NFL Power Rankings: Ranking Tom Brady, Michael Vick and The Playoff Quarterbacks
The 2011 NFL Playoff teams and schedules are set and we as fans already have a basic idea of how the teams stack up against one another.
But, how do the quarterbacks stack up?
When push comes to shove and your team is trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, who do you want with the ball in their hands?
Quarterback is undoubtedly the most important position in today's NFL. If you don't have a good quarterback, you aren't going to advance very far in the playoffs.
So, who are the best QBs amongst the playoff teams?
Here is a list breaking down the playoff QBs from No. 1 to No. 12.
12. Matt Hasselbeck/Charlie Whitehurst, Seattle Seahawks
1 of 12
Hasselbeck missed Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams with an injury.
While Whitehurst managed to lead the team to victory, it was only an NFC West opponent.
Point being: Don't read too much into it.
When the Seahawks play the Saints on Saturday, don't expect any miraculous numbers from either Seattle QB.
11. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
2 of 12
There was a period of time where Sanchez strung together a couple of impressive fourth quarter and overtime comebacks.
But, those games included games against the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions, so maybe they weren't as clutch as they would appear.
Sanchez has also played poorly in cold weather throughout his career, so if New York has to travel to either Pittsburgh or New England, I don't like their chances.
10. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
3 of 12
Cassel and the Chiefs are the most inexperienced team in this year's playoffs.
Cassel also has a tendency to disappear at times.
For example, on Sunday at home against the Raiders with the No. 3 seed in the AFC on the line, Cassel had a bad game and ultimately cost the Chiefs the No. 3 spot.
Also, the Chiefs' offense under Cassel isn't built to be explosive. They are built to pound defenses and grind down the clock, not to come from behind late in games.
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9. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
4 of 12
Joe Flacco is in the same boat as Cassel: his team relies more heavily on the run game.
If Ray Rice doesn't get going early, the Ravens will struggle to put up points.
Even with receivers like Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason, the Ravens' offense simply isn't explosive.
But, if they get an early lead, this team is pretty good at holding off late charges by their opponents.
8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
5 of 12
Matt Ryan has the best receiver in the NFL on his team in Roddy White.
Anything can happen late in games with a deep ball from Ryan to White.
But, just like the Chiefs and Ravens, the Falcons are built to win close games by grinding down the clock, not by making comebacks through the air.
Also, Ryan doesn't have much playoff experience.
7. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
6 of 12
Jay Cutler has been playing well this season, leading the Bears to the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
But, especially against good defenses, Cutler is still prone to mistakes.
If a team can force him into multiple interceptions, they'll have a great shot of beating Chicago.
6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
7 of 12
The only reason Aaron Rodgers isn't ranked higher on this list is because of the way the Packers struggle in close games.
Though they managed to somewhat shed that label this year, their recent playoff history is worrisome.
Last year, against the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers couldn't get the job done early in the game, then made a comeback, then blew it in overtime.
They'll need to be much more consistent if they are going to beat Michael Vick and the high-octane Eagles on Sunday.
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
8 of 12
Ben Roethlisberger is definitely a top five quarterback when it comes to leading a fourth quarter comeback.
He's second only to Michael Vick in his ability to keep plays alive.
Sometimes keeping plays alive comes back to hurt him, but more often than not, he's able to turn a broken play into positive yards.
4. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
9 of 12
Peyton Manning is definitely a quarterback you want to build your team around.
No one commands the field like he does and no one is capable of putting up points like he does.
But, as we all saw last year in the Super Bowl, sometimes Manning struggles on the biggest stage.
He'll need to win another Super Bowl before he can dispel that notion.
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
10 of 12
Drew Brees gets the nod over Manning because the Saints are, after all, the defending Super Bowl champions.
Plus, Brees has been playing really well in big games lately.
I wouldn't bet against the defending champs making it back to the Super Bowl this year.
2. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
11 of 12
No one is better at taking over games than Michael Vick.
Case in point: the recent Giants-Eagles game where Vick was able to lead his team back from a huge deficit to tie the game late in the fourth quarter. (DeSean Jackson would later win the game for the Eagles on a punt return.)
Any other team would have been doomed in the Eagles' situation. But Vick was able to run, throw and get the Eagles back in the ballgame.
If he can do that in the postseason, the Eagles will be a really tough team to beat.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
12 of 12
Tom Brady is on top of this list because he refuses to let his team lose.
Having Bill Belichick as a head coach is a huge advantage too, but Brady is the leader on the field.
And, when need be, he'll also get in the faces of his teammates keeping them focused and fired up.
Plus, when you have a guy with three Super Bowl rings, you know he's good down the stretch.
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