Top 5 NFL QB's

In light of this weekend's results in the NFL, I would like to reveal my own personal QB rankings. Since this is my blog post, I will set my own criteria for how to judge and determine the current state of NFL quarterbacking. I consider factors such as regular season stats, focusing in upon completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio, yards per attempt, and team winning percentage. I also take into consideration the playoff performances of the QB, sometimes the team played well and the quarterback did not, that is taken into consideration. Sometimes the quarterback plays well and the team did not win the game, that will also be taken into consideration. Also the "clutchness" of the QB's will play a factor as well. The last and probably the most important criteria for me is the eye test. Who always seems to be making plays at the right time and whose team is usually one of the last one's standing? I believe you cannot just judge based on one season, you have to look at the whole body of work with greater emphasis being on what has happened recently. That seems fair to me. I cannot place a guy high just because I think he will do well in the future. It has to be results-based rankings for me.

I decided to post about this topic because Super Bowl XLV will have two quarterbacks playing that are both highly regarded and place high in my rankings. The outcome of that game will have a bearing on future rankings, but I figured now was a good time to start the discussion.

I am limiting this to the top 5 Qb's for space purposes and because these are the elite, upper-echelon guys in the league.

Enjoy.

Feel free to disagree because I am sure you will.

() denotes age as of January 24, 2011

1. Tom Brady (33) New England Patriots- drafted in 2000, starter since 2001

Career Win-Loss Record: 111-32 (.776 %)

3 Super Bowl Titles, 4 overall appearances

2 Super Bowl MVP's (7 TD's-1 interception in 4 games)

14-5 Career Playoff Record (8 overall appearances)

95.2 Career Passer Rating, 96.2 and 111 the last 2 seasons

6 Pro Bowls, 3-4000 yard passing seasons

64 TD's, 17 interceptions last 2 seasons

23 4th quarter comebacks for his career

1 NFL MVP

Has not won the big one in 6 years, his last two playoff appearances have seen his team lose its first game. Be interesting to see how the Patriots build around him as he winds down the 2nd half of his career. On top of his game still. Consistency over the long haul the key to this ranking.

2. Peyton Manning (34): Indianapolis Colts, drafted in 1998 started every game of his career

Career Win-Loss: 141-67 (.678 winning percentage)

1 Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP (2 overall appearances)

9-10 Career Playoff Record (big red flag)

11 playoff appearances in 13 seasons (7 times has lost his first game in the postseason)

11 4000 yard passing seasons

399 TD passes for his career

35 4th quarter comebacks for his career

11 Pro Bowls, 5- 1st team All-Pro

4x NFL MVP (AP)

He may be the best regular season quarterback in league history, this side of Dan Marino. His playoff success, or lack thereof makes him a little difficult to judge historically and from a present day stand point. However, he has been far too good for far too long to be considered much lower than 2nd on my list. His career still has a few good seasons left in it but he will need to win another ring in order to truly be considered one of the all-time greats. The supporting cast needs to improve dramatically around him for this to occur.

3. Drew Brees (32): New Orleans Saints-drafted 2001, starter since 2002

Career Win-Loss Record: 79-58 (.577%)

1 Super Bowl Title and MVP (114 QB Rating)

4-3 Career Playoff Record (4 overall appearances, twice been knocked out in first game)

Last 2 seasons: 67 TD's-33 Int.

5-4,000 yard passing seasons

5 time Pro Bowler

1 time 1st team All-Pro

16 4th quarter comebacks

His career is not as full as the guys listed above him and is more full than the guys listed below him. He has been a top 5 guy for about years now. The Super Bowl win last year really elevated his status around the league from an already impressive regular season resume. He is right with Brady and Manning and if he can continue to lead his team into the playoffs and advance deep into the postseason, he will stay up here if not rise. He plays in one of the toughest divisions in football, the NFC South, which could hurt his future chances for postseason success.

4. Ben Roethlisberger (28): Pittsburgh Steelers, drafted 2004 and has started ever since

Career Win-Loss Record: 69-29 (.704%)

2 Super Bowl Titles (64.1 QB rating, 1 TD, 3 Int in 2 games)

10-2 Career Playoff Record, 5 overall postseason appearances

1 4,000 yard passing season

144 TD's-86 Interceptions for his career with a 63.1% completion rate

19 4th quarter comebacks

1 Pro Bowl

He is the antithesis of Peyton Manning, underwhelming regular season stats with overwhelming postseason numbers, although he has never really put up good numbers in the Super Bowl. Dude just finds ways to win and make plays when he needs to. The career winning percentage and postseason success is not coincidence to this last remark. Depending on how he performs in Super Bowl 45 could determine whether he can move up another spot on this list. Best QB under 30 years old.

5. Phillip Rivers (29) San Diego Chargers, drafted 2004, starter since 2006

Career Win-Loss Record: 55-25 (.688%)

3-4 Playoff Record (4 overall appearances)

97.2 Career Passer Rating, 104.4 and 101.8 last 2 seasons

136 TD to 58 Interceptions for Career

8.8, 8.7- Yards per pass attempt last 2 seasons to lead the league

12 4th quarter comebacks

3 Pro Bowls

What, you were expecting Aaron Rodgers?! Sorry, not yet my friend. I know Rodgers has been in a Super Bowl and Rivers has not. Rivers has been on top of his game the last 2 plus seasons and has had to deal with a team full of knuckleheads and an incompetent coach as well. I cannot fault him for that. His regular seasons stats are tremendous, 2 consecutive seasons with a passer rating over 100, yowsers! He has been in the league a little longer than Rodgers and has thus proven his consistency. That is the reason I chose him over Rodgers. I did not want to be a prisoner of the moment with him. Let's not rush to crown Rodgers as the next great QB and the best postseason QB ever. Let's let this breathe a little and take some time to evaluate them.

Others receiving consideration: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning

Thanks for reading.

MB