DID YOU MISS ME?

DID YOU MISS ME?

October 16, 2010! That is 82 days since the last time you have heard from me. There are so many things that have occurred in the last 82 days. The Giants won a World Series (don’t worry, nobody realized it either), Cam Newton was ruled ineligible and then eligible without anyone knowing, Somehow, Ohio State had 5 players ruled to have broken rules bad enough to be suspended for half of the season, but they were allowed to play in a bowl game., and then you have the NFL season coming to an end. This weekend we will get the madness that is Wild Card Weekend, and there are sure to be some questions that will be answered. However, if there is anything that we know about the NFL playoffs, that is the fact that to be successful, you must get good play from your quarterback. With that in mind, I am going to rank the playoff quarterbacks and help you to prepare for these upcoming playoffs.

Before I start let me just say that I am not here to baby anyone or to worry about hurting your feelings. This is not about some alleged vendetta against Peyton Manning, however, if you are one of the Manning guys who think he should be 1 just because his name is Peyton Manning then you probably will not want to continue reading (or read and then FIND SOME FACTS to prove me wrong…just remember “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!”---you got to love Herm Edwards), because the facts are the facts and they suggest that there are other playoff quarterbacks that will put their team in a position to win. So without anymore stalling, let me rank the quarterbacks of the 12 teams who are in the NFL Playoffs.

12. Matt Hasselbeck
This was probably the easiest of all of the picks (okay, the 2nd easiest pick). The Seahawks are the worst team in the playoffs and Hasselbeck is coming off of an injury and likely won’t be 100% and that does nothing to give anyone hope against the defending Super Bowl Champions.

PLAYOFF STATS: 9 Games (4 – 5); 58.2% Comp %; 245 YPG; 11 TD; 8 INT

11. Jay Cutler
It is odd to have the quarterback of the #2 seed ranked this low, however when you consider season numbers, lack of weapons, and the fact that Jay Cutler had never had a winning season prior to this year, you have to not feel strongly about him. There is no reason to believe that Cutler is going to thrive against the best team’s week in and week out. He is a gunslinger who can not be trusted to with the game on the line.

PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games

10. Mark Sanchez
I have no idea what we will see from Mark Sanchez on Saturday night in Indianapolis. I do know that he could not have found a better team to match up with in the AFC. The Colts are a defense with lots of wholes and should struggle to matchup with the weapons that the Jets possess. The problem is Sanchez throws nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, has seen his running game digress as the season has gone on, and has to deal with a coach who loves to hear himself talk almost as much as he likes to eat.

PLAYOFF STATS: 3 Games (2 – 1); 60.3% Comp %; 179 YPG; 4 TD; 2 INT

9. Matt Cassell
Matt Cassell is a guy who gets no respect at all. He is viewed largely as a game manager. The thing that makes Cassell scary is the fact that he has done what is asked of him from his team as well as anyone in these playoffs. He is a smart guy who is not going to beat you with the turnover; he has thrown 27 touchdowns to only 7 picks. This is someone who has a chance to be dangerous because his defense will keep them in the game and with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, Cassell may not have to carry a huge load to pick up a couple of playoff wins.

PLAYOFF STATS: No Playoff Games

8. Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco comes in just a little behind Aaron Rodgers. They both have a 2.5 – 1 touchdown to interception ratio, however, Flacco has more weapons and has the benefit of the short passing game to Ray Rice who is a major difference in the short passing game. As a 3 year veteran, the playoffs are becoming common for Flacco as he will be making his 6th playoff start of his young career. The problem is Flacco has played extremely poor in his previous playoff games, and will have to turn that around this year to have a shot at being successful. This could be the year.

PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (3 – 2); 47.5% Comp %; 132 YPG; 1 TD; 6 INT

7. Mike Vick
This may be the greatest comeback story since the Saints went marching in. No player flew higher and fell harder than the fall the Vick took from his $100 million contract and all of the endorsements. He served his time, paid his debt to society, waited for the door to open in Philly and then he took over a very talented team who is the perfect fit for his skill set. His mobility is a matchup nightmare for any team. He has the weapons to throw the ball down the field deep or take off and run. He has struggled a little down the stretch and against fast athletic defenses like Green Bay, he may struggle a little.

PLAYOFF STATS: 5 Games (2 – 3); 56.2% Comp %;137 YPG; 4 TD;3 INT; 239 RUSH YDS;

6. Aaron Rodgers
This is where the group starts to get interesting. Any of these guys from this position and up are capable of guiding their team to playoff success. Rodgers played in one of the wildest playoff games of my lifetime last year in Arizona. He threw 4 touchdown passes in the final 23 minutes of regulation only to lose the game on a fumble in overtime that was recovered and returned for a touchdown. Rodgers has gotten little support in terms of a running game, but of all of the quarterbacks, he may be the one who the running game is least important.

PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 66.7% Comp %; 423 YPG; 4 TD; 1 INT

5. Matt Ryan
Think Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz for both Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, because there truly is no place like home for this team. Matt Ryan is 19 – 2 as a starter in the Georgia Dome, and they will not have to leave the safety of the dome except for a Super Bowl Trip. When you look at Ryan, he has all of the weapons with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, and a really solid running game. He played ok in his only other playoff appearance, completing 65% of his passes while throwing a couple of td’s and picks. I expect Ryan to be much better this year and would not be that surprised by them representing the NFC in Dallas.

PLAYOFF STATS: 1 Game (0 – 1); 65% Comp %; 199 YPG; 2 TD; 2 INT

4. Peyton Manning
The final 4 begins with everyone’s darling, Peyton Manning. He gets more free passes than anyone not named Favre. This may have been the best season of his career. He lost most all of his offensive weapons at some point throughout the season and Manning still held the offense together and found a way to secure a 9th straight playoff appearance. I understand his REGULAR SEASON GREATNESS, but his playoff numbers speak for themselves (truthfully, he should probably be lower on this list, but this is Peyton we are talking about). Please don’t take my word for it, let me give you his numbers: he is 9 – 9 in the playoffs (prior to last year, he was 7 - 8), with 28 touchdowns to 19 picks (1.47 – 1 ratio). These are hardly the numbers of a great quarterback. I know that every time I write something and Manning’s lack of playoff success is mentioned, all of you people get upset, but the facts are the facts!

PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (9 – 9); 62.9% Comp %; 286 YPG; 28 TD; 19 INT

3. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben is making his 5th trip to the playoffs and is looking for his 3rd Super Bowl ring. He has complied an 8 – 2 record through 10 playoff games. He is cool under pressure, he already has 19 comeback wins (the most ever by a qb through his first 7 seasons), including possibly the single greatest throw in Super Bowl history. He has a great supporting cast and does a good job allowing the playmakers to make plays.

PLAYOFF STATS: 10 Games (8 – 2); 61.9% Comp %; 224 YPG; 15 TD; 12 INT

2. Drew Brees
Not only is Drew Brees the best quarterback in the NFC going into these playoffs, but the Saints may be the most dangerous team in the NFC. The defense is starting to look like the defense from last years Super Bowl team. Brees is 4 – 2 in the playoffs during his career, although he has played great completing 66% of his passes while averaging over 270 yards and throwing 13 touch downs to only 2 interceptions. Even though he has lost his top 2 rushers on the season, he has a ton of receivers who he can look to and Reggie Bush continues to be a match up nightmares for opponents.

PLAYOFF STATS: 6 Games (4 – 2); 66.7% Comp %; 275 YPG; 13 TD; 2 INT

1. Tom Brady
Yes, I love Tom Brady, there is nobody I would rather leading my team into the playoffs in NFL history. I have gone back and forth on this between Brady and Montana, but Brady seems to be at his best when the talent around him is at its worst. He is winning with a guy who disappeared in Seattle for a few years (Deion Branch), 2 rookies (Rob Gronkowski & Aaron Hernandez), and a guy who could not make the Jets practice squad (Danny Woodhead). He is 14 – 4 in the playoffs, completes 62%of his passes, averages 228 yards, and has almost a 2 – 1 touch down to interception ratio. His numbers have been flat out incredible this year and the defense has played better than anyone expected. Brady has his Patriots playing at a level that has them picked by many to win his 4th Super Bowl ring.

PLAYOFF STATS: 18 Games (14 – 4); 62% Comp %; 228 YPG; 28 TD; 15 INT

There you have it, my ranking of all 12 playoff quarter backs. What do you think? How would you rank them?