NFL Playoff Quarterbacks: Who Is Best?

Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning are missing from the list of remaining quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs. So which of the final quarterbacks is the best, and who will get a ring?

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

When he is on, he can make throws that no others quarterback in the league can make.

But with some below average performances during the regular season, in which he struggled on third down, it makes it difficult to completely buy in.

Some of the third-down struggles result from an absent running game, which Packer fans believe has been fixed with rookie running back James Starks, and he has helped, but the Bears have the second best run defense in the league.

With the depth at receiver that the Pack has and the ability to spread out Chicago’s cover two defense, Rodgers has the ability to take over the game.

He is without a question the most talented passer left in the playoffs.

Until he wins a Super Bowl though, he will remain in Brett Favre’s shadow.

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben, when will he get the credit that he deserves?

This is a guy who has brought his team back to the AFC Championship game for the fourth time in his career. He has won two Super Bowls and has a chance at three.

If he and the Steelers win another one, that will give him two more rings than Manning (either Manning works here, but using Peyton is more impressive) and as many rings as Joe Mon- I mean Tom Brady.

Also, he would have won with two different coaches, something Brady and Bill cannot boast about.

People like to point out that they went 3-1 without Ben this season, but that was with running back Rashard Mendenhall running fresh. Though, enough credit is not given to head coach Mike Tomlin.

But when Mendenhall started to wear down as the season went on, it was Roethlisberger that carried the offense. Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch could not do that.

The Steelers will beat the Jets and will be the favorites in the Super Bowl.

If Ben gets the ring again, he will have to be in the conversation with Brady and Manning.

Jay Cutler

Sigh, Jay Cutler.

Well, at least he plays for Mike Martz.

But, if he continues to play like he did against the Seahawks, then the Bears will be hard to stop.

He just won his first playoff game in his first playoff appearance, if this is a sign of how Cutler plays in the post season, the Bears could have struck gold with the polar opposite of Peyton Manning.

But he did play Seattle, so we will have to wait and see what he does against the Packers.

I believe that Pack will win this game, but this is always a close game between two hated rivals. If the Jets can beat the Patriots, the Bears can beat the Packers.

Mark “Over-throw” Sanchez

I said after they beat the Colts, quite sarcastically, that Sanchez will over-throw his way to the Super Bowl.

Well he did.

The Jets won their Super Bowl when they beat the Patriots last weekend.

Like after the Seahawks beat the Saints, we will see the Jets exhale and find themselves at the losing end in a game against a far-superior team.

I am tired of hearing that Sanchez makes the plays when it matters. Yes, he is clutch and a bit lucky. But if he made the throws he was supposed to and found the open receivers early, the Jets would be a much better team and would not have to beat the Browns and Lions in overtime.

Though, Brain Schottenheimer does not get enough credit. Being able to score any points at all with Sanchez over throwing receivers and a corroding running back is a statement to his offensive prowess. All this after Big Rex got rid of his two best offensive players from last season—guard Alan Faneca and Thomas Jones.

Do not get too excited, this is still the same old Jets.

My belief is that Big Ben is the best quarterback left, with Aaron Rodgers in second. And my prediction is that they will be facing each other in the Super Bowl.