NFL Quarterback rankings

1. Peyton Manning
He has a Super Bowl. His team has won at least 12 games in every year since 2003. He’s easily the best regular-season quarterback in NFL history.
2. Philip Rivers
Leading the Chargers to a 13-win season last year was impressive. Rivers has played OK in the playoffs, posting a 3-4 record, a record that would be better if Nate Kaeding could make a kick in the playoffs. In the last three years, Rivers QB rating is 105. That’s the best in the NFL.
3. Drew Brees
Anyway you look at it, Brees was the best quarterback in the NFL in 2009. His 109.6 QB Rating and Super Bowl ring are evidence of that. He’s off to another quick start in 2010, with nine touchdown passes in five games.
4. Aaron Rodgers
His career QB Rating is 96.4 and in his one playoff start he threw for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns. It’s a small sample size, but when it’s all said and done Rodgers may be known as the best quarterback of the ‘10s decade.
5. Tom Brady
The Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004, and Brady hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2007-08 season. Still, I want the ball in Brady’s hands when the game’s on the line more than any other quarterback in the NFL.
6. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben actually played pretty poorly in the 2008 season, but the Steelers still won the Super Bowl. He’s made some great throws on the NFL’s biggest stages, and he has the second most Super Bowl rings of active players.
7. Tony Romo
Romo is the biggest enigma on this list. Statistically, he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, yet you would never know it if you listened to many Dallas fans. A deep playoff run would do wonders for his reputation, but the Cowboys first need to make the playoffs, which seems unlikely at this moment.
8. Matt Schaub
Schaub threw for 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns last year, and yet he’s only eighth on this list. Why? The Texans have never made the playoffs.
9. Mike Vick
He’s played 10 quarters of good football, and now I have him as a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. Seems a bit ridiculous, but Vick looks as good as ever, which is saying a lot considering some of the games he had when he was a Falcon.
10. Brett Favre
How quickly we forget that Favre threw for 4,200 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Favre has looked awful thus far, but I’m giving me one more shot to win me over.
11. Matt Ryan
Ryan has put up consistent above-average numbers for the Falcons in his career. But, I still haven’t seen Ryan put this team on his shoulders and win a big game. Until then, he’ll stay outside the top 10.
12. Kyle Orton
I never would have thought that I’d have Kyle Orton ranked higher than Eli Manning and Donovan McNabb, but I can’t ignore how well Orton has played to begin this season. He’s thrown for 1,733 and eight touchdowns in five games.
13. Eli Manning
For all the games which Manning has played terrible in the regular season, he was unbelievable in the 2007-08 playoffs. Because of that run, he’s the biggest wild card on this list. He has the talent to be the best quarterback on this list, but he also often plays like one of the worst.
14. Donovan McNabb
McNabb has produced just one deep playoff run since the 2004-05 season. He’s lost much of his mobility that made one of the best quarterbacks in the league a decade ago. His 81.9 QB Rating this year is rather pedestrian, yet he still has the ability to lead the Redskins to the playoffs.
15. Vince Young
Vince Young is a winner. He was a winner in college, and I believe he will have the Titans is playoffs for years to come. But his career 74.2 QB Rating isn’t good enough to be ranked any higher on this list than No. 15.
16. Mark Sanchez
Sanchez’s last eight games including playoffs: 6-2 record, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. Sanchez last season: 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. I still think in the back of my mind that Sanchez will hit some sophomore struggles soon.
17. Carson Palmer
18. Chad Henne
19. Joe Flacco
20. David Garrard
21. Jay Cutler
22. Josh Freeman
23. Matt Cassel
24. Alex Smith
25. Matthew Stafford
26. Jason Campbell
27. Matt Hasselbeck
28. Sam Bradford
29. Ryan Fitzpatrick
30. Jake Delhomme
31. Max Hall
32. Jimmy Clausen