NFL Power Rankings Week 14: 10 Quarterbacks Most Ready To Lead a Playoff Team

Well, Week 13 is in the books, and it's time to start looking hard into the playoff picture in the NFL.

Now, it's always been said that defenses win championships, but it's a hard thing to win a championship without a high-caliber quarterback, too (unless you have a defense that is so good it can carry Trent Dilfer to a Super Bowl victory).

You need a quarterback who is poised in difficult situations and has no problem squeezing a pass through a hole the size of a basketball hoop.

One who has ice water running through his veins and will not be shaken by even the best defenders the opponents can throw at him.

Oh, and of course a guy who has been in high-pressure situations before is always a bonus.

So, let's look at the 10 quarterbacks most ready to lead a team in the playoffs and win games in high-pressure situations down the stretch.

Outside the Top 10

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks for a receiver against of the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

With only 10 spots and many great quarterbacks in the league, it is obvious that some will get left out, so here are the notables and my reasons for omitting them from the list.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

He's been too streaky in his career and can implode at any second. His last two games were great, but they do not yet make up for some of the many terrible games he has had this season. He has also never been to the playoffs, so a point off for that.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

Monday night's game killed it for me. He's still way too young and inexperienced.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Also too young.

David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Had a great first half of the season, but has gone downhill in the past three weeks. Also hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in the past two games.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

Only has one game this season against a decent team with a QB rating of over 90 (Jacksonville). He has been terribly inconsistent this year.

10. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 05: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts pitches the football against the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Cowboys defeated the Colts 38-35 in overtime. (Photo by Sco

Peyton Manning is having what any quarterback would consider a bad four weeks, with only one game where he boasted a QB rating over 90 to go along with those pesky eight interceptions.

That still isn't enough to keep the guy off the list for me, as he has shown he can handle high-pressure situations at times in the past.

If you told me that I have one game to win and Peyton Manning was my quarterback, I wouldn't be as confident as the past few seasons, but I wouldn't feel like Derek Anderson is my quarterback.

He is Peyton Manning, after all, and if everything goes as expected, he should get back on track soon, unless of course we are seeing a Tiger Woods-like downfall this season.

9. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Denver Broncos on December 5, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Matt Cassel has exceeded my expectations by a mile and a furlong.

Cassel has led the Chiefs to an 8-4 record and is sitting atop the AFC West, and is bordering on a passer rating above 100 for the season.

He has been quite consistent this season, and has really only had three bad games, two of them coming in the first two weeks of the season.

Cassel is, however, still a young player and has little to no high-pressure situations under his belt, leading me to doubt his ability in the clutch right now.

That could change if he shows me something different if and when the Chiefs make the playoffs this season, but that will have to wait for a later date.

8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Larry French/Getty I

Run the ball. RUN THE BALL!

Oh, it's too late, isn't it. The fumble against the Steelers on Sunday night was one of the most disappointing moments I have seen in the NFL this season.

It may not have been Flacco's fault that the pass play was called, and it may not have been his fault that he got hit by Troy Polamalu and fumbled the ball. But for the love of everything that is holy, if you see an all-out blitz coming from Pittsburgh, your team is up by four and there are under four minutes left to play, just fall forward and hope for a few yards.

Don't try to force anything.

That is the lesson that Flacco learned on Sunday night, and that is a great lesson for a young quarterback to learn before it comes up in the playoffs.

7. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are seemingly forever linked, and this slideshow is no different, as they are Nos. 7 and 8, respectively.

Ryan has been a cold-blooded killer this season while leading his Atlanta Falcons to a 10-2 record and sole obsession atop the NFC South.

Five of his wins have come against the likes of New Orleans, Tampa Bay (twice), Baltimore and Green Bay.

Ryan has racked up the experience needed against good teams and should be in good shape for the playoffs, which he has already seen once before.

I wouldn't feel too bad if Matty Ice were my team's quarterback heading into the playoffs, not too bad at all.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsbugh Steelers

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 13-10 at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

Say what you want about the guy, but after Sunday's game, in which he played with a broken foot and a broken nose, you can't deny that the guy is tough.

He has had a shaky past few weeks, games that the Steelers pulled off due to defense and a little bit of luck, but he is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Plus he has the experience in big games that other big-name quarterbacks in the past have had, showing that he can get the job done.

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 05: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks for a receiver against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on December 5, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the 49ers 34-16. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Gett

Green Bay is currently the first team out of the playoffs in the NFC (send your thanks to the NFC West Champion when they limp in at 7-9 and keep you guys out of the playoffs, Green Bay fans), but they shouldn't be too nervous.

Along with their good defense, they have a pretty good guy in Aaron Rodgers to lead their team to a playoff berth.

To say Rodgers has been good over the past month is the understatement of the century.

Over the past four games, Rodgers is 96-for-130 (a 74 percent completion rate), with 1,232 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.

His passer rating in those games are 131.5, 141.3, 114.5 and 135.1.

Yeah, I'd take him for a game right now. No question.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

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CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 05: Dree Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints gives instructions to his team during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Saints won 34-30. (Photo by Andy

Drew Brees had had a rough patch near the middle of the season, but has returned to from in recent weeks, silencing any doubters.

His team has reeled off five wins in a row and is making it difficult for the Atlanta Falcons to close out on the division.

He is playing magnificently, with a little help from his terrific receivers, and has three straight 300+ yard games.

His play should help the Saints go storming into the playoff, and maybe even help them make it back into the Super Bowl if everything goes right for them.

3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

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SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers drops back to pass in the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on December 5, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 28-1

The Chargers may be 6-6 and sitting in third place in their division with four games to go, but if anybody can win those end-of-season games, it's Philip Rivers.

Rivers is used to coming into the latter portion of the season needing to play catch-up, as the Chargers have been down quite a bit with games to make up as the year moves on.

He has been criticized for not getting the job done in the playoffs, however, although he did get the playoff monkey off his back two seasons ago with a win over the Colts in the first round.

If he can drag this team back from the depths to a playoff berth, there is no question that this guy can handle pressure, and I would want him as my team's quarterback.

2. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up under center at the line of scrimmage against the Houston Texans at Lincoln Financial Field on December 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Chambers/G

What a dream season for Michael Vick this has been.

He has overcome an injury to become one of the best players in the league again after not playing football for three seasons, and is back in the talks for the MVP Award.

This season, Vick has had only one game in which his passer rating dipped below 90, and the rest of the time he has been just short of phenomenal.

He has only two interceptions against 15 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns.

There isn't another quarterback in the league who can scramble out of trouble quite like Vick, giving his team countless opportunities for a new set of downs when any other quarterback would have either gotten sacked or gained just a few yards.

He has really come along as a passer this season and can throw the tightest spirals I have ever seen through the smallest holes that a football has ever flown through.

Vick can quarterback my team anytime; I would have complete confidence in him.

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates after the Patriots won 45-3 against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Was there ever really a question who No. 1 was going to be after Monday night's win over the Jets?

Tom Brady has three rings to show that he has done it before, he has the terrific stats and his team has the record this season to show that he has done it this year.

His performances in big-game situations this season have been at an all-time high, beating Baltimore, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and now the Jets this season.

Next week he strolls into Chicago to try to take down yet another hot team.

And you would have to hold a gun to my head to get me to bet against him at this point.