to Adrian Foster leading the NFL in rushing. Has one of the better wide receivers in the game, who possibly could be an MMA fighter (did you see Andre Johnson's uppercut on Brian Fennigan?). If Schaub's teams would win more games, he'd be ranked higher. Make the playoffs and we'll talk.
13. David Garrard (Jaguars)
Pretty much the same with Cutler and Schaub. He is an up-and-down player like Cutler but plays on an up-and-down team like Schaub. (He also has a good running back in Maurice Jones-Drew.) Garrard has had some injuries and his city couldn’t care less about the NFL. I like his mobility, and he can make plays with his feet.
12. Mark Sanchez (Jets)
He's improved from year one to year two. Can't ask for much more than that at this point. His team is in first place, and he's had some game-winning drives. He looks like he can be a leader on the field, and before long, I guarantee the Jets will win a Super Bowl with Sanchez as their QB. He's got the receivers, if they can stay out of trouble, and he's played in big games in college. I like the fact he can handle pressure. My favorite stat is his interceptions are down this season, with just eight in 11 games.
11. Kyle Orton (Broncos)
Before you call me an idiot, just let me make my point. Orton is having a solid (quiet) season with 3,370 yards (No. 1 in NFL), 20 TDs, six INTs, with a completion percentage of 61.8. Sure, his team stinks, but with a wannabe Bill Belichick as his head coach (Josh McDaniels), along with playing for the team that shall be known forever as "The team who traded Peyton Hillis for Brady Freakin' Quinn," you wouldn't win many games either. He has six 300-plus yard-passing games, including a 476-yard effort against the Colts in Week 3. Don't overlook Orton.
The Top 10
10. Joe Flacco (Ravens)
I might have him slightly underrated, but it's my list, and this is where I'm putting him. He's helped turn the Baltimore Ravens into an offensive team with a really good defense, with the 11th-best QB rating after 12 weeks. I like where his career is headed.
9. Eli Manning (Giants)
He puts up good numbers and has a Super Bowl ring, but he is still the second-best Manning in the NFL. The biggest difference between him and his brother is this: Eli can make decent receivers good and Peyton can make decent receivers better. Don't get me wrong, Eli is a high-quality QB, he's just a laid-back player with a coach that isn't. Eli is seventh in passing yards, but his interceptions are high at 16 with a completion percentage of 65.2. I just hope he doesn't read this and get the Eli Manning sad face.
8. Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Not a fan of the guy. He's seems to be a leader on the field. He's hard to take down, runs like the cops are chasing him for positive yardage, and he can break tackles. Take away all his off-the-field issues, and he's one of the better QBs in the NFL (62.3 completion percentage, 99.1 QB rating). Though he missed the first four games this year (Steelers were 3-1), the Steelers are still his team, and there was no way Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon were leading the Steelers to the playoffs.
7. Matt Ryan (Falcons)
He's the most underrated QB in football. His team is in first place, and as of right now, the Falcons are the best team in the NFC. What I like about Ryan is his on-field presence. When people talk about NFL-ready QBs, he was what they are thinking of. Here are his stats: 64.7 completion percentage with 2,715 yards passing, 19 TDs and five INTs. Those numbers lead to this stat: Falcons' overall record at 9-2, best in the NFL.
6. Drew Brees (Saints)
This hasn't been Brees' best season, but it is still one that is respectable. He has a QB rating of 92.7 with a completion percentage of 68.6. He has 3,321 yards (301.9 ypg) passing, but he is by far the reason the Saints are one of the top teams in the NFL. Without Brees under center, the Saints are just another team. They wouldn't be Carolina Panthers bad, but they wouldn't be one game away from leading their division, either.
5. Michael Vick (Eagles)
I'm not going to put any of Vick's off-the-field behavior in my opinion. Just to get it out of the way, my NFL dream is to see Vick either suit up for the Browns or go to Cleveland Browns Stadium just for the fact he can play in the Dawg Pound. In football terms, Vick is having a great season. He's not Tom Brady in terms of being a leader, but he can make plays, has the highest QB rating (106.0), and has helped the Eagles become contenders after a dreadful 2009 season. The question I have is: With his style of play, can he actually play an entire season and stay healthy?
4. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
He's made the Green Bay Packers his team and is playing without a running game this year. He's passed for over 300 yards in each of his last two games. He has the yards passing with 2,945 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His QB rating is 97.4. But what I like about Rodgers is he's done more with less this season.
3. Peyton Manning (Colts)
For a career, I would say Peyton is the best QB playing today. This season, not so much. I know he's playing without many receivers and no semblance of a running game, but seven interceptions in his last two games, against big-time teams, hurts his ranking. I still would rather have Manning rather than any QB in the league. The reason I have him at No. 3 is this: the Colts would have one of the worst records in the NFL if not for having Manning as their QB. He makes players better, bottom line. It is a given he'll have good numbers each season, but lately he's starting to look like his little brother when he throws an interception.
2. Tom Brady (Patriots)
This year when the experts said the Patriots' reign was done, Brady has produced once again. Maybe his new sponsorship with Uggs Boots has inspired him to stay away from NFL defenses. Maybe it is his long hair and beard. (Have you seen him yell at his linemen and then toss his hair back? Funniest thing ever.) All I know is he has stats that are still atop the NFL, as do his Patriots. His stats: 66.3 completion percentage, 2,703 yards, 23 TDs, four INTs in 11 games. He is Mr. Patriot, and he's a winner.
1. Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
This is the most intense QB I've ever watched. You can tell he wants to win, and he is winning without much of anything. He's second in passing yards (3,362), 23 TDs, with a completion percentage of 66.2. He's thrown just nine INTs, but again, if he wasn't the QB of the Chargers, they wouldn't be making their usual second-half comeback. The reason he's ranked ahead of Brady is when he yells at his teammates, he doesn't have to flip back his hair.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
The quarterbacks I'm using are the QBs who were active Week 12. There will be no Tony Romo, Vince Young, Trent Edwards, Chad Pennington, Jason Campbell or Tyler Thigpen on this list.
Here is my list, separated into different categories. What do you think? Is your No. 1 different or the same? Let me know what your list is. Here is mine.
The Ryan Leaf Category
32. Rusty Smith (Titans)
No idea where this guy is from. Only seen him play a few plays. All I know is he was QB in Week 12 and Chris Johnson (a 2,000 yard rusher last season) had five yards on the ground. Insert Kerry Collins in Week 13.
31. Jimmy Clausen (Panthers)
The quarterbacks of the Carolina Panthers this season have been the following "who's not" of NFL QBs: Jimmy Clausen (Week 12), Tony Pike, Brian St. Pierre and Matt Moore. Stats for Carolina passing: 1,964 yards, seven TDs, 17 interceptions, 33 sacks (lost 225 yards on sacks). I'd rather have the fictional QB Shane Falco played by Keanu Reeves in "The Replacements" lead my team than Clausen. Remember when Clausen said he was going to win national titles with Notre Dame? (I'm still laughing.)
30. Carson Palmer (Bengals)
Speaking of Carson Palmer, though he is eighth in passing yards, my question is: How many of those yards have come in garbage time? In 11 starts this year, he's passed for 2,760 yards and 19 touchdowns. Here is where it gets bad. Palmer has thrown 15 interceptions with a QB rating of 78.5. He's been sacked 20 times for a loss of 145 yards. I know some of his INTs have been tips, but he stays in the pocket forever and misses open receivers. Maybe he needs a new jersey, but the sad and/or confused look on his face nowadays makes me wonder if he is related to the Manning family.
29. Derek Anderson (Cardinals)
He was replaced by rookie Max Hall (BYU) earlier this season but had a tirade (for laughing) after losing to the 49ers this past Monday. He takes these games serious, ya know. My question is, who is Max Hall? You have to be struggling if you are replaced by a rookie named Max Hall. The formerly high-powered offense of the Cards has gone from rocket fuel to double-A battery powered.
One-and-Done
28. Jake Delhomme (Browns)
I can rarely understand what he says. He's played in two games this season. Almost lost it for the Browns with late interceptions against the Jaguars. But there is one thing he proved he is great at in Week 12: Hut, hut … HIKE, drop back, hand ball to Peyton Hillis, repeat. He's ranked ahead of Rusty Smith for his diving, get-in-the-way block attempt he made to help the running game.
27. Bruce Gradkowski (Raiders)
The come-and-go weekly Raider QB is 83-of-157 for a QB rating of 66.3. Actually, he's below Derek Anderson, but he's ahead of Clausen, so that's all that really matters, right? Remember when Clausen was said to be NFL ready while at Notre Dame? Me neither.
26. Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks)
He used to be a productive QB, even went to the Super Bowl. He's lucky I don't have him last, just for the fact his family reunions and holidays involve sister-in-law Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Against the Chiefs, Matt was 20-of-37 for 282 yards and two touchdowns, last Sunday. For the year in 10 games, he has 10 TDs and nine picks. His best days are behind him.
25. Troy Smith (49ers)
He's been cut in the preseason by the Ravens, he was picked up by San Francisco, and he wouldn't be playing today if Alex Smith wasn't injury-prone and didn't have a different offensive coordinator every other week. On the bright side, Troy Smith can improve and has some weapons to work with on the 49ers' offense. He has some upside, but he has the Heisman curse too.
24. Chad Henne (Dolphins)
Henne was on the last Michigan team that actually gave Ohio State a game in the Buckeye-Wolverine rivalry. Since then, his time in the NFL isn't up to par for that of a second-round pick. He's played in nine games this year, was benched for poor play, and the Dolphins are 6-5 overall. If he continues to play like he did this past week against the Raiders (17-of-30, 307 yards, two TDs, one INT), he has the chance to move up this list before the season is over.
23. Shaun Hill (Lions)
He's playing because Matthew Stafford can't stay healthy. He can throw the football, and he gets free rein to throw it. His last three games he's had attempts of 50, 47 and 48, completing 88. Hill started eight games, going 215-of-351 for 2,206 with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. Not a franchise QB, but better than anyone that's been on the list already.
22. Jon Kitna (Cowboys)
If it wasn't for Dez Bryant, I don't know if the Cowboys would have the three wins they've somehow obtained. Kitna is a good enough band-aid for the injured Romo, but he's 38. He did have a 29-yard run against the Detroit Lions this year, but that's like saying the library will have books when you walk through the doors … it's a given against the Lions.
They've seen better days
21. Brett Favre (Vikings)
Seems like he took the "Pants On the Ground" song from last year a little too seriously. Just retire, already. (Again.)
20. Donovan McNabb (Redskins)
His coach doesn't really like him. They did beat the Philadelphia Eagles, but that wasn't one of his better games. He was benched this year during the final two-minute game-winning drive for … gulp … Rex Grossman. I can't rank anyone better who was replaced by the worst QB to ever start a Super Bowl, during the most important possession of the game.
Not sure about these guys, but better than most
19. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)
The dude gets to throw the football. He has emerging receivers, but plays in Buffalo, so that's a strike against him. My question is, do you think the Bengals miss him? Would you rather have kept him as your backup, or a starter/backup combo of Palmer and Palmer? One plus Fitzpatrick has is his playoff hockey beard, and he is a good fantasy QB. He's helped save my team, and that is good enough for me.
18. Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)
He has to face two quality teams twice a season in the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Freeman has improved a lot this year and has thrown for 2,261 yards (20th) with 15 TDs and five INTs.
System QBs?
17. Matt Cassel (Chiefs)
He could be higher, but this is a safe spot for Cassel. He's fifth in the NFL with 22 TD passes, with just four INTs. What worries me is his 60.4 competition percentage, but he has a nice 99.7 QB rating. He's more of a system QB than anything, with Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator. Last year, without Weis by his side, he had 16 INTs, and he has surpassed most of his numbers from last year in four fewer games.
16. Sam Bradford (Rams)
He could be the future of the NFL. As a rookie, I'd rather have him as a QB than most of the QBs I've discussed so far. He has a competition percentage of 60.5, with 17 TDs and nine INTs. His QB rating is 82.0 ... not bad for a rookie playing for a team that went 1-15. This year, they are 5-6 (tied for first in the NFC West), so he could be a good starting point for a franchise whose best days came when they had a coach (Dick Vermeil) who cried more than Tim Tebow.
15. Jay Cutler (Bears)
I like good Jay. I don't like bad Jay. He is absolutely Mr. yin-and-yang. One week he looks like one of the best in the league. The next game or a game later, it is like he thinks he's Brett Favre and just slings the ball into double or triple coverage to throw INTs, or he'll just play like he has Crisco on his hands and fumbles. He has talent but scares the bejeezus out of me.
These four are close
14. Matt Schaub (Texans)
Has the ability to have a big game. Not the numbers he put up last year, but that is due in large part to Adrian Foster leading the NFL in rushing. Has one of the better wide receivers in the game, who possibly could be an MMA fighter (did you see Andre Johnson's uppercut on Brian Fennigan?). If Schaub's teams would win more games, he'd be ranked higher. Make the playoffs and we'll talk.
13. David Garrard (Jaguars)
Pretty much the same with Cutler and Schaub. He is an up-and-down player like Cutler but plays on an up-and-down team like Schaub. (He also has a good running back in Maurice Jones-Drew.) Garrard has had some injuries and his city couldn’t care less about the NFL. I like his mobility, and he can make plays with his feet.
12. Mark Sanchez (Jets)
He's improved from year one to year two. Can't ask for much more than that at this point. His team is in first place, and he's had some game-winning drives. He looks like he can be a leader on the field, and before long, I guarantee the Jets will win a Super Bowl with Sanchez as their QB. He's got the receivers, if they can stay out of trouble, and he's played in big games in college. I like the fact he can handle pressure. My favorite stat is his interceptions are down this season, with just eight in 11 games.
11. Kyle Orton (Broncos)
Before you call me an idiot, just let me make my point. Orton is having a solid (quiet) season with 3,370 yards (No. 1 in NFL), 20 TDs, six INTs, with a completion percentage of 61.8. Sure, his team stinks, but with a wannabe Bill Belichick as his head coach (Josh McDaniels), along with playing for the team that shall be known forever as "The team who traded Peyton Hillis for Brady Freakin' Quinn," you wouldn't win many games either. He has six 300-plus yard-passing games, including a 476-yard effort against the Colts in Week 3. Don't overlook Orton.
The Top 10
10. Joe Flacco (Ravens)
I might have him slightly underrated, but it's my list, and this is where I'm putting him. He's helped turn the Baltimore Ravens into an offensive team with a really good defense, with the 11th-best QB rating after 12 weeks. I like where his career is headed.
9. Eli Manning (Giants)
He puts up good numbers and has a Super Bowl ring, but he is still the second-best Manning in the NFL. The biggest difference between him and his brother is this: Eli can make decent receivers good and Peyton can make decent receivers better. Don't get me wrong, Eli is a high-quality QB, he's just a laid-back player with a coach that isn't. Eli is seventh in passing yards, but his interceptions are high at 16 with a completion percentage of 65.2. I just hope he doesn't read this and get the Eli Manning sad face.
8. Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Not a fan of the guy. He's seems to be a leader on the field. He's hard to take down, runs like the cops are chasing him for positive yardage, and he can break tackles. Take away all his off-the-field issues, and he's one of the better QBs in the NFL (62.3 completion percentage, 99.1 QB rating). Though he missed the first four games this year (Steelers were 3-1), the Steelers are still his team, and there was no way Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon were leading the Steelers to the playoffs.
7. Matt Ryan (Falcons)
He's the most underrated QB in football. His team is in first place, and as of right now, the Falcons are the best team in the NFC. What I like about Ryan is his on-field presence. When people talk about NFL-ready QBs, he was what they are thinking of. Here are his stats: 64.7 completion percentage with 2,715 yards passing, 19 TDs and five INTs. Those numbers lead to this stat: Falcons' overall record at 9-2, best in the NFL.
6. Drew Brees (Saints)
This hasn't been Brees' best season, but it is still one that is respectable. He has a QB rating of 92.7 with a completion percentage of 68.6. He has 3,321 yards (301.9 ypg) passing, but he is by far the reason the Saints are one of the top teams in the NFL. Without Brees under center, the Saints are just another team. They wouldn't be Carolina Panthers bad, but they wouldn't be one game away from leading their division, either.
5. Michael Vick (Eagles)
I'm not going to put any of Vick's off-the-field behavior in my opinion. Just to get it out of the way, my NFL dream is to see Vick either suit up for the Browns or go to Cleveland Browns Stadium just for the fact he can play in the Dawg Pound. In football terms, Vick is having a great season. He's not Tom Brady in terms of being a leader, but he can make plays, has the highest QB rating (106.0), and has helped the Eagles become contenders after a dreadful 2009 season. The question I have is: With his style of play, can he actually play an entire season and stay healthy?
4. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
He's made the Green Bay Packers his team and is playing without a running game this year. He's passed for over 300 yards in each of his last two games. He has the yards passing with 2,945 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His QB rating is 97.4. But what I like about Rodgers is he's done more with less this season.
3. Peyton Manning (Colts)
For a career, I would say Peyton is the best QB playing today. This season, not so much. I know he's playing without many receivers and no semblance of a running game, but seven interceptions in his last two games, against big-time teams, hurts his ranking. I still would rather have Manning rather than any QB in the league. The reason I have him at No. 3 is this: the Colts would have one of the worst records in the NFL if not for having Manning as their QB. He makes players better, bottom line. It is a given he'll have good numbers each season, but lately he's starting to look like his little brother when he throws an interception.
2. Tom Brady (Patriots)
This year when the experts said the Patriots' reign was done, Brady has produced once again. Maybe his new sponsorship with Uggs Boots has inspired him to stay away from NFL defenses. Maybe it is his long hair and beard. (Have you seen him yell at his linemen and then toss his hair back? Funniest thing ever.) All I know is he has stats that are still atop the NFL, as do his Patriots. His stats: 66.3 completion percentage, 2,703 yards, 23 TDs, four INTs in 11 games. He is Mr. Patriot, and he's a winner.
1. Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
This is the most intense QB I've ever watched. You can tell he wants to win, and he is winning without much of anything. He's second in passing yards (3,362), 23 TDs, with a completion percentage of 66.2. He's thrown just nine INTs, but again, if he wasn't the QB of the Chargers, they wouldn't be making their usual second-half comeback. The reason he's ranked ahead of Brady is when he yells at his teammates, he doesn't have to flip back his hair.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]