We take a stab at ranking the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL based on their production this season and updated by their weekly play. Wins and losses, stats and overall stature don’t reflect rankings as much as how each QB plays.
Outside of the top 10, there will also be a section that examines the ranking of the Broncos’ starting quarterback — currently Brock Osweiler — one QB that caught my eye for his recent performance, and the QB that is No. 32 or brings up the rear.
Tier I
1. Cam Newton, Panthers (1)
Newton is fresh off a 38-0 win to get to 13-0. He threw for 265 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions before being rested in the fourth quarter.
2. Tom Brady, Patriots (2)
With three games to play, Brady crossed the 4,000-yard passing threshold for the fifth straight season.
3. Carson Palmer, Cardinals (3)
Palmer hasn’t had a bad game all season. He’s finished with a passer rating better than 80 in every contest. Consistency is a great skill.
Tier II
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (5)
Wilson leads the NFL with an average of an 110 passer rating and he’s second in completion percentage to, wait for it, Washington’s Kirk Cousins.
5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (6)
It’s a tribute to Rodgers that he’s thrown 28 TDs to only five interceptions, but this could be considered a down year by his standards.
6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (7)
Big Ben has adopted the gunslinger mentality and he leads all QBs in passing yards per game. He completed 77 percent of his passes in a big road win over the Bengals.
Tier III
7. Eli Manning, (NR)
Good Eli showed up Monday night as threw just as many TD passes (four) as incompletions. He set the Giants’ completion record by converting 27 of 31 for 337 yards.
8. Drew Brees (NR)
Brees stopped a four-game losing streak by throwing for 312 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
9. Tyrod Taylor (9)
Taylor showed off his deep ball connecting with Sammy Watkins for an early 47-yard TD, but the Eagles defense got the better of him late. He ran for 53 yards, also.
10. Blake Bortles, Jaguars (NR)
Only Brady and Palmer have thrown more TDs than Bortles this season. His team isn’t very good, but he’s shown the promise of being a franchise QB.
Osweiler Watch (16)
Osweiler has embraced the game manager role in his words and his play. He threw for more than 300 yards, but needing 51 pass attempts shows the prevalence of short dump-off routes.
Caught my eye: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (18)
Fitzpatrick shaved off his beard and became a new quarterback. In his last three games — nine TDs, zero interceptions.
Bringing up the rear: Matt Cassel, Cowboys
Cassel completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw an interception. The Cowboys lack of QB depth cost them any chance of winning a bad division.
Fell out of the rankings: Andy Dalton (4, injury), Philip Rivers (8), Marcus Mariota (10).
Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe
