NFL Playoff Picture: Grading Each Team's Backup Quarterback

The NFL playoffs are populated with the few teams that have the best depth in the league. The most important position by far in the NFL is quarterback. However, the most underrated position in the league is backup quarterback.

Imagine a team making it thorough a brutal regular-season schedule, securing a high seed and home-field advantage only to be defeated in the first round because its starting quarterback gets injured, and the team has a horrible backup.

Several of the teams on this list fall into the "What were they thinking?" category when it comes to who's backing up the star quarterback. Other teams have a backup that will be a hot commodity once the offseason hits because the backup has the skills to be a starter on other NFL teams.

These selected few hold the great responsibility of preserving the championship hopes of their respective teammates, franchise and fans should the opportunity present itself.

Here’s a ranking and grade for each team’s underappreciated backup:

12. Denver Broncos: Brady Quinn

Brady Quinn is a Maxwell winning quarterback who played for Notre Dame before being drafted 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2007. Quinn ended up being traded to the Broncos in exchange for running back Peyton Hillis.

Quinn is a career backup, with only 184 completions for 1,902 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions. His mediocre 66.8 career rating has never brought him close to unseating Denver starting quarterback Tim Tebow.

On the chance Quinn has to see time in the playoffs, Denver fans better be ready to turn off the television or leave the stadium. Unless Quinn has an epiphany, he isn’t leading the Broncos to a postseason victory.

Grade: D-

11. Baltimore Ravens: Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor entered the 2011 as a decorated quarterback from Virginia Tech.

Taylor was selected in the sixth round by the Baltimore Ravens—180th overall. He's a dual-threat quarterback who has the ability to hurt teams with his legs as well as his arm.

Taylor has yet to see much action in the NFL. He has played some in the preseason, but his only regular-season action comes in the form of one pass attempt for 18 yards and one rush for two yards. The team hasn’t needed his services much because starter Joe Flacco has remained relatively healthy.

If push comes to shove and Taylor has to see action in the playoffs, the Ravens better hope running back Ray Rice is fresh enough to carry the load. Taylor lacks the ability to carry the team if Flacco goes down and isn’t much of a running threat against elite defenses that populate the NFL playoffs.

Grade: D

10. San Francisco 49ers: Colin Kaepernick

The 49ers moved up in the 2010 NFL draft to select Colin Kaepernick 36th overall in the second round.

The thought was Kaepernick would be a great insurance policy if starter Alex Smith failed to produce. Kaepernick had an outstanding collegiate career at Nevada including several all WAC honors.

In the NFL, Kaepernick has attempted five passes, completing three of them for five yards. Kaepernick doesn’t have the most astonishing numbers, but he hasn’t exactly had to play a lot, thanks to the resurgent Alex Smith in front of him.

If the inexperienced Kaepernick is called upon in the playoffs to play an extensive amount of time, it will result in a quick end to the dreams of a Superbowl in San Francisco.

Grade: D

9. New Orleans Saints: Chase Daniel

Chase Daniel was a two-time Heisman candidate while putting up gaudy numbers at the University of Missouri.

Despite this, Daniel went undrafted in 2009, and after a stint with the Washington Redskins, landed with the New Orleans Saints.

Daniel is similar to Green Bay’s Matt Flynn in that he has the responsibility of backing up one of the best quarterbacks in the league—Drew Brees.

Daniel has attempted eight passes in his short professional career and has thrown no touchdowns.

Daniel may have a Super Bowl victory on his resume (XLIV), but the city of New Orleans better pray he plays the same role in this postseason—on the sidelines holding a clipboard.

Extended time on the field for Daniel means an extended vacation for the Saints.

Grade: D

8. New England Patriots: Brian Hoyer

Brian Hoyer is an undrafted quarterback from Michigan State University who joined the New England Patriots in 2009.

Hoyer has been the primary backup to Tom Brady this season, even with the Patriots drafting Ryan Mallett in the 2011 NFL draft.

Hoyer hasn’t seen much action in his career. In 2011, Hoyer has attempted one pass for 22 yards. On his career, he has completed 27 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown.

He has looked solid in preseason outings, but other than that, he's mostly an unknown entity to all except those within the Patriots organization.

The Patriots seem to trust Hoyer to back up Brady. In the chance of a Brady injury, the team is prepared to have Hoyer as the starting quarterback. Whether that's a great idea or not is probably something the Patriots are hoping they won’t have to find out.

Grade: C-

7. New York Giants: David Carr

David Carr is the much-maligned quarterback who had the fortune of being drafted first overall in the 2002 NFL draft by the brand-new franchise the Houston Texans.

Carr was sacked an incredible 76 times that season, and to date, has been sacked an impressive 266 times.

Clearly, Carr’s career didn’t go as he intended. It’s not all horrible though. Carr has thrown for 14,433 yards and 65 touchdowns, along with 71 interceptions. He has attempted no passes in the 2011 season and hasn’t had to, thanks to Eli Manning.

Carr isn’t a horrible option for the Giants if he has to play. He has a great defense to back him up and huge targets to throw to in Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.

He’s a seasoned veteran who can come in and hold down the fort semi-effectively in spurts.

Relying on Carr to win a Super Bowl probably isn’t the greatest game plan though.

Grade: C

6. Atlanta Falcons: Chris Redman

Chris Redman is a journeyman quarterback who has finally found a home with the Atlanta Falcons for the past few years.

Redman has shined in spot-duty throughout the years and is a nice backup to Matt Ryan.

Redman has thrown for 3,179 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his career. He has seen some time in 2011, completing 18 passes for 188 yards and no scores.

At age 34, Redman is a veteran who has experience with four different NFL teams. He's a nice fit in Atlanta and very familiar with the system in place there.

He won’t necessarily win championships if called upon, but he's a nice veteran presence to have on the team.

Grade: C

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Bruce Gradkowski

Bruce Gradkowski is a career backup who entered the league five years ago and has played for five different teams.

Gradkowski was a sixth-round pick, 194th overall out of Toledo University.

On his career, Gradkowski has thrown for 3,992 yards, 21 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He was brought in by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 to be a mentor to rookie starting quarterback Andy Dalton.

If Dalton is unable to play, Gradkowski appears to have a good grasp on Jay Gruden’s simplistic offensive strategy.

It isn’t ideal to have Gradkowski seeing action in the playoffs, but if it comes down to it, he should be able to come in and keep the Bengals in a game.

Grade: C+

4. Detroit Lions: Shaun Hill

Shaun Hill has had an up-and-down career thus far.

Despite being traded for a seventh-round pick to the Lions and being the victim of the infamous “Calvin Johnson rule,” Hill has put together a solid career.

Hill has thrown for 6,209 yards, 39 touchdowns and 23 interceptions for a career 84.7 rating. Hill experienced several average seasons with the 49ers and Lions but has found a nice career backup role with the Lions.

Hill is a solid veteran who backs up Matthew Stafford very nicely.

He's the type of backup who can come in and win games, thanks to the weapons around him and knowledge of the system.

Grade: C+

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charlie Batch

Charlie Batch is a 13-year veteran who has played most of his years with the Steelers.

Before joining Pittsburgh, Batch was a starter at times for the Detroit Lions after the Lions selected him in the second round.

Batch has 10,610 career passing yards, 60 touchdowns and 48 interceptions. He has over 1,000 career passing attempts in 13 seasons and has a deep knowledge of the Steelers’ system after nine years of learning it.

Batch has looked good running the Steelers’ offense when called upon. With an elite defense backing him, Batch is the type of quarterback who could come in and win games for the Steelers.

If Ben Roethlisberger’s ankle doesn’t hold up, look for the Steelers to be comfortable going to Batch to relieve Big Ben.

Grade: B-

2. Houston Texans: Jake Delhomme

Jake Delhomme is technically the fourth-string quarterback for the Houston Texans, but because of injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, Delhomme has been called upon to back up rookie T.J Yates.

Delhomme is a veteran who has played in a Super Bowl before. Despite losing, Delhomme has had a solid career throwing for 20,975 yards, 126 touchdowns and 101 interceptions.

At 36, Delhomme has certainly lost a step and has a tendency to fumble. However, his veteran presence and leadership skills would allow him to play effectively with an elite team like the Texans.

Wide receiver Andre Johnson is one of the best receivers in the league, and Arian Foster is one of the best running backs. Delhomme has the potential and talent around him to push the Texans deep into the playoffs, if Yates is injured again.

Grade: B

1. Green Bay Packers: Matt Flynn

Matt Flynn is far and away the best quarterback on this list.

The Green Bay Packers are blessed to have not only the best quarterback in the league in Aaron Rodgers, but the best backup in the league as well.

In Week 17, Flynn started in place of Rodgers against the Detroit Lions. Flynn threw for 518 yards and six touchdowns with a 124.8 rating.

In total, Flynn has attempted 132 passes in his career and completed 82 of them for 1,015 yards and nine touchdowns.

In the unfortunate case of an injury to Rodgers, it appears as if Packers fans don’t have to worry.

Flynn would step right in and potentially carry the team deep into the postseason.

Grade: A+