Tuesday Morning Quarterback: The top rookies, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton, are finishing strong. Three AFC West QBs — Tim Tebow, Kyle Orton, Philip Rivers — took a mighty tumble. And it’s that time of year when backups get their chance.
The Week 16 rankings, according the NFL writer Mike Klis:
Rank/ Quarterback, team/ Previous Week
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers … 1(T)
Man is he good. Brees and Brady are good. Really, really good. But this guy is great. 45 TD passes against 6 picks is great.
2. Drew Brees, Saints … 1(T)
27 years was long enough for Marino. Brees now has two 5,000-yard passing seasons and one Super Bowl ring — one more of each than Marino.
3. Tom Brady, Patriots … 1(T)
First half against Dolphins: 7 of 19, 87 yards, 3 sacks, down 17-0. Second half: 20 of 27, 217 yards, 1 TD pass, 2 TD sneaks. Only 190 passing yards behind Brees.
4. Matthew Stafford, Lions … 6
9 TDs, 0 picks in 3-game winning streak. A QB who can lead Lions to playoffs is a top-5 QB.
5. Cam Newton, Panthers … 15
Seriously, have you seen this freak of human nature play? The quarterbacks above him do not have his talent.
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons … 5
Piled up 373 yards against Saints by moving the ball between the 20s but didn’t finish near enough to keep up with Brees.
7. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers ….. 8
Did not play because of ankle injury. May be opening playoffs in Denver next week.
8. Tony Romo, Cowboys … 4
Sprained right passing hand after throwing just his second pass against Eagles. Rested.
9. Andy Dalton, Bengals … 20
One of three QBs to pass for 3,000 yards and 20 TDs in rookie season. The others: Peyton Manning and Cam Newton. Manning was 3-13 as rookie; Newton is 6-9. Dalton is 9-6 with wild-card spot in sight.
10. Alex Smith, 49ers … 11
Might be Comeback Player of the Past 6 years. The quintessential game-manager who completed 14 of 26 for 179 yards and no picks in 19-17 comeback win at Seattle.
11. Michael Vick, Eagles … 14
Has played well since returning from injury, leading Eagles to 3 consecutive wins. Threw for 2 TDs, 293 yards in 20-7 win against Cowboys. But his injuries cost Eagles a playoff berth.
12. Eli Manning, Giants … 16
Played awful in New Jersey rivalry game, completing just 9 of 27 passes. But he got the ball to Victor Cruz at the right time and picked up clutch win.
13. Joe Flacco, Ravens … 18
Tough to judge because Ravens built quick and easy 17-0 lead against Browns, then seemed to lose interest. Completed just 11 of 24 for 132 yards with 42 coming on catch and TD run by RB Ray Rice.
14. Joe Webb, Vikings … N/R
As Tebow Maniacs would surely agree: Play the guy! Came off the bench in second half to throw 2 TDs and rush for another to beat Mike Shanahan’s Redskins in D.C.
15 . Matt Hasselbeck, Titans … 29
Returned from calf injury to throw for 350 yards in much-needed win against Jags.
16. Matt Moore, Dolphins… 17
Had Tom Brady whupped for a half. But didn’t finish. Still threw for 294 yards in nearly pulling off upset of Pats.
17. Charlie Batch, Steelers … N/R
Doesn’t he have to join Earl Morrall as one of the best backup QBs in history? Completed 15 of 22 for 208 in easy 27-0 win against hapless Rams.
18. Dan Orlovsky, Colts … 24
A loser no more. Sweet redemption to go from 0-16 Lions in 2008 to 0-13 Colts in 2011 to 2-0 Colts in last two weeks.
19. Carson Palmer, Raiders … 22
Threw two picks and had two rainbows caught for big plays. Has not played anywhere near the Carson Palmer in his prime but could be a weekend away from justifying trade.
20. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks … 12
Has developed into nice game manager, but needs to make bigger impact in passing game to beat the likes of 49ers. Completed 15 of 28 for only 163 yards in 19-17 loss.
21. Philip Rivers, Chargers … 7
Had gone 4 straight games without an interception until elimination defeat at Detroit where he had 8th multi-pick game.
22. Josh McCown, Bears … N/R
I like this guy. He had a 3 TD-0 pick game in beating the Broncos in a December, 2007 game in Oakland. He had not started since 2007, and then 5 weeks removed from his high school coaching gig, he leads the Bears to 21 points against Green Bay.
23. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills … 23
I thought he was better. To watch him live is to not be impressed. But he was the better of two quarterbacks Christmas Eve in Buffalo.
24. Tim Tebow, Broncos … 9
Had the knuckleball going against the Bills. A couple of them got away.
25. Kyle Orton, Chiefs …. 10
Came through with late, 4th quarter, game-tying TD pass. But also threw two picks, including one in end zone that cost Chiefs chance to win it in regulation.
26. Mark Sanchez, Jets… 19
How can a guy only get 258 yards passing out of 59 attempts? Threw two picks in losing game that was huge for bragging rights and wild-card spot.
27. Rex Grossman, Redskins … 21
Had a decent day in defeat, throwing 2 TDs with one pick. Couldn’t stop Skin’s six-game home slide.
28. John Skelton, Cardinals … 13
Got some Tebow in him in that he was shutout with 3 picks to trail 23-0 through three quarters. Then threw 2 TD passes in fourth but rally fell short against Bengals.
29. T.J. Yates, Texans … 26
Looked like a Double-A prospect playing in the majors during Thursday night loss to Indy.
30. Josh Freeman, Bucs … 30
He can play but this was clearly his regression year. Threw pick and lost (two) fumbles in 9th straight loss, this one 48-16 to Cam Newton’s Panthers.
31. Stephen McGee … N/R
Came off the bench for injured Romo. Completed a bunch of short passes (24 of 38 for 185) but didn’t make it happen.
32. Christian Ponder, Vikings … 31
Knocked out with concussion after decent first half. Does not deserve to play ahead of Joe Webb.
33. Seneca Wallace, Browns … 28
Embarrassing clock awareness to complete first-half shutout. Threw for only 147 yards on 33 pass attempts in 20.
34. Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars … 32
Got just 198 yards out of 42 pass attempts. His 53.5 rating in loss to Tennessee was his fifth rating below 60.
35. Kellen Clemens, Rams… 27
Shutout at home by Steelers after completing just 9 of 24 for 91 yards.
