Matt Ryan: Why the Jury Is Still out on the Atlanta Falcons QB's Elite Status

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has looked great through his first four games of the 2012 NFL season, but claiming he is one of the NFL's elite at the position may be a bit premature at this point. 

Ryan has had a hot start to the season, but his overall play does not warrant an elite tag just yet. 

The Falcons are sitting pretty atop the NFC South with a 4-0 record largely thanks to Ryan's stellar play, but the elite offensive weapons around him have played a major role as well. 

Let's examine whether Ryan deserves to own the elite tag just yet. 

The Numbers

Ryan is now 27 years old, and in his five years in the league to date, he has thrown for just more than 15,000 yards to go with his 106 touchdowns and 48 interceptions. He has completed just more than 60 percent of his passes with a career 89 rating. 

For comparison's sake, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is considered the best quarterback in the NFL. In his first four years as a starter between 2008-2011, Rodgers threw for more than 17,000 yards and 131 touchdowns with 37 interceptions.

This season has been especially exceptional for Ryan, who has thrown for 11 touchdowns, 1,162 yards and only two interceptions. His rating in these first four games is right near the top of the league as well considering it is more than 100. 

Statistically, Ryan has not performed better than some of the NFL's best in similar time spans, and it is a bit early in the season to suddenly label him as elite. 

The Postseason 

For a quarterback to be labeled elite, he must not only fill up a stat sheet but also perform at his best when it matters most. That would mean playing great in the postseason and willing his team to victory. 

Ryan has yet to do that. 

In 2008, Ryan only threw for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns and interceptions against the Arizona Cardinals. He also lost a fumble as the Falcons fell 30-24. 

Two years later Ryan and the Falcons fell to Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers 48-21, as Ryan only threw for 186 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He lost a fumble in that game as well. 

Finally, last season Ryan was laughed out of the postseason by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 24-2. The QB was mediocre at best, throwing for only 199 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. 

Ryan is playing great in the regular season, but he has yet to come up big when it matters most. 

Jury Says...

Let's refrain from calling "Matty Ice" elite just yet. He is a great regular-season quarterback, but has crumbled under the pressure of expectations in the postseason so far. 

Ryan has some great numbers, but said numbers have not necessarily translated to victories for his team. It also helps that Ryan has had a top 10 receiver in Roddy White for the duration of his career and may have another one in the making in Julio Jones.

Elite quarterbacks such as the New England Patriots' Tom Brady have done more with much, much less. 

None of this is to say Ryan cannot earn the elite label as soon as after this season. He's a great player, but it is simply not his time yet. The elite label is reserved for those quarterbacks who are simply the best of the best and are exceptional in all facets of the position.

For now, the jury is still out on Ryan's elite quarterback status. 

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