Athlon Sports QB Power Rankings

[Quesadilla Joe]

2012 NFL Quarterbacks: Ranking the Best and Worst Starters

Ranking NFL quarterbacks is difficult and the criterion endless.

Montana versus Johnny-U versus Elway versus Favre? Is winning championships all that matters? What about statistical production and re-writing the record books? What about pure, raw, God-given athletic ability (looking at you Elway)? Or are intangibles and leadership ability more important?

To truly and objectively rank quarterbacks all of the above must be used to evaluate a player. I have attempted to rank all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL season for the 2012 year. This means, I don’t get a 22-year-old Peyton Manning or a 32-year-old Cam Newton.

So I put my general manager's hat on and asked this question:

If my goal is to win the Lombardi Trophy in 2012, who do I want running my offense?

Note: Age is at time of start of 2012 season

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (Age: 28, Record: 41-21)
2011 Stats: 4,643 yards, 45 TD, 6 INT, 257 rush yards, 3 TD

There is little debate on who is the best quarterback on the planet right now. Rodgers came close to multiple single-season NFL records in 2011 until sitting out the final game of the year. Nevertheless, his 122.5 QB rating broke an NFL record and his career 104.1 QB rating is the highest in the history of the sport. He has the arm strength, the athleticism, the leadership, the championship ring and is only 28 years old.

2. Tom Brady, New England (Age: 35, Record: 124-35)
2011 Stats: 5,235 yards, 39 TD, 12 INT, 109 rush yards, 3 TD

The starting record is staggering as Mr. GQ enters his 13th NFL season. He has led the Patriots to five Super Bowls, an undefeated regular season and has turned plenty of also-ran wide receivers into Super Bowl MVPs. He would have shattered Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record last fall had it not been for Drew Brees, and is the only QB to ever throw 50 touchdowns in a season (2007). Needless to say, Brady still has what it takes to be the best despite turning 35 in August.

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans (Age: 33, Record: 92-61)
2011 Stats: 5,476 yards, 46 TD, 14 INT, 86 rush yards, TD

His yardage total from last year speaks for itself. The Austin (Texas) Westlake product has led the NFL in completion percentage three years running and the has led the league in yards and touchdowns three times each. He has the championship ring and leadership skills to overcome his overall lack of raw physical skills (he is listed generously at 6-foot).

4. Eli Manning, New York Giants (Age: 31, Record: 69-50)
2011 Stats: 4,933 yards, 29 TD, 16 INT, 15 rush yards, TD

He has not been doing it as long or at high a level as his older brother, but Eli is the defending Super Bowl champion – for a second time. He set a career high in yards last fall by nearly 1,000 yards and has proven to be as clutch as any player in the playoffs. When he finally learns to cut down on his interceptions, he could easily find himself atop this list. Additionally, he hasn’t missed a start since taking over as the Giants starter in Week 10 of 2004 — that is 119 straight regular-season starts if you are counting at home.

5. Peyton Manning, Denver (Age: 36, Record: 141-67)
2011 Stats: None

If not for four (that we know of) neck surgeries and a new area code, the elder Manning would be no lower than No. 2 on this list. But there are still question marks surrounding No. 18’s ability to return to his Hall of Fame effectiveness. If he returns to full health, even at 36 years old, he is securely in the Top 3.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (Age: 30, Record: 80-33)
2011 Stats: 4,077 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT, 70 rush yards

Big Ben is an interesting case study as there feels like a clear drop-off after the Top 5. Statistically, he has never been one of the league’s elite passers, topping 20 touchdowns only three times with only one season of at least 30 scoring strikes. He has also missed five games over the last three years and has only started all 16 games in a year one time (2008). That said, he also is as tough a customer as there is in the game today and has two World Championships to prove it. Oh yeah, he also has won more than 70 percent of his games to this point.

7. Matthew Stafford, Detroit (Age: 24, Record: 13-16)
2011 Stats: 5,038 yards, 41 TD, 16 INT, 78 rush yards

The word projection comes to mind when trying to place Stafford. There are few quarterbacks with as much physical talent as the former Georgia Bulldog and he likely has the biggest arm in the game today. He also has played one full season as a starter — one that saw the Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 and was littered with passing and receiving team records. Health is really the only issue surrounding the Lions passer, as he played only 13 of his first 32 possible games before last year's breakout performance.

8. Tony Romo, Dallas (Age: 32, Record: 47-30)
2011 Stats: 4,184 yards, 31 TD, 10 INT, 46 rush yards, TD

Few players are more scrutinized in football than Romo. But after missing most of the 2010 season, he did his best to lead a team that lacked depth and had changed coaches to within one win of the NFC East crown. He posted his best statistical year last fall and feels like a young 32 — having begun his starting career at age 26 back in 2006. He is a classic overachiever, but is as tough as they come and is a quality leader. He needs to add to his one career playoff win to move up this list, however.

9. Philip Rivers, San Diego (Age: 30, Record: 63-33)
2011 Stats: 4,624 yards, 27 TD, 20 INT, 36 rush yards, TD

The word knucklehead quickly crops up when talking about Mr. Rivers. He constantly runs his mouth and sometimes his temper can get the best of him. But he also produces big numbers — four straight seasons above 4,000 yards — and wins a lot of games — he made the playoffs in each of his first four seasons as the starter. Yet, he has never been able to get his very talented teams into the big game and turned the ball over 25 times last fall. A return to the postseason this fall cements Rivers as one of the league’s top 10 signal callers.

10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta (Age: 27, Record: 43-19)
2011 Stats: 4,177 yards, 29 TD, 12 INT, 84 rush yards, 2 TD

When it comes to the NFL’s best it feels like Ryan is consistently overlooked. But his numbers play on any roster and his win-loss record is pristine. He has never had a losing season and has only missed the postseason once (at 10-6 nonetheless). He has improved his touchdown total four straight seasons (16, 22, 28, 29) and has increased his yards three straight years. He is a consummate professional who quietly accounted for 31 total touchdowns a year ago. Ryan has missed two games in his career and is about to enter his prime.


15. Carson Palmer, Oakland (Age: 32, Record: 50-56)
2011 Stats: 2,753 yards, 13 TD, 16 INT, 20 rush yards, TD (9 games)

Not just anyone could walk into Cincinnati and turn the Bengals into a perennial playoff contender but that is essentially what the No. 1 overall pick did in 2003. Cincy lost at least 10 games in five straight seasons before drafting Palmer. By 2005, the Bengals had their first winning season since 1988. In fact, Cincy has three postseason appearances since 1990 and two have come on the strong right arm of Palmer. After a brief six-game hiatus, all he did last year in Oakland (for a lame duck coach) was post his highest yards-per-game total of his career (275.3 ypg). At 32 years old, he still has plenty left in the 6-foot-5, 235-pound tank.



31. Matt Cassel, Kansas City (Age: 30, Record: 28-26)
2011 Stats: 1,713 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT, 99 rush yards (9 games)

The story is well-known: Cassel didn’t start a game at USC, sat behind Brady, went 10-5 when called upon in New England and parlayed one year into a big contract. Yet, he is a career 59.0 percent passer, is 18-21 as the Chiefs' starter with 32 interceptions and 22 fumbles over that span and has had major injury issues. Cassel has one more year to prove he is the franchise quarterback in KC

http://www.athlonsports.com/nfl/rank...rterbacks-2012

The rest is at the link, too many characters to post the entire thing.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Toad King

#32 running game
#27 defense

WINS SUPER BOWL

"lucky"

I'm not a Giants apologist but that defense really stepped it up in the playoffs. Good teams play their best football in the playoffs and while this Giants team had very average regular season numbers, they played big when it mattered the most.

Love the fact they beat the pats again. The pats can eat it.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Dave

More dumbassery...

Are you 6?
"Dumbass" only works for Milkman and at least he tries to explain it. (He's often wrong though).
Your lack of a valid argument makes me question your mental capacity.

[kysirsoze]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

I don't get why so many of you guys have a hard on for Eli, yet you wouldn't suck Dilfer's dick if he begged you, (Dave might though).

Somebody's just butthurt. Eli is great. He's been the biggest reason his team came through in the Superbowl, TWICE. He's not the most gifted physically and he isn't the best passer. He just has icewater running in his veins. Comparing him to Dilfer is a total joke.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by Toad King

Eli made that play happen by escaping the rush.

And he threw a perfect pass to Mario Manningham.

That was one of the best passes I have ever seen. Perfect.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

Eli and Dilfer aren't even in the same zipcode when discussing QBs. Eli is a franchise QB, Dilfer was not. Dilfer and Johnson were the last game managers to win a Super Bowl and the way the game is played now they were probably the last EVER.

But to put him at 4 is too high. Rivers is an example of QB who has better stats than Eli over the past 6 years. Roethlisbeger has the same amount of rings but they weren't as recent, so he's below Eli.
I'll put him in the lower half of the top ten but 4 is too high in my books.

[RealSNR]

Some really weird rankings in the middle there. Vick is way too low, Flacco is way too high, Fitzpatrick is WAY too high. But they got the beginning and endings almost spot on. I'd probably swap Roethlisberger and Peyton.

[Bump]

Originally Posted by Cassel>Manning

I think Eli is the most overrated QB in the NFL. He is also the luckiest QB in the NFL (Tyree, Manningham, 49er fumbles). He's not a bad QB, he just isn't Tom Brady, Brees, Peyton, etc.

JFC

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

Somebody's just butthurt. Eli is great. He's been the biggest reason his team came through in the Superbowl, TWICE. He's not the most gifted physically and he isn't the best passer. He just has icewater running in his veins. Comparing him to Dilfer is a total joke.

I'm comparing the fact that the Defense is what carried the team. The same can be said for Roethlisberger's first SB, Dilfer, etc...
People seem to forget this is a team sport.
Do you think Roethlisberger would have won if he was on the Giants this year? I do and I don't think it would have been as close, (and I don't even like Roethlisberger).

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Are you 6?
"Dumbass" only works for Milkman and at least he tries to explain it. (He's often wrong though).
Your lack of a valid argument makes me question your mental capacity.

I'm not getting into this with you because you're a troll or a moron.

You're bringing up Dilfer into this. That only leads me to 2 conclusions that I already mentioned.

[Hammock Parties]

The Giants defense sucked last year, bro.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

But to put him at 4 is too high. Rivers is an example of QB who has better stats than Eli over the past 6 years. Roethlisbeger has the same amount of rings but they weren't as recent, so he's below Eli.
I'll put him in the lower half of the top ten but 4 is too high in my books.

They are all the same to me man. Rivers, Brees, Eli, Brady, etc. They are all great QBs. I'm not picky. I'd take any in a heartbeat.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

I'm comparing the fact that the Defense is what carried the team. The same can be said for Roethlisberger's first SB, Dilfer, etc...
People seem to forget this is a team sport.
Do you think Roethlisberger would have won if he was on the Giants this year? I do and I don't think it would have been as close, (and I don't even like Roethlisberger).

Did you know that NY had the worst rushing offense last season?

[BigMeatballDave]

Bolt fan is bitter because Eli spurned them.

[Bump]

Eli is clutch as ****. 2, TWO last minute Superbowl winning drives. JFC, he's def, most def, 100% top 5. A true Elite QB. He can throw the ball as nice as just about anyone. 2 Superbowl MVP's. Dilfer wasn't the superbowl MVP and neither was Brad Johnson. JFC these people can't be serious and I'm eating troll bait.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Dave

Did you know that NY had the worst rushing offense last season?

Good job. you made a sentence.
The whole team was mediocre during the regular season and they nearly missed the playoffs.
Their D picked it up big time and Eli made some clutch plays but putting him that high when looking at the QBs below him might make you wonder if one of them could have done a better job under the same circumstances. Take Vick, as just one example.