Throughout the 2016 NFL regular season, we’ve been ranking the league’s top 10 quarterbacks. For the Divisional Round, let’s focus on the eight starters still alive.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: In the last three weeks, the Packers have averaged 35.7 points per game, Rodgers has 12 TD, 0 INT and a 129.2 passer rating. Green Bay 3-0. But if you’d prefer larger sample size, the guy has a 34-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio dating back to Week 7. The highest-rated passer in NFL history is playing the best football of his career.
2. Tom Brady, Patriots: Then again, Brady’s got a 28-to-2 touchdown to interception ratio since returning from suspension in Week 5. That and the rest of his rate-based stats are right there with Rodgers, but he’s not quite as hot at the very moment.
3. Matt Ryan, Falcons: Our favorite for offensive player of the year led the league in yards per attempt and passer rating by rather large margins before enjoying a bye week.
4. Dak Prescott, Cowboys: The rookie won 13 games and threw just four interceptions, finishing the season as the league’s third-highest-rated passer before also enjoying a bye week.
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: The two interceptions weren’t ideal, but Big Ben still made easy work of the Dolphins. Guy threw just five incomplete passes. He’s had an up-and-down year, but when he’s at his best he’s still right there with Rodgers and Brady.
6. Russell Wilson, Seahawks: He’s back on track with 10 touchdowns and only one interception in his last four games, and a spectacular wild-card performance against the Lions. Still not running much, though.
7. Alex Smith, Chiefs: With just 15 touchdown passes and 15 20-air-yard completions in 15 games, I wonder if Smith has the ability to make big throws in big January spots for this Kansas City team.
8. Brock Osweiler, Texans: To Osweiler’s credit, he made a couple big-boy throws in the second quarter against the Raiders. He didn’t do much beyond that, but he wasn’t asked to. There’s some hope here. Not much, but some.
