Top Qb Division Belongs To Nfc South

[jtnc]

By Daniel Jeremiah

1) NFC South

1. Drew Brees, Saints*

2. Matt Ryan, Falcons

3. Cam Newton, Panthers

4. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers

I put this division on top because of the combination of depth, production and upside. Brees is a perennial MVP candidate. Ryan has been incredibly consistent in the first four years of his career. Newton's remarkable rookie season included a QB-record 14 rushing touchdowns. Freeman has lost weight and I expect him to have a bounceback season in 2012.

2) NFC North

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

2. Matthew Stafford, Lions

3. Jay Cutler, Bears

4. Christian Ponder, Vikings

This division is loaded at the position. Rodgers is the top QB in the league. Stafford finally stayed healthy and posted monster numbers in 2011. Cutler has always had the ability and I've seen growth in his decision making. I'm not yet sold on Ponder, but I saw some good things last season.

3) NFC East

1. Eli Manning, Giants

2. Tony Romo, Cowboys

3. Michael Vick, Eagles

4. Robert Griffin III, Redskins

The QBs in this division are all must-see TV. Manning has two Super Bowl rings and a growing reputation as a clutch performer. Romo had an excellent 2011 season that should quiet some of his critics. Vick started poorly last season, but he became more patient and efficient during the last quarter of the season. RG3 landed with the perfect coach to take advantage of his talents.

4) AFC West

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos

2. Philip Rivers, Chargers

3. Matt Cassel, Chiefs

4. Carson Palmer, Raiders

This division added some major star power with the arrival of Manning. Health and age are a concern, but an old Manning at 75 percent is still pretty darn good. Rivers tossed too many picks in 2011, but he played well down the stretch and should return to form in 2012. Cassel was having a disappointing 2011 campaign before suffering a season-ending hand injury. Palmer should benefit from a full offseason after joining the Raiders mid-year in 2011.

5) AFC North

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

2. Joe Flacco, Ravens

3. Andy Dalton, Bengals

4. Brandon Weeden/Colt McCoy, Browns

It was a tough call putting this group behind the AFC West QBs. Big Ben has two Super Bowl rings and is arguably the best in the league at extending the play. Last season, Flacco was a dropped pass away from making his Super Bowl debut, while Dalton would've been the talk of the league if not for Cam Newton's amazing rookie year. I'm not the biggest Weeden fan, but he does have size and a live arm.

6) AFC East

1. Tom Brady, Patriots

2. Mark Sanchez, Jets

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills

4. Matt Moore/Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins

I almost feel guilty ranking Tom Brady's division this low, but there are simply too many questions with the other three QB situations. At the age of 34, Brady threw for more than 5,000 yards and made his fifth Super Bowl appearance. Despite accounting for 32 touchdowns last season, Sanchez is under heavy scrutiny and must deal with the arrival ofTim The Golden Calf of Bristol. Fitzpatrick has to be more consistent and do a much better job of protecting the football in 2012. Despite the addition of Tannehill, I expect Moore to start the majority of the season.

7) AFC South

1. Matt Schaub, Texans

2. Andrew Luck, Colts

3. Matt Hasselbeck/Jake Locker, Titans

4. Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars

This group is best described as "under construction." After two healthy and productive years, Schaub was forced to miss the final six games of the 2011 regular season with a foot injury. Luck is the most pro-ready QB to enter the league in the last decade. Hasselbeck is going to get a strong push for his job from the younger, more gifted Locker. Gabbert should benefit from the wide receiver additions, but he's still very raw and unpolished.

8) NFC West

1. Alex Smith, 49ers

2. Sam Bradford, Rams

3. John Skelton/Kevin Kolb, Cardinals

4. Matt Flynn, Seahawks

This division only returns one QB (Smith) that started more than 10 games in 2011. Smith wasn't flashy last year, but he did a great job of protecting the ball and making clutch throws. Bradford has the most ability in the division, but he is going to have a hard time thriving with the lack of help around him. The Cardinals paid a steep price for Kolb, but Skelton outplayed him last year and should be the favorite to win the job. Flynn is a good decision maker, but his overall skill set is average at best.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8290fa0d/article/top-qb-division-belongs-to-drew-brees-not-aaron-rodgers?module=HP11_content_stream

Not surprising.

[panther4life]

I think his rankings are spot on. I never really put much thought into ranking each divisions QB's outside of our own,but he made a great list.

[Harris Aballah]

Depends if brees even gets on the field. Ryan may find his way to his worst season, and I've never been too sure about Freeman. Only time will tell on this one.

[CarolinaPride5]

Cam > Ryan

[heyyall]

Cam > Ryan

Cam has yet to make it to the playoffs, or have a decent record against NFC south opponents.

[janderson20vt]

Cam > Ryan

No. Not yet.

[4Corners]

another reason for the panthers to load up on quality corners

[csx]

People forget that Ryan quietly had a pretty good season last year.

[Argus Plexus]

This list will be different by the end of the year

[pOpCoRnPoPpEr]

I agree in the South has the best quarterbacks from top to bottom. but its very close with the NFC North right behind. I'm not sold on Freeman but he is better than Ponder at this point in their careers.

Couple of things

Cutler>Stafford and now that Cutler has weapons you will see the fireworks.

I actually like Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee.

Flynn will do well in Seattle. Much better than Kolb did in arz.

Not getting into the Cam Ryan thingy but i Ryan has made the playoffs and that important in my book.

I would take The Golden Calf of Bristol over anyone not named Brady in the AFC East.

[Jesse]

Seriously the NFC will be perennial Super Bowl winners with the continuity of these monster QB's in the conference. I think the defense plays up to Cam's level and we become dominant this year. Brees isn't even a Saint as of right now; Freeman might set back with Schiano, and Ryan shat himself on live television.

[csx]

Seriously the NFC will be perennial Super Bowl winners with the continuity of these monster QB's in the conference. I think the defense plays up to Cam's level and we become dominant this year. Brees isn't even a Saint as of right now; Freeman might set back with Schiano, and Ryan shat himself on live television.

Ryan played decently that game.....no interceptions, no fumbles, not a terrible completion percentage or awful rating. The team just got whipped by the Giants.

[Neylus]

Its a pretty big drop-off from the NFC South when you see it in black and white like that, wow. I mean Cam is 3rd?? Not disagreeing but thats one hell of a statement for our division.

[cultclassiccat]

Camageddon...its comin