BREAKING DOWN THE TOP QUARTERBACKS
It has been said the mark of a good quarterback is one that has success in the last two minutes of both halves, in the red zone and on third down. Below is a breakdown of the best quarterbacks for each category and a list of the Top 4 based on this criteria.
LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE FIRST HALF
Passing First Downs
19 Philip Rivers, SD
18 Matthew Stafford, DET
18 Ryan Tannehill, MIA
17 Russell Wilson, SEA
16 Cam Newton, CAR
14 Robert Griffin, WAS
12 Drew Brees, NO
12 Peyton Manning, DEN
11 Matt Ryan, ATL
11 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
Passing Touchdowns
4 Drew Brees, NO
4 Russell Wilson, SEA
3 Philip Rivers, SD
3 Robert Griffin, WAS
3 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
3 Ryan Tannehill, MIA
2 Andy Dalton, CIN
2 Tom Brady, NE
2 Cam Newton, CAR
2 Matt Ryan, ATL
2 Brandon Weeden, CLE
Fantasy Points
38.2 Russell Wilson, SEA
31.7 Philip Rivers, SD
28.5 Drew Brees, NO
28.3 Ryan Tannehil, MIA
25.6 Robert Griffin, WAS
22.2 Cam Newton, CAR
21.0 Peyton Manning, DEN
21.0 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
20.2 Alex Smith, KC
LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE FOURTH QUARTER
Passing First Downs
17 Philip Rivers, SD
14 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
11 Matt Ryan, ATL
11 Tom Brady, NE
10 Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
9 Tony Romo, DAL
9 Robert Griffin, WAS
7 Chad Henne, JAC
7 Ryan Tannehill, MIA
Passing Touchdowns
3 Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
2 Matt Ryan, ATL
2 Cam Newton, CAR
2 Jay Cutler, CHI
2 EJ Manuel, BUF
1 Several tied with
Fantasy Points
21.0 Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
16.8 Philip Rivers, SD
16.4 Robert Griffin, WAS
16.3 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
14.5 Matt Ryan, ATL
12.8 Jay Cutler, CHI
12.5 EJ Manuel, BUF
11.2 Christian Ponder, MIN
11.1 Tony Romo, DAL
RED ZONE Success
Passing First Downs
34 Peyton Manning, DEN
26 Philip Rivers, SD
23 Matthew Stafford, DET
20 Tom Brady, NE
20 Tony Romo, DAL
20 Drew Brees, NO
20 Alex Smith, KC
19 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
19 Matt Ryan, ATL
19 Andy Dalton, CIN
Passing Touchdowns
26 Peyton Manning, DEN
18 Matthew Stafford, DET
15 Philip Rivers, SD
15 Andy Dalton, CIN
15 Tony Romo, DAL
14 Matt Ryan, ATL
14 Tom Brady, NE
14 Drew Brees, NO
13 Cam Newton, CAR
13 Russell Wilson, SEA
Fantasy Points
128.4 Peyton Manning, DEN
98.0 Matthew Stafford, DET
93.1 Cam Newton, CAR
83.0 Andrew Luck, IND
76.6 Philip Rivers, SD
73.5 Colin Kaepernick, SF
72.7 Drew Brees, NO
69.8 Andy Dalton, CIN
69.1 Russell Wilson, SEA
68.0 Tony Romo, DAL
66.8 Matt Ryan, ATL
66.5 Tom Brady, NE
THIRD DOWN Success
Passing First Downs
56 Peyton Manning, DEN
54 Drew Brees, NO
51 Matthew Stafford, DET
50 Robert Griffin, WAS
48 Joe Flacco, BAL
48 Philip Rivers, SD
46 Matt Ryan, ATL
46 Andy Dalton, CIN
46 Tom Brady, NE
43 Eli Manning, NYG
42 Ryan Tannehill, MIA
42 Alex Smith, KC
Passing Touchdowns
10 Drew Brees, NO
9 Peyton Manning, DEN
8 Matthew Stafford, DET
6 Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
6 Ryan Tannehill, MIA
6 Robert Griffin, WAS
6 Russell Wilson, SEA
6 Alex Smith, KC
6 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
5 Carson Palmer, ARI
5 Cam Newton, CAR
5 Andy Dalton, CIN
5 Andrew Luck, IND
5 Jay Cutler, CHI
5 Tom Brady, NE
5 Colin Kaepernick, SF
Fantasy Points
93.0 Drew Brees, NO
82.6 Peyton Manning, DEN
81.6 Colin Kaepernick, SF
78.6 Matthew Stafford, DET
77.6 Cam Newton, CAR
76.3 Alex Smith, KC
69.9 Andrew Luck, IND
66.0 Robert Griffin, WAS
63.3 Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
62.2 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
58.7 Russell Wilson, SEA
CONCLUSION
This study was limited to production stats (passing first downs, passing touchdowns and fantasy points). It did not inlcude metrics that measure failure or efficiency, such as QB rating, drive success rate or number of failed third downs. It simply measured productive success. The results of this quick study will include only those who performed well in the above statistical categories. In this case, success is based off production.
Best quarterbacks at the end of the first half
1. Philip Rivers, SD
2. Russell Wilson, SEA
3. Drew Brees, NO
Best quarterbacks at the end of the fourth quarter
1. Philip Rivers, SD
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, TEN
3. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
4. Matt Ryan, ATL
Best quarterbacks in the Red Zone
1. Peyton Manning, DEN
2. Philip Rivers, SD
3. Matthew Stafford, DET
Best quarterbacks on third down
1. Drew Brees, NO
2. Peyton Manning, DEN
3. Matthew Stafford, DET
THE TOP FOUR
1. Philip Rivers, SD
2. Drew Brees, NO
3. Peyton Manning, DEN
4. Matthew Stafford, DET
