Always a topic of discussion. So let’s settle it: Who is the best QB in the NFL? To start we need to come up with some criteria to define what exactly the best is.
Since the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, we can’t base this off of past successes. Conversely, we cant necessarily base this off just last year’s performance. So….lets give these 32 fine gentleman 3 years. So in 3 years what was your:
QBR
Passing Yards
Completion Rate
Win Percentage
Let’s begin by bringing the obvious candidates forward:
Peyton Manning
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Aaron Rodgers
Peyton had a stunning, record-breaking season in 2013, and is often dubbed the greatest regular season QB of all time.
He’s off to yet another brilliant start, but should his non-existent 2011 season and the manner in which he lost the Superbowl be taken into account? The stats:
QBR: 109.8
Passing yards: 10,950
Completion Rate: 67.9
Win Percentage: 81.25
Tom Brady has had what is likely the sorriest collection of offensive weapons…ever. Yet he has still managed to win his division every year for the last three years, and despite his 3-2 record thus far – history indicates that he will once again triumph as AFC East Champ. Is he the best QB in the NFL though?
QBR: 92.67
Passing yards: 15,196
Completion rate: 62.05
Win Percentage: 77
Is Drew Brees the best QB in the league? He’s a Superbowl champion, and currently has a laundry list of records that include: Most consecutive 4000+ yard seasons, most 5,000 yard seasons, most consecutive games with a TD pass, most completions in a game, etc etc. The guy is a record setting machine. Here’s his stats over the last 3 years:
QBR: 102.78
Passing yards: 17,018
Completion Rate: 67.9
Win Percentage: 64.5
And Finally we have who many refer to as “the most complete QB in the NFL” or as Stephen A Smith says, “A baaaaaaad man”, Aaron Rodgers. His ability to escape the pocket and make huge downfield throws is uncanny, and with the addition of a running game in the last two seasons, nothing short of greatness will be expected. How do his stats line up though? Is he the best QB in the NFL?
QBR: 112.55
Passing yards: 12,629
Completion Rate: 67.2
Win Percentage: 70.8
So, now with the usual suspects out of the way, we have to take into consideration two dark horses:
Phillip Rivers
Tony Romo
Phillip Rivers has been resurgant in the last two seasons. So much so that currently he’s in the discussion for league MVP. Could he make a running at being the best QB in the NFL though?
QBR: 99.78
Passing yards: 14,151
Completion Rate: 66.7
Win Percentage: 50
And so we come to the tremendously maligned Tony Romo. The most inconsistently consistent QB in NFL History. He can perform brilliantly one night then toss ducks to the opposing team the very next week. His November QBR is the highest of all time. But how do his numbers match up to the others?
QBR: 97.05
Passing yards: 14,175
Completion Rate: 66.25
Win Percentage: 50
While our perceived dark horses posed impressive numbers, nobody can quite match the clear cut best QB in the NFL.
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s settle it. The best QB in the NFL is:
Johnny Manziel
Just kidding, it’s Drew Brees.
