Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Quarterbacks Down the Stretch

Over the last few days, we have taken a closer look at both the 10 best offensive and 10 best defensive units in the league.

Now we are focusing on a specific position, one that has been rumored to be the driving force of the NFL these days.

We are ranking the league's top quarterbacks as we head into the stretch run. This is not an exercise in deciding who the league's MVP is, and we'll be focusing on recent play as much as season-long performances. It's also not a lifetime achievement poll, and we lean very much on the signal-callers who have the hot hand, as well as arm and legs.

So keep all of that in mind when you're looking at our rankings.

To be fair, because players such as Cincinnati's Andy Dalton are now out of action, we omitted him from the list despite the fact he's had an amazing season. That's hardly a knock on him, and there's no doubt he would be here if currently healthy.

10. Eli Manning, New York Giants

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Eli Manning has benefited from last year's addition of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.

While the veteran quarterback will still lay an egg (or three) along the way, he's enjoyed a solid year once again, despite a few clock-management snafus along the way.

On Monday night in a 31-24 win over the Miami Dolphins, Manning connected on 27 of his 31 throws for 337 yards and four touchdowns and was not picked off. Two weeks earlier, he served up three interceptions before rebounding with a pair of scores in an eventual 20-14 loss at Washington.

For the season, Manning has been more coming than going, throwing 28 touchdown passes while committing only 13 turnovers—including 10 interceptions.

His team is in a three-way tie for the NFC East lead with a 6-7 record. But if the Giants reach the playoffs, you can bet all eyes will be on Manning, who has already orchestrated a pair of magical postseasons (2007 and 2011) during his 12-year career.

9. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

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He's synonymous with the dreaded "game manager" tag. And these days, Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs are managing just fine.

The 11-year pro has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just four interceptions in 13 games this season. In comparison, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown for a combined 16 scores in his last four games.

Of course, one big difference for Smith and the Chiefs this season has been the production of the wide receivers. Free-agent pickup Jeremy Maclin leads the team in catches (72), receiving yards (935) and touchdown receptions (five). Wideouts Albert Wilson and rookie Chris Conley have combined for 40 catches and three scores. As you will recall, the team got zero touchdown receptions from its wide receivers in 2014.

Smith's 15 scores have gone to a total of seven different players.

Smith's play has been one big factor in the team's current seven-game winning streak; he's thrown nine touchdown passes and only one interception during that stretch. Armed with a solid defense, this is a team that could finally snap its long postseason victory drought that dates back to 1993.

8. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Don't assume the Jacksonville Jaguars are not playoff-bound. At least not yet.

In any case, it's hard to ignore Blake Bortles' numbers. Whether his team finishes with a .500 record or somehow wins the AFC South remains to be seen.

The talented youngster has thrown 30 touchdown passes (20 of those scores to Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns) compared to only 13 interceptions this season. In his last two games, he's connected for eight scores and has not been picked off. Bortles has thrown two or more touchdown passes in 10 of his 13 outings this year.

It's been a season of tremendous growth for Bortles, who threw 11 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions during his rookie season. And it could be fascinating if Bortles and his team somehow sneak their way into the playoffs.

7. Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets

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A quarterback from the New York Jets is on the list. The combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been one factor in making this team a playoff contender in 2015.

A capable running game and familiarity with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has paid off for the journeyman signal-caller. During the team's current three-game winning streak, he has connected for nine scores and not thrown an interception.

This season, one that has included a left thumb injury for the right-handed quarterback, Fitzpatrick has completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,129 yards and 25 scores compared to 11 interceptions. He's been sacked 15 times and lost only one of four fumbles.

Talk about improvement when it comes to the passing attack: The Jets have scored 27 times this season through the air in 13 games compared to only 16 aerial scores in as many games a year ago.

6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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When you are the league's Most Valuable Player twice in a four-year span, you know there's a microscope on your play on a weekly basis.

These days, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn't putting up huge numbers. Don't get us wrong: 28 touchdown passes compared to only five interceptions is nothing to sneeze at.

It's Rodgers' 61.2 completion percentage that is somewhat disappointing, but that's not necessarily his fault. It's been a different year minus wide receiver Jordy Nelson, while second-year pro Davante Adams, battling an ankle injury for most of the year, has had problems with his hands as well.

The Packers have also begun to gear up the ground game as running back Eddie Lacy has totaled 100-plus rushing yards in three of Green Bay's last four games.

At the moment, there's room for Rodgers to improve.

5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

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It seems like every time Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops back to pass, there's a big play waiting down the field.

When you have wide receivers like Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton—all averaging at least 14 yards per reception—it's an excellent option. That and Big Ben's continued development as a quarterback.

It's not been a great year for Roethlisberger if you look at the overall numbers. He's thrown 15 touchdown passes and been picked off 10 times.

But the number that stands out most is the fact he's played in only nine games; he was out for four contests while missing parts of others. Still, he's hitting on 67.2 percent of his passes and has thrown for 2,989 yards, a blistering 332.1 yards per contest.

The Steelers are arguably the most dangerous team in the league these days and could be a big-time threat should they reach the playoffs. A lot of that has to do with Roethlisberger and the offense.

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

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When it comes to championship pedigree and overall experience, Tom Brady laps the field.

It's also been a rough stretch for the New England Patriots quarterback, but one that figures to get better as his team gets healthier. Last week against the Houston Texans, the 16-year pro snapped out of a little funk that saw him complete under 55 percent of his passes in three consecutive games, two of which the Pats lost.

Of course, lost is an appropriate term here as Brady has been without the likes of wide receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, running back Dion Lewis and all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski at times over the last four games.

Let's not forget the Patriots' field general leads the NFL in passing yards (4,138) and touchdown tosses (33) and has been picked off only six times. You would have to come up with three impressive late-season performances to rank Brady at No. 4...

3. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

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Who is outplaying the leader of the back-to-back NFC champions?

In each of his first two seasons in the league, Seattle's Russell Wilson threw exactly 26 touchdown passes. After 13 games, the four-year pro has equaled that total, and it's how he got there that's so impressive.

Earlier in the season, the Seahawks spent plenty of time trying to get their act together on the offensive line. Slowly but surely, the group has come together. Wilson has been sacked only seven times in his last six outings compared to being dropped 31 times in his first seven games this season.

Wilson has been busy throwing 16 touchdown passes in his last four contests—three or more scores in four straight games and five touchdowns in wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Eight of those TDs have gone to red-hot wideout Doug Baldwin and four to rookie Tyler Lockett.

With Wilson on a tear, it makes life easier for a Seattle defense that has had some issues.

2. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

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Arizona Cardinals veteran Carson Palmer has already set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes, thrown for 4,003 yards and been picked off only nine times. In terms of passer rating, only Russell Wilson is ahead of Palmer.

Bruce Arians' savvy quarterback has thrown for 300 or more yards in nine games and two or more touchdown passes in 10 outings this season. He's been sacked only 21 times, and Palmer has not thrown an interception the past three games.

Granted, the Cardinals are loaded at wide receiver with veteran Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown, while tight end Darren Fells and running back David Johnson have also contributed to the team's passing attack. A total of nine players have combined to haul in Palmer's 31 scores.

Perhaps the biggest number to keep in mind is 13, as in games played. That's more than double his output from last season.

1. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

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Cam Newton is doing everything he can to show us his complete game, and it's hard to argue with the results for the MVP candidate.

Guess which team ranks first in points scored? That would be the Panthers, whose offensive unit has scored 43 touchdowns (tied with the Cardinals and trailing only the Patriots).

Newton has thrown 28 touchdown passes (10 interceptions) and has also run for seven scores, so he's been involved in 35 of those 43 aforementioned touchdowns. Nearly half of those aerial TDs (13) have come in the team's last four games, which has seen Carolina total at least 33 points in each contest.

"He's probably one of the best athletes in the world, let alone the NFL," New York Giants safety Cooper Taylor told Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "A guy with that size, that type of arm and running abilities, it tests everybody, makes you do your job on every play and really focus on your keys and the fundamentals so you don't get caught out of position because a guy like that can make you look bad really quickly."

Yes, having the 6'5", 245-pound Newton bearing down on you is intimidating. Along with his 3,062 passing yards come 480 yards on the ground. And his American Bandstand act in the end zone has been fun to watch, as has his generosity on and off the field.

Good luck slowing down Newton and Co.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com.