15 Reasons to Stop Worrying and Love the Nfl Again

NFL QB Index: Ranking all 32 teams' chief starting quarterbacks at the end of the 2021 regular flavor

Published: January 12, 2022 at 02:42 PM

The term "game manager" used to depict mediocre quarterbacks who didn't make mistakes. Now the two best quarterbacks of the season -- and the terminal decade -- are the ultimate game managers.

Back in September and October, Aaron Rodgers was trying to avoid mistakes. He navigated weekly challenges with a rookie center and without his All-Pro left tackle, while flanked by a rotating bandage of weapons. When the reigning MVP dropped back to pass, you could almost see him calculating the risk in every throw relative to the game situation. He made sure the Packers' law-breaking did just enough without taking too many chances, at least until December, when he cranked upward the aerial fireshow.

Tom Brady has evolved into the bigger hazard taker because that'due south what his offense requires. He led the NFL in Pro Football Focus' Large Time Throws metric for the first time in his career. Brady helped make Leonard Fournette the virtually productive pass-communicable dorsum in football; Brady helped Rob Gronkowski turn back the clock a decade; then, when injuries and Antonio Brown struck tardily in the yr, Brady made Breshad Perriman and Cyril Grayson into heroes. That's managing the game, too, figuring out on the fly how best to maximize your surroundings.

For this calendar week's QB Index, I'll take stock of each squad's primary starter for the 2021 season. There volition be a final, mail service-Super Basin ranking of every quarterback who started a game this season -- including playoff results -- then the boxing for No. 1 isn't done here nonetheless. Only barring Joe Burrow winning Super Basin LVI, the first two slots on the board will exist filled, in some order, by Brady and Rodgers. Aforementioned equally it was in 2014 -- and 2020. For all the ridiculous young talent at the position, the guys at the top are the elders who encounter the whole picture the clearest.

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NOTE: This week's rankings feature each squad's primary starting quarterback, based solely on play from the 2021 regular season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers · Year 22

2020 final ranking: 2 |2019:14 |2018:10 |2017:1 |2016: 1 |2015: iii | 2014: 2 | 2013: T-4

Brady'southward impressive final three weeks edge him alee of Rodgers for the regular flavour. Rodgers volition probably win MVP (again), simply recency bias is a factor at that place. Brady was considerably ameliorate in the flavour's first half. TD-to-INT ratio is an overrated stat to separate them because both quarterbacks are so careful, finishing second (Brady) and third (Rodgers) in Pro Football Focus' turnover-worthy play per centum. Brady dropped back to pass 173 more times than Rodgers without sacrificing much efficiency and didn't miss a game. Both are well beneath Rodgers' 2020 level and choosing between the two is splitting hairs with no wrong reply. Volume is a fine tiebreaker!

Green Bay Packers · Twelvemonth 17

2020 concluding ranking: 1 |2019:vii |2018:v |2017:11 |2016: iii |2015: 9 | 2014: 1 | 2013: T-4

I never believed the Packers would allow Rodgers go -- and I definitely don't believe information technology now. He's having besides much fun and he must realize how well supported he is in Dark-green Bay with a potent coach, scheme and supporting talent. (And groovy front function, including assistant GM Aaron Rodgers.) During the end of the Mike McCarthy era, Rodgers sometimes played as if he was bored. He'd endeavor things for amusement. At present he plays more than locked in, dazzling when necessary, happier than ever to take the checkdown or change to a running play if information technology ways he gets that postgame interview with Erin Andrews.

Los Angeles Chargers · Yr 2

2020 final ranking: 9

He hitting his fifth read for a two-point conversion. He hit a quaternary-and-21 through a window the size of a keyhole to keep the season alive. He squeezed a ball into double coverage on the last play of regulation to send the Chargers season to overtime, after converting iii fourth-and-10s on the bulldoze. He did this. This calendar week'due south QB Index is supposed to exist about the season as a whole, simply Herbert's closing statement in Las Vegas said everything you lot need to know nigh his second campaign. He makes any coaching staff, scheme and offensive line wait ameliorate. Divorce each quarterback from his surroundings, evaluate Herbert's responsibilities over the whole flavor and that's but enough to edge out Joe Burrow for the third spot here.

Cincinnati Bengals · Yr two

2020 last ranking: 18

Arm strength matters. Teammates, writers and Burrow himself talked about his bigger arm heading into Year ii, but I was overly skeptical about the storyline. It felt like offseason hype, especially for a guy coming off a torn ACL. Instead, it made all the difference in Couch skipping a few steps on the evolution ladder. He pushed the ball down the field more to his first-class outside receivers. More importantly, he zipped the ball into tight windows that most quarterbacks couldn't see. Burrow's understanding of how defenses were attacking him locked in effectually Thanksgiving and made him a tiptop-x quarterback. But his physical traits -- including his pocket movement and scrambling ability -- grew even faster, vaulting him this high.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs · Year 5

2020 final ranking: iii |2019:2 |2018:one | 2017: Northward/A

The season finale against the Broncos told the story of this Chiefs season. It took Mahomes 44 throws to get to 270 yards and seven slow drives averaging 10 plays to score 20 points, merely he got the job washed in the stop. It was almost like NFL coordinators, overwhelmed by the brilliance of Mahomes' commencement three seasons, were determined to make him play more like anybody else. He learned to be patient this season, even if it wasn't as much fun.

2020 final ranking: v |2019:18 |2018:32

Allen'due south progression would make more sense on paper if yous flipped his 2021 and 2020 seasons. Simply fifty-fifty if he wasn't an MVP candidate this time, Allen solidified himself as a elevation-10 quarterback, a homo who changes a franchise. The highs are ridiculously high, like his second one-half against the Bucs and the win over the Pats. Information technology just took a sluggish commencement to the flavor and a few landmines like the Jaguars game to go at that place. Those John Elway comps don't seem so crazy at present.

Arizona Cardinals · Year 3

2020 final ranking: 10 |2019:13

The 2d-half decline wasn't as dramatic this season, only it was there. Murray was an MVP favorite when he hurt his ankle on the final play of a flavor-altering loss to the Packers. He missed three games and the Cardinals weren't the same upon his render. It's difficult to say why, because Murray was moving well. His rushing numbers tumbled, his fumbles skyrocketed and it took increasingly spectacular plays to move the ball. Murray still fabricated enough of those plays to exist effective, only the offensive rhythm the Cardinals congenital in the first half never returned.

Los Angeles Rams · Twelvemonth thirteen

2020 final ranking: xiii |2019:9 |2018:xvi |2017:8 |2016: viii |2015: xix | 2014: 17 | 2013: 13

Stafford turned it over eight times in the concluding three weeks of the flavour and had two three-game streaks this flavour with multiple turnovers. He tied for the league lead in interceptions and finished 5th in turnover-worthy plays, according to PFF. Yet when Stafford was skilful, he was exceptional, including well-nigh of the Week xviii finale. It annoys me more than than it should that Sean McVay didn't trust Stafford to throw the ball once to win the division. Isn't that why they brought him to town?

2020 final ranking: 16 |2019:eleven |2018:eighteen |2017:xx |2016: vii

You needed to scout every game to get a feel of Prescott's season. The numbers didn't change that drastically after the calf injury in Week vi, but his accuracy, rhythm and determination-making went from MVP-level to erratic within games. Two 50-burgers in the final three weeks concluded the slump, with Prescott's dazzling footwork and ability to make throws nether force per unit area back to peak form. Add information technology all up and it was a highly successful render from a devastating injury to the top of the NFC East and top-ten quarterback status, where Dak belongs.

Las Vegas Raiders · Year 8

2020 final ranking: 12 |2019:sixteen |2018:22 |2017:21 |2016: 5 |2015: ten | 2014: N/A

Football is weird. Carr played the best ball of his career for much of this season without much fanfare, with his leadership off the field getting more than notice. So Carr went through his worst stretch of play, full of turnovers and odd decisions, only every bit the Raiders started winning games again on the way to the playoffs -- and he got a ton of credit. His third-and-8 dime to ready up an overtime field goal Dominicus night helped save what may have been his least accurate game of the season. He was due some luck later carrying his team most of the year, rather than the other style around. No matter how the playoffs become, it'south been the most meaningful season of Carr'due south career.

Tennessee Titans · Year x

2020 final ranking: 8 |2019:7 |2018:xxx |2017:N/A |2016: 24 |2015: 26 | 2014: 13 | 2013: 14

I'yard glad Tannehill threw four touchdown passes in Week 18, and not simply considering my daughter drafted him in our weekly family fantasy league. The mean solar day helped make Tannehill'due south numbers look improve during a season where I swear he played just slightly worse than his first two flashier campaigns in Tennessee. He couldn't throw deep as much in 2021 considering the pass protection was roughshod and the already-sparse receiver group was usually injure. In a league full of ups and downs, Tannehill was as steady every bit his haircut.

Seattle Seahawks · Year 10

2020 final ranking: 6 |2019:iii |2018:6 |2017:5 |2016: 9 |2015: 4 | 2014: 8 | 2013: 6

Something was missing. Fifty-fifty in his first five starts before the pollex injury, the tape didn't support Wilson'south numbers. The athleticism and power to create was not the aforementioned. He missed three starts and his first month dorsum from thumb surgery was a mess, a large enough chunk of time to knock him out of the top x. It was a hard year to grade. His charge per unit stats wound upward looking incredible, but his PFF grade fell off a cliff. (He was 20th this year, sixth in 2020.) The most disruptive function was the last 2 weeks, when he and the Seahawks looked sensational. It was nice to see.

Minnesota Vikings · Year ten

2020 final ranking: fifteen |2019:viii |2018:xiii |2017:10 |2016: 13 |2015: 11 |2014: Northward/A |2013: N/A

There'south this idea that Kirk Cousins is frustratingly, consistently stuck in the eye. And while that'south true on the macro level, the opposite is also true. Like Cam Newton once upon a time, Cousins is consistently streaky. He'south either bang-up or terrible, and this flavor was no different. He played like a top-vii quarterback for a long stretch, spinning the ball downfield with incredible accuracy. Mike Zimmer, knowing his defence was also erratic, finally asked Cousins to be more aggressive down the stretch. The team put more on Cousins' plate, which folks like me had asked for. And so he cruel apart. (Pitiful virtually that.) I think we know what Kirk Cousins is: merely proficient enough to exist better than boilerplate. He'll fool you lot i style or another for months at a fourth dimension. Is that practiced plenty for the Vikings?

Baltimore Ravens · Year 4

2020 final ranking: seven |2019:1 |2018:23

Lamar was all over the place. He looked like the MVP through five games, slumped like never earlier afterward that, and then missed the final 4 games with an ankle injury. His vertical passing was fantastic early and his running numbers were outrageous as always, just he took a ton of sacks and forced the consequence as well much playing behind a ravaged offensive line and mediocre running game. Jackson'due south contract negotiation looms over this offseason.

Philadelphia Eagles · Yr two

2020 final ranking: 23

It wasn't a daze that Hurts led all quarterbacks with 786 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. His development as a pure passer was the bigger story. One time the Eagles built the offense out of their offensive line and Hurts' running ability, the passing game opened upward. Hurts needs work on his conclusion making -- similar a lot of immature quarterbacks -- but his accurateness and power to make all the throws took a major bound in Year 2. The Eagles found a starting quarterback with a belatedly 2nd-circular choice, i that was roundly criticized at the time.

Atlanta Falcons · Yr 14

He beat up on the bad teams and struggled against any defense that had a decent laissez passer blitz. More than dependent on his surround than ever earlier because of his diminished arm force, Ryan nevertheless makes good decisions, moves well in the pocket and hits targets. Put him on the 49ers, for instance, and he'd probably debate for the Pro Basin over again. Put him on the 2021 Falcons, and it'due south fine. Totally fine.

New England Patriots · Rookie

From Weeks 1-10, PFF graded him fifth(!) amid all quarterbacks. From Weeks eleven-xviii, he was 24th. Basically any efficiency number has him better than average among starters, which is terrific for a rookie. Still, the underdog tale I've seen peddled is a chip much. He was the 5th quarterback taken, just he was as well the 15th overall pick and a national champion. He should be good! At times, his touch on, timing and accuracy can look similar a young Philip Rivers. At other times, his arm force and physical traits look limiting. No thing how the playoffs get, he's both ahead of schedule and has a lot of work to do.

San Francisco 49ers · Year 8

2020 final ranking: T-30 |2019:15 |2018:Northward/A |2017:12 |2016: N/A |2015: N/A | 2014: N/A

The flavor finale against the Rams was Jimmy G's season writ small. He fumbled and threw a bad interception to get into a pigsty. He made some overnice throws under pressure level, allowing his bionic playmakers to run free. He made another killer interception, then pulled off a game-tying and game-winning drive. He got too much credit for the win, simply like he often gets too much blame for the losses. He is just enough, personified.

2020 final ranking: 29 |2019:xix |2018:N/A |2017:Northward/A |2016: N/A |2015: 24 | 2014: N/A

He'due south probably the new median for the Dalton Scale. That was my friend Chris Wesseling'south creation to explain mid-2010s Andy Dalton'southward place in the QB empyrean. If you had a QB ameliorate than Dalton, he was a franchise guy. If you had a QB beneath Dalton, you needed to detect a new one. That now feels truthful for Teddy, who rises and falls based on his environment. Despite a raft of injuries and a crude offensive line, Bridgewater was quietly efficient in 2021. He finished seventh in EPA/CPOE composite, ahead of players like Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen. That indicates Teddy was accurate and kept his team on the field, while pushing the brawl downfield more. But much like Dalton back in the solar day, Teddy was opponent dependent, struggling against practiced teams. He's not a long-term reply, yet he was ameliorate than enough of starters out in that location.

Indianapolis Colts · Yr 6

2020 final ranking: 35 |2019:10 |2018:fourteen |2017:3 |2016: 25

Planted in an ideal situation behind a great offensive line with his dream play caller, Wentz was steady until he wasn't. He closed with three of his worst four games of the season, a primary reason the Colts stumbled out of the playoff field. With the flavour on the line afterwards halftime in Jacksonville, Wentz short-circuited. The counting stats look solid, just Wentz suffers when you watch every snap. He finished 23rd in PFF'south grading amidst qualifiers, and 26th in Side by side Gen Stats' completion percentage over expected. In short: Wentz doesn't compensate with enough wow plays for what he lacks in accuracy or decision making.

New Orleans Saints · Year 7

2020 last ranking: N/A |2019:22 |2018:20 |2017:17 |2016: 15 |2015: 20

The Jameis era in New Orleans feels similar a century ago. He makes this list because his seven capable starts at quarterback led the team. Taysom Hill started five, Trevor Siemian four, and and then there was that Ian Book prime-time game that makes me tired just thinking most it. It was a shame to meet Winston hurt because his too-careful style under Sean Payton was just starting to loosen upwards. A full season of Jameis would have likely meant a playoff berth for the Saints.

2020 concluding ranking: 28

At that place's no i quite similar Tua. He lacks arm forcefulness and special throws, merely his timing and accuracy on quick-game concepts are major assets. No one threw more on RPO plays, a mode that helped compensate for the worst offensive line in football. He won't piece of work in every system and he finished the flavour poorly, mixing in too many head-scratching decisions after the adieu week. Still, he was on a curl before that and his career ceiling is college than consensus. His Brees-like skill set was always going to take fourth dimension to develop because he'll demand to boss mentally at the margins. He took a step forward and I think he has a run a risk to exist the next Ryan Tannehill, a elevation 8-12 quarterback who flourishes when he leaves Miami.

2020 last ranking: 22 |2019:20 |2018:seven |2017:15 |2016: 32

His top receivers were a fourth-circular rookie (Amon-Ra St. Brown), a former return specialist (Kalif Raymond) and a midseason pickup (Josh Reynolds), nonetheless the Lions provided Goff a fine spot to revive his career. The offensive line protected him. The coaching staff believed in Goff enough to break a fourth-downwards conversion record. He closed the season playing clean football in his terminal five starts, showing the gulf between him and his backups. He should be back, maybe paired with a rookie.

Cleveland Browns · Year 4

2020 last ranking: 11 |2019:24 |2018:12

I'g tired of trying to tease out the touch on of Mayfield'due south shoulder injury on his 2021 play, which took a gigantic step back. He was medically cleared to play each week. Quarterbacks play through injuries often and are evaluated with that in mind. Some excel. Some manage the injury enough to be boilerplate. Mayfield, a little meliorate than average when salubrious, became a liability. I worry that Baker doesn't have any major plus traits to compensate when his surroundings or his torso aren't 100 percent. His biggest shortcomings -- holding the ball too long, converting pressure level into sacks and not seeing the field -- have remained consistent throughout his career.

2020 final ranking: 24 |2019:23

Jones had the poor homo's version of Lamar Jackson's season. He played way amend than his numbers showed in a difficult situation for five weeks. Then he succumbed to his surroundings, the credible progress boomeranged and he concluded the season injure. Jones' cervix injury is a business, merely he's nether contract for cheap in 2022. The Giants' moribund criminal offence subsequently his departure helped show his worth. The squad has much bigger bug, although Jones would have merchandise value if a new regime wanted to get artistic.

Pittsburgh Steelers · Year 18

2020 final ranking: xx |2019:37 |2018:ix |2017:2 |2016: ten |2015: 5 | 2014: 3 | 2013: 5

Roethlisberger closed his AFC North career with wins to knock the Browns and Ravens out of the playoffs. Needing a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter in Baltimore, Roethlisberger got a score. Facing a "got to have it" fourth-and-8 in overtime to make the playoffs, Roethlisberger got it. This capped the worst individual regular season of Roethlisberger'south Hall of Fame career. He took more sacks than he had since 2013 and fumbled the ball more than than in any year since 2008. The concluding 4 games were also the worst stretch of this worst season, yet the Steelers even so won three of those games. He came into the league not getting much credit for his team'southward success and left the aforementioned fashion -- but in between, he was a top-five quarterback a whole lot more than you think.

Washington Football Team · Year half-dozen

2020 concluding ranking: 37 |2019:North/A |2018:N/A |2017:N/A |2016: N/A |2015: North/A

The more Heinicke played, the more that his unwavering self-belief cut both ways. He created large plays out of throws he shouldn't make. He often fabricated mistakes with those throws, especially when abaft. Out of 30 quarterbacks who took half of their teams' snaps, Heinicke had the quaternary-highest percentage of turnover-worthy plays, per PFF. Then again, starting fifteen games is an achievement for someone who was out of the league as recently as November 2020. He'll accept a long career as a backup and will be better used in short stints every bit a starter, similar his spiritual antecedent, Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Later some crude early starts, Fields showed more tangible promise than the three quarterbacks taken alee of him. That made it even more than disappointing when Fields missed 5 starts down the stretch; two for a rib injury, ii for an talocrural joint injury and Week 18 for COVID-19. Fields is an exceptional runner and an accurate passer, particularly deep. He holds the ball, and the Russell Wilson comparisons still brand sense. It'due south rare this happens, but consensus typhoon takes almost Fields' strengths, weaknesses and hope wait dead on. The No. 11 overall choice would have ranked higher if he'd been able to play more than.

Davis Mills had a improve season than the elevation three picks in the draft. Predict that in August and it's a hot-accept fireable law-breaking. Say it in January and no ane volition contend. Mills put the ball in harm's way a lot, especially in his kickoff run as a starter. Just he showed the ability to get hot and stay hot for stretches that exceeded his hyped classmates. His improvement by January was obvious and there were special throws. He conspicuously has a big arm and can throw on the movement. There'south no guarantee he'due south a franchise guy, but he'south absolutely an NFL quarterback, and that'southward difficult to find in the third round.

Jacksonville Jaguars · Rookie

All hail the 17-game season. Without it, we wouldn't have seen Lawrence's best game past far, knocking the Colts out of the playoffs. Lawrence was uncanny and precise on third downs early. He hit receivers in stride. His 3rd-quarter touchdown to Marvin Jones showed off his inventiveness and he cranked through reads earlier in the game like a dealer shuffling cards. Information technology was a deeply disappointing twelvemonth overall for the No. 1 selection, with too-rare glimmers of hope like the finale. Notwithstanding, he didn't look out of identify. He looked like a talented player unable to overcome a disastrous situation, throwing to other teams' failed typhoon picks, trying to protect his TD-to-INT ratio rather than playing complimentary. Don't blow this, Jaguars. (Once again.)

Carolina Panthers · Year 4

2020 terminal ranking: 36 |2019:26 |2018:24

Panthers coach Matt Rhule was natural language tied when talking about Darnold's season, seemingly out of explanations. GM Scott Fitterer says Darnold looks like "a good NFL quarterback" when protected. While the Panthers' awful offensive line was part of the problem, it's a bad sign that Darnold looked like the NFL'southward worst veteran starter when not protected. His eyes were on the pass rush, not the receivers. At that place's no question that his draft condition and the terms of Carolina'due south trade for him gave Darnold more chances than near quarterbacks would get. I doubt he'll become another in 2022.

It'due south too bad the season didn't terminate after the Bucs game, Wilson'south all-time first of the year. Instead, Wilson'due south parting shot was the worst offensive performance in Jets history. Wilson's athleticism showed up down the stretch, only the speed of the NFL game was too fast for the rookie. You could almost see him thinking, hitching until he knew for sure his receiver was open. At that place'southward no demand to panic, simply there's also no need to pretend this wasn't on the everyman possible range of outcomes for a rookie season.

The Air Index presented by FedEx ranks NFL quarterback performances all flavour long.

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Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-index-end-of-2021-nfl-season-rankings

15 Reasons to Stop Worrying and Love the Nfl Again

NFL QB Index: Ranking all 32 teams' chief starting quarterbacks at the end of the 2021 regular flavor

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