Quarterback Power Rankings 2013: Elite Tier

1.      Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Brady’s résumé (5 Super Bowl Appearances, 3 Rings) speaks for itself as the future Hall-of-Famer is the best decision-maker in the NFL. In the past three seasons, he has tossed a whopping 109 touchdowns with just 24 interceptions. Not only does he take care of the ball at an extraordinary rate, he also is also virtually unstoppable when executing the QB sneak. Brady excels at recognizing the blitz and exploiting mismatches in the defense. His league-best third-down rate is another reason why he is the top signal-caller in the league. Brady has won 17 playoff games, the most in NFL history, furthering his case as the top quarterback in the league.

2.      Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers is the best all-around quarterback in the league.Not only does he have a rocket arm with pinpoint accuracy, he also shines in evading the pass rush. No QB can compare in his ability to escape blitzing defenders and then fire the ball away with precision and incredible velocity. Rodgers had a +31 last season in terms of touchdowns per interceptions (39 TD, 8 INT), the best mark in the NFL. Rodgers puts the Packers in a great position to win the Super Bowl as he looks to win his second ring in four years.

3.      Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Manning is the best QB when it comes to making adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He is always in sync with his receivers because he anticipates where they will be before throwing the ball. Being on a new team last year did not faze Manning because he was so in tune with his wideouts. In his first year in Denver, he tossed 37 touchdowns, leading the Broncos to the best record in the AFC. If Manning can lead the Broncos to a title this year, he would become the first quarterback in league history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.

4.      Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees is an excellent down-field passer that has underrated mobility in the pocket. The 2009 Super Bowl MVP closes drives with great success, made evident by his NFL-record 54 straight games with a TD pass (streak ended last year versus Atlanta Falcons). Over the past five seasons, Brees has amassed the post touchdown passes in the red zone. Last season, Brees tossed 31 touchdowns without an interception from inside the 20-yard line. He also led the league with 43 touchdowns passes.

5.      Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco moved his quarterback status into the upper echelon with his remarkable playoff run, ending in his first Super Bowl victory. Flacco throws the best deep-ball pass in the league as he is terrific at leading his receivers with passes down-field. Flacco is a consistent winner. Since entering the league in 2008, he has led the Ravens to at least one road playoff win in each postseason. Flacco has won six road playoff games, the most in the Super Bowl era.

6.      Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan has earned the label of “Matty Ice”, leading 23 game-winning drives and 16 fourth quarter comebacks in his five years in the NFL. He is undoubtedly an elite quarterback, silencing his critics with a playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks that saw him lead the Falcons on a game-winning drive against one of the leagues’ best defenses with less than a minute to go. With Ryan attaining his elusive first playoff win, he now belongs in the conversation of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the league.

7.      Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli is the most dependable quarterback when it comes to making a critical throw in crunch time. Eli is great at manipulating one-on-coverage and then passing the ball in a place that only his receiver can catch. Eli is a composed quarterback that is unfazed and ready for any challenge. He has won two Super Bowls and posts an astonishing 5-1 record on the road in the playoffs.

8.      Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers had a disappointing season, but Big Ben was still able to hold in own as the man under center. He tossed 26 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions, finishing with the seventh best passing rate in the league with a mark of 97.0. Big Ben is renowned for his ability to shed off tackles and blitzes from the defenses and then connect with a receiver for a big play in situations that the offense appeared doomed. The Steelers appear headed for the decline, but Big Ben can still boast about his two Super Bowl rings.