NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Rating the NFC Quarterbacks
This was supposed to be the year of the quarterback.
Entering 2010, the NFL's defenses were shaking in fear. Across the league, young signal-callers like Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler promised to leapfrog into the ranks of the elite, joining guys like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The passing game was supposed to dominate the NFC.
Five weeks into the season, that passing profligacy has not developed. Minnesota's Brett Favre, San Francisco's Alex Smith and Washington's Donovan McNabb have struggled so far, and a number of key quarterbacks—Cutler, Kevin Kolb (and his backup Michael Vick) and Rodgers among them--have battled injuries.
Entering Week 6, Rodgers and Cutler are doubtful, as are Vick and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Among the 14 guys who will take snaps this weekend, then, here are the NFC QB power rankings for Week 6.
14. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks
1 of 14
Since an 18-for-23 Week 1 showing against the 0-5 49ers, Hasselbeck has been woeful to the tune of two touchdowns and five interceptions in three games. The Seahawks are 1-2 in those games, and shockingly, they may still have a chance in the mediocre NFC West. Hasselbeck could actually be the biggest obstacle to that playoff run. He ranks near the bottom of the league in passer rating, and at 35, he may be getting nearer to the end of the road than anyone thought.
13. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
2 of 14
Smith's team has failed to win a game this year, and like it or not, a lot of the responsibility for that falls on the signal-caller. Smith has six touchdowns, but has tossed nine picks this year and must improve upon his 6.47 figure in yards per attempt for the 'Niners to get going.
12. Todd Collins, Chicago Bears
3 of 14
Collins, like Cutler, was knocked from the Bears' Week 4 loss to the Giants after a sack. Maybe he, like Cutler, should have sat out the team's win over Carolina this week.
Instead, Collins threw four interceptions and completed only six passes in the defense-fueled victory. Head coach Lovie Smith says the Bears will likely give Collins another chance this week. Seahawks fans, get excited.
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11. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
4 of 14
Eventually, Bradford will be a top-tier offensive captain and could lead a very high-octane passing offense. For now, though, the rookie has a long way to mature. Fortunately, the Rams coaching staff is giving him ample opportunity to prove himself: He has attempted 203 passes, third-most in the entire league.
If he doesn't tire out, Bradford will end up with some gaudy yardage numbers for the season.
10. Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers
5 of 14
Flynn is nothing if not unproven, but given the weapons he will have at his disposal and the Pack's history of getting big things from small-name quarterbacks, he deserves to be reckoned with. If Rodgers can actually play, the Packers will have a much better chance to win in Green Bay against the Dolphins. If not, though, Flynn makes for a decent emergency plan.
9. Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions
6 of 14
Hill might be said to deserve more after his three-score contest in a blowout win over St. Louis this week. Hill has the tools to be a decent NFL passer and has done better than the Lions might have hoped since Stafford went down in Week 1.
Still, he is Shaun Hill. He tossed two interceptions in each of his first three full games this year, so he stays at number nine for now.
8. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
7 of 14
Favre has been far and away the biggest disappointment of the season so far. He started to look like the Favre of 2009 in the second half of a loss to the Jets, but all in all, his body of work for the season is as unsightly as the part of his body he reportedly sent to Jenn Sterger: Five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
7. Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles
8 of 14
Kolb has been much better since returning to the lead of the Eagles' offense in the stead of the injured Vick. He beat San Francisco this week by throwing for over 250 yards and completing nearly 68 percent of his passes. He did not throw a pick in the 27-24 win.
When Vick returns, Andy Reid said VIck will get the job back. Kolb should have one more week to prove himself worthy of the job, though.
6. Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins
9 of 14
Utterly unable to establish the run, the Redskins turned to McNabb in this week's win over Green Bay, calling for him to pass the ball over 50 times. McNabb actually got rid of it 49 times and completed 26 for over 350 yards.
Make no mistake, he is not the Donovan McNabb that once dominated the NFC. But he has shown he has something left in the tank since being traded by Andy Reid and the Eagles.
5. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10 of 14
Freeman has made major strides in his second season under center, proving efficient and occasionally explosive. He led the Bucs to a Week 5 win coming out of the team's bye week, putting up 280 yards and a score in the process. He could be this year's Matt Ryan or Mark Sanchez, despite his non-rookie status, and lead Tampa to the playoffs.
4. Eli Manning, New York Giants
11 of 14
Manning has made too many mistakes this year (witness his eight interceptions), but otherwise, he's looked very good passing to (especially) Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham. He tossed three TD passes and completed nearly 65 percent of his passes Sunday.
3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
12 of 14
Ryan has made few mistakes this season and has seven touchdowns to go with nearly 1,200 yards. He could be on the brink of becoming a truly elite quarterback in this league. With a 4-1 record this year, the Falcons have their young passer to thank for much of their success.
2. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
13 of 14
Romo racked up three picks against Tennessee this week in the Cowboys' third loss of the season. Still, he keeps running up big yardage numbers and has a 92.7 passer rating for the season.
Romo faces the toughest defense in the NFC this week in Minnesota, so it will be interesting to see how he performs.
1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
14 of 14
It seems wrong, somehow, for the top two passers in the NFC to be coming off three-turnover games. Then again, it was a rough week for the men under center. Brees tossed three picks and lost to a less-than intimidating Arizona squad in Week 5 and must bring it around in Week 6 against division rival Tampa.
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