NFL Power Rankings: Rating the Starting QBs by Clutch Factor

The quarterback position is one of the most critiqued positions in all of sports. Teams rely on their quarterback for production, leadership and most importantly, being clutch when it counts.

The difference between the good quarterbacks and the great ones is the great quarterbacks play their best when they have the most pressure on their shoulders. If quarterbacks are clutch, it translates into more wins on the field and greater success throughout the season.

While there are some great clutch quarterbacks in the NFL today, there are many who are unproven and could rise up into that clutch category.

Here are the power rankings for starting quarterbacks in the NFL by clutch factor.

32. Kellen Clemens: St. Louis Rams

Kellen Clemens has had a very unspectacular career in the NFL, to say the least. 

He has gone through four teams, including three in this season alone. After injuries to Sam Bradford and A.J. Feeley, Clemens was named the starter on Dec. 18 and performed well against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing for 225 yards and one touchdown.

However, Clemens' career stats are underwhelming with only six touchdowns, 11 interceptions and 2,006 passing yards.

He has filled mainly a backup role his entire career. The touchdown he threw against the Bengals was his first since 2007. 

31. Blaine Gabbert: Jacksonville Jaguars

After being drafted in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Blaine Gabbert has stepped into the starting role in just his rookie season.

Gabbert is only 3-10 as a starter and has not had any signature win in his first season. The one big win for Jacksonville was a 12-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens back in October. However, Gabbert went only 9-for-20 for 93 yards. 

His other two wins were against below-average teams in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis. Until he gains a little more experience, it's tough to consider Gabbert as a clutch quarterback. 

30. Josh McCown: Chicago Bears

Filling in for both Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie is nine-year NFL veteran Josh McCown.

So far this season, McCown is 0-2 with the Chicago Bears and hasn't really made much of an impact during his time as starter. 

McCown has had anything but a successful career as a starter, despite four seasons as a starter for the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders.

He has struggled with turning the ball over throughout his career. In 49 games played, he has 43 interceptions and 30 fumbles.

When Josh McCown is on the field, there really isn't much to see.

29. Seneca Wallace: Cleveland Browns

Seneca Wallace has been a career backup who has gotten his starting opportunities due to injuries or poor performances.

With Colt McCoy still feeling concussion symptoms, Wallace has gotten his shot with the Cleveland Browns. In 13 games with Cleveland, Wallace has only won one game as the starter.

While his recent performances with the Browns have been less than impressive, Wallace did have some successful years with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Although he has not been viewed as someone who could start in the NFL, he has been considered a reliable backup quarterback. Wallace's dual-threat ability makes him someone to watch out for late in games.

28. Christian Ponder: Minnesota Vikings

Following his surprise rise into the first round of the draft, Christian Ponder has only captured two victories in his rookie season.

Ponder has looked good at times, like when he threw for 235 yards and one touchdown in a win against the Carolina Panthers on the road. And there have been not-so-great times with Ponder, like when he turned the ball over with a bad throw in the first possession of overtime against the Denver Broncos.

With the ups and downs that Ponder has experienced throughout his rookie season, it's tough to determine how clutch he is at this point in his career.

27. Tarvaris Jackson: Seattle Seahawks

As a starter for the Seattle Seahawks, Tarvaris Jackson is 7-8.

He has had some great wins over playoff-contending teams like the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens and played well in both of those big wins. 

Not to mention, Jackson has also helped the Seahawks to recent victories over the Chicago Bears on the road and the Philadelphia Eagles. In those two games, Jackson has thrown for a combined total of 417 yards and two touchdowns. While he wasn't in the end zone much, Jackson did not turn the ball over once. In fact, he has zero turnovers in the last four games for Seattle, in which they are 3-1, including a close two-point loss to San Francisco.

Jackson seems to be improving as a quarterback with every game and could be a vital piece for the Seahawks in the near future.

26. John Skelton: Arizona Cardinals

John Skelton has re-energized the Arizona Cardinals offense since becoming the starter this season.

He is 5-2, with his two losses coming against two great defensive teams in Cincinnati and San Francisco. Skelton has struggled with turning the ball over, throwing 13 interceptions in those seven games, but has also been impressive with 10 touchdowns too.

It seems as if Skelton shines against the teams that he is supposed to beat. Three of the five wins he has this season are against St. Louis (twice) and Cleveland. At times though, Skelton really struggles. In a two-game stretch against St. Louis and San Francisco, Skelton threw for only a combined 213 passing yards, zero touchdowns and five interceptions.

Until he can become more consistent, Skelton will remain near the bottom of the league when it comes to clutch quarterbacks. 

25. Dan Orlovsky: Indianapolis Colts

Dan Orlovsky is the starting quarterback of the worst team in the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts were 0-10 when he took over the starting quarterback job and they have gone 2-2 with him as the starter.

Perhaps his best game came in a loss. Orlovsky was on fire against the New England Patriots, throwing for 353 yards and two touchdowns. He also just notched his second win this season against the league's top defense in the Houston Texans. He threw for 244 yards and one touchdown.

So far, Orlovsky has been very efficient, making sure he doesn't turn the ball over, which keeps his team competitive in the game.

His career as a starter is short, but he has been very impressive against top competition and bringing his team some quality wins in the process.

24. Matt Moore: Miami Dolphins

Matt Moore has had some short stints as a starter with the Carolina Panthers from 2008-2010, but he has finally provided some longevity to the position for the Miami Dolphins throughout this season.

In terms of being clutch, Moore is also a mixed bag. He has had some very strong games this season, including a three-touchdown performance in a 31-3 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. Moore has also had three separate occasions with at least three touchdowns this season, and also six games with zero interceptions.

However, Moore has been unable to get a big win this season, losing games to New England, San Diego, Denver, Dallas, the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Until he can get some marquee wins, it's tough to refer to Matt Moore as a clutch quarterback.

23. T.J. Yates: Houston Texans

T.J. Yates took over for the injured Matt Schaub back in November and has impressed early on in his rookie season. 

He's only played five games, but Yates is higher than most rookies on this list for his performance in one of those five games.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals, Yates threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. However, the most impressive aspect of his performance was the late fourth-quarter drive Yates led the Texans in.

With a little more than two minutes left, Yates drove the Texans down the field and scored the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds left on the clock. The win clinched the Texans' first playoff berth in team history.

For a rookie to achieve that feat in just the third game of his career is an impressive accomplishment by itself.

22. Alex Smith: San Francisco 49ers

For much of his career, Alex Smith, who was a former No. 1 overall pick, was considered a draft bust.

With the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, Smith's career has taken a turn for the better and he has become an impact player on the San Francisco 49ers offense.

Smith's stats haven't been incredible this season. He has only thrown for 2,900 yards and 16 touchdowns. But he has been careful about not turning the ball over as evidenced by his five interceptions on the year.

Since this is only Smith's first successful season as a starting quarterback, it's tough to say he is a clutch quarterback. However, Smith has led his team to an impressive 12-3 record this year, which adds more credibility to him. 

21. Rex Grossman: Washington Redskins

Inconsistency is the best word to describe Rex Grossman's career. 

Grossman saw some occasional playing time with the Bears early on in his career, but got off to a hot start in 2006. But Grossman's play faded as the season went on. Thankfully, the defense still performed well and got them to the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, Grossman was unable to capitalize on the huge opportunity. He only threw for 165 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His two turnovers were both very late in the game, with one being returned for a touchdown. Those interceptions helped seal the victory for the Colts and it sent the Bears home with a sour taste in their mouths.

Since then, Grossman has been on and off as the starting quarterback for the Bears and now the Redskins.

While Grossman can put up some points, he is unable to shake the turnover bug that has plagued him since 2006. 

20. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick's career has significantly improved over the past two seasons. Since 2010, he has thrown 45 touchdowns and more than 6,500 passing yards.

This season, he led the Buffalo Bills to a hot start by going 4-1, including a marquee win against the New England Patriots at home.

Fitzpatrick really made a name for himself during those first five games. He threw 10 touchdown passes and threw for an average of 246.6 yards per game.

He was rewarded with a long-term contract extension midway through the year.

Fitzpatrick would have been higher on the list, but the implosion of the Bills losing seven straight hurts his credibility as a clutch quarterback somewhat. Still, he has the ability to add more consistency and makes his way up this list in the next few seasons.

19. Andy Dalton: Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has turned the Cincinnati Bengals around and has them within reach of a playoff berth. 

Dalton came in as the starter when Carson Palmer refused to play for the Bengals this season and Dalton has taken full advantage of it.

He has thrown for 3,166 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. However, it's his impressive 9-6 record that has caught my eye. Many people didn't give Dalton a chance this season, but now he is on the verge of making the playoffs as a rookie.

The Bengals' strength has been their defense all season long, but you have to admire Dalton's energy and composure out on the football field.

18. Kyle Orton: Kansas City Chiefs

Kyle Orton's career has been a tumultuous one that has been marred by injuries. 

On two separate occasions, Orton has started the season well and put his team in an excellent position to make the playoffs, but injuries hobbled him and caused his teams to not make the playoffs.

Orton has put together respectable regular-season numbers, especially from 2008-2010 with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos. However, he was unable to make the playoffs in each of those three seasons.

He can't seem to get his team over the playoff hump. There isn't a lot to go by with Orton since he hasn't played in the playoffs, but his impressive string of regular-season performances should give him some advantages. 

However, because of his fading stats over the past two seasons and not being able to reach the playoffs as a starter, Orton's place on this list will take a hit for now.

17. Cam Newton: Carolina Panthers

The unique dual-threat capabilities of Cam Newton have electrified the NFL in his rookie season.

His team hasn't performed well, only winning six games this season, but that hardly falls on Newton's shoulders.

He has set rookie records for passing yards in an NFL debut as well as single-season passing yards for a rookie. Many games, Newton was the only reason the Panthers remained competitive at all.

Newton will only continue to play better as his NFL career progresses. Keep an eye out for him as he looks to create a few clutch moments of his own during his young career. He's one of the most exciting players to watch in the NFL.

16. Carson Palmer: Oakland Raiders

Carson Palmer is average when it comes to clutch moments during games. 

He led the Bengals to their first winning season in 15 years in 2005, which was just his third season in the NFL. But a knee injury in the playoffs sidelined him for a significant amount of time and plagued his career for a few seasons after that.

His production has been good, throwing for at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in both 2009 and 2010, but Palmer has yet to reclaim that top-10-quarterback status.

He's kept the Oakland Raiders in playoff contention this season after only being the starter for nine games, but his stats are less than impressive with 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

It seems as if Palmer is destined to be a middle-of-the-road quarterback since his injury. Time will tell, though, if he is able regain his original form.

15. Matt Hasselbeck: Tennessee Titans

Matt Hasselbeck is having his best season since 2007. He already has more than 3,000 yards passing and 16 touchdowns.

In a year when Chris Johnson is having a down year by his standards, Hasselbeck has led the Titans to a possible playoff berth, depending on what happens in Week 17. Still, the Titans have a chance to make it and a lot of the credit goes to Hasselbeck.

He had a history of this in Seattle. Although he never had the big-time wide receiver, he always kept the Seahawks in the playoff picture. From 2003-2007, the Seahawks never had fewer than nine wins.

Perhaps his best clutch performance came in 2010 when he led the Seahawks to a major upset playoff win against the New Orleans Saints, throwing for four touchdowns.

He would be higher on the list, but Hasselbeck loses a few spots because of his infamous "we want the ball and we're going to score" line against the Packers in the 2003 playoffs. He threw a pick-six to lose the game. 

14. Charlie Batch: Pittsburgh Steelers

After beginning his career as a serviceable starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions in 1998-2001, Charlie Batch has found a home in Pittsburgh as their backup quarterback to Ben Roethlisberger.

Although he is only a backup, Batch has shown a knack for being a reliable player to throw in when Roethlisberger is too banged up to play.

In 2010 when Big Ben was suspended for the first four games of the season and Dennis Dixon was injured, Batch stepped in as starting quarterback and the Steelers didn't miss a beat. He gave them two wins over quality opponents in Tennessee and Tampa Bay.

Just this past week, Roethlisberger had to sit out due to injury and Batch was given the start. The Steelers shut out the St. Louis Rams 27-0 and Batch threw for 208 yards.

It may not be pretty, but there's something to be said for a quarterback who can be as reliable as Batch has been throughout his career. 

13. Mark Sanchez: New York Jets

Mark Sanchez has had an up-and-down career in the NFL. It seems like he has never consistently played at a high level, but he always seems to do just enough to keep the New York Jets competitive in playoffs and regular season.

Sanchez is coming off of two bad losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. There's speculation that the Jets are looking to do something different at quarterback if Sanchez doesn't pull it together.

The truth is, while he hasn't been spectacular, he's been a winner. Sanchez has already led his team to the AFC Championship game twice in his young career, including a huge upset win on the road against the New England Patriots last season.

It may not be pretty all the time, but Sanchez gets the job done for the Jets.

12. Matt Ryan: Atlanta Falcons

Nicknamed "Matty Ice," Matt Ryan has been the savior for Atlanta Falcons football after the not-so-great departure of Michael Vick.

In his career, Ryan has a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and led the Falcons to the NFC's best record in 2010.

A quick exit in the playoffs diminished a spectacular season for Ryan, but he has made up for it with some great performances in this season.

Ryan showed his clutch factor in Week 14 after bringing the Falcons back from a 23-7 halftime deficit. Ryan threw four touchdowns and for over 300 yards in what has been the biggest comeback of the season for the Falcons.

He has yet to garner much success in the playoffs, but Ryan has just as much skill as anyone in the NFL. It is easy to see him climbing this list in the near future. 

11. Tony Romo: Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo has been an above-average starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys since 2006, earning three Pro Bowl selections.

But over time, Romo has developed a stigma about him not being able to win football games in the pressure moments, especially in December and in the playoffs. His below-.500 record in December and only one playoff win have contributed to this notion. 

His most famous moment came in the playoffs in 2006 when he dropped the snap on a game-winning field goal. It ruined the Cowboys' chances of winning the Wild Card Game and advancing in the playoffs. Since then, Romo's play in clutch moments has been scrutinized as much as any other quarterback in the league.

He has started putting the pieces together this season, however. An overtime win against the 49ers in Week 2, along with a late comeback win against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving show that Romo is moving in the right direction.

But for now, the jury is still out on how he'll perform in the playoffs this season. 

10. Michael Vick: Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick's clutch moments were mostly in the pre-jail portion of his career with the Atlanta Falcons.

During his time there, he took them to one NFC Championship game and provided countless big-play highlights.

His best moment with the Falcons came when he scampered for a 40-yard run against the Minnesota Vikings on the road in overtime. Vick dodged multiple defenders and capped it off by splitting between two Viking defensive backs as he reached the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

He stepped up his game last season when the Philadelphia Eagles needed him to after the injury to Kevin Kolb. When they've needed Vick, he's been there, producing wins for them, but he needs another long playoff run to solidify his clutch factor.

9. Josh Freeman: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It's been a tough season for Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Freeman still remains one of the more clutch quarterbacks in the NFL today.

In Freeman's young career, he already has eight come-from-behind fourth-quarter wins. He has shown a knack for bringing his team back from tough deficits and his leadership is evident on the field.

However, Freeman has been mostly ineffective this season and his team has struggled. Until he can right the ship, his position in the list will remain at No. 9.

8. Matthew Stafford: Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford's success as the Detroit Lions quarterback has risen rapidly throughout this season. Unfortunately, the team around him in past years hasn't been very good and Stafford's record reflected that, even though he has one of the strongest arms in all of the NFL.

Stafford quickly earned the respect of his teammates after playing through a separated shoulder during his rookie season. Not only did he play through it, but he scored the game-winning touchdown as time expired. 

He has continued to perform in clutch moments throughout his career, which has culminated in the Lions' first playoff berth since 1999.

Stafford is a true leader on the field and it's evident when he's out there.

7. Joe Flacco: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco has been the epitome of consistency for the Baltimore Ravens. 

In his four-year career, Flacco has put up at least 2,900 yards and thrown no more than 12 interceptions. The Ravens have been to the playoffs every year he's been under center as well as reaching the AFC Championship game in 2008. 

Flacco is a natural leader for the Ravens and his great performances in the playoffs prove that he has what it takes to perform well in clutch moments. 

Last season, he went on the road to Kansas City in the AFC Wild Card Round and threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Performances like that will earn Flacco high praise in the clutch category as he continues to put together a successful NFL career.

6. Philip Rivers: San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers has made a career out of clutch moments.

While he doesn't have a Super Bowl championship, Rivers still has a career total of 13 fourth-quarter comebacks. But his most impressive stat is his 23-3 career record in the month of December.

For whatever reason, Rivers just turns it on in the last month of the season. His impressive performances in December have given the Chargers several playoff berths throughout his career.

When Rivers can seal the deal and win a Super Bowl, that is when he can be considered in the top five of clutch quarterbacks in the league.

5. Eli Manning: New York Giants

Eli Manning has been considered on the threshold of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, but has never quite made it up there yet.

But in clutch moments, Eli Manning is one of the more reliable quarterbacks.

In one of the most epic moments in Super Bowl history, Eli Manning led the Giants on a late, game-winning drive against the undefeated New England Patriots. He threw some spectacular passes and I'm pretty sure no one still knows how he got out of the sack to throw that deep pass to David Tyree. Then, Manning capped off the drive with a beautiful pass to Plaxico Burress in the corner of the end zone to win the game.

Manning still has some bad moments, like the collapse of the New York Giants late in the season when they missed the playoffs.

Regardless, Manning is still one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league and he can thank that Super Bowl moment for ranking him high on this list.

4. Aaron Rodgers: Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers was long looked at as Brett Favre's backup who was waiting for his shot at starting. Now, Rodgers has begun a legacy of his own in Green Bay with a Super Bowl win to cap off a magical season for the Packers in 2010.

Rodgers has steadily improved his game and since taking over the starting job in 2008, Rodgers has grown into an elite quarterback. He currently has thrown for 4,633 yards and 45 touchdowns in 2011. Certainly, he'll be a favorite to win the MVP award at the conclusion of the season.

However, Rodgers' biggest clutch moment came towards the end of the 2010 season. Rodgers led them to two straight wins to close out the regular season and get a playoff berth. He then won four more games in a row, bringing home a Super Bowl Championship back to Green Bay.

3. Drew Brees: New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees' move to the New Orleans Saints has revitalized his career. Since 2006, Brees hasn't thrown for fewer than 4,300 yards and 25 touchdowns. An impressive streak to say the least.

Brees has been a machine, winning a Super Bowl in 2009 and now breaking the single-season passing-yardage record. His consistency has made him arguably the best quarterback in the NFL and someone that all defenses should fear.

His impressive numbers prove his recent dominance and Brees has been a force in big games. He utilizes everyone on offense and gets the most out of his receivers every game.

Brees' skill and experience allow him to stay cool, calm and collected during pressure situations, which makes it tough for teams to get the best of him in big games.

2. Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow has made the most of his starting opportunity this season, going 7-3 and bringing the Broncos back into playoff contention.

But the most impressive aspect of Tebow's game has been his will to win and how he already has six come-from-behind fourth-quarter or overtime victories in only 11 starts at quarterback.

He is 3-0 in overtime games and has defeated the rest of the AFC West on the road this season, which is something John Elway never accomplished.

Tebow has made a living by rising up in the pressure moments and leading his team to victory. Until that trend is broken, Tebow should be considered one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL today.

1. Tom Brady: New England Patriots

The most clutch starting quarterback in the NFL today is without a doubt Tom Brady.

Since taking over as the quarterback of the New England Patriots in 2001, Brady has amassed more than 39,000 yards and 297 touchdowns. Brady has also won three Super Bowls and been to seven Pro Bowls.

Brady is the most consistent and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the fourth quarter and in big games. In his career, Brady has a record of 125-37, including 14 wins in playoff games.

Brady is a proven winner in all situations, especially in the playoffs. Once he retires, he may be regarded as the best quarterback in NFL history.