Ranking Every NFL Team's Two-Minute Offense

A lot of things go into a two-minute offense in the NFL.

While the quarterback gets most of the credit, as he should, if he doesn't have receivers that can catch the ball and get out of bounds after picking up some yards after the catch, it means little. If he doesn't have an offensive line that can protect him long enough to get the ball down field, his team isn't going to get far.

After taking this into consideration, I got to thinking: If I had to go the distance of the field in under two minutes, which team and field general would I like to have trying to do so?

Not knowing everything about every team, I make an attempt to rank every team's two-minute offense based off of their success in doing so in 2010 and their chances of doing so again in 2011.

32. Seattle Seahawks

And the Seahawks thought they were hurting at quarterback last year. 

Even though he has a legitimate wide receiver to throw to in Sidney Rice, Tarvaris Jaskson hasn't been a starter in this league for more reasons than he was behind Brett Favre.

QB: Tarvaris Jackson

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: three

Game-winning drives in career: four

31. Miami Dolphins

Unless Miami makes a move for a better quarterback, it could be a long year for the Dolphins in more things than just their two-minute offense. 

Chad Henne has actually looked worse in the preseason so far than he did last season for Miami. Adding Reggie Bush and Larry Johnson won't make him or the offense better with the game on the line.

QB: Chad Henne

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: three

Game-winning drives in career: four

30. San Francisco 49ers

Even though San Francisco has some elite offensive pieces in Michael Crabtree, Braylon Edwards and Vernon Davis, they still don't have anyone who can get them the ball on a consistent basis.

Alex Smith has had guys wide open on the flat and overthrown them by two yards. Until the quarterback situation improves, I have no reason to believe they could go eighty plus yards in two minutes.

QB: Alex Smith

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: four

Game-winning drives in career: six

29. Washington Redskins

To put it bluntly, the Redskins look to be a disaster this year. Regardless of Rex Grossman telling you that they could win the NFC East this year, it could be a long season that might cost Mike Shanahan his job.

Grossman has never been one to go to in the clutch, even though he did have one game-winning drive last season. Still, rumors are that he might get beat out by John Beck in camp. Neither scenario screams juggernaut in a two-minute offense.

QB: Rex Grossman

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: five

Game-winning drives in career: eight

28. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals did have one comeback win last season with Carson Palmer leading the way. However, Carson chose to ride off into the sunset rather than play for the Bengals anymore.

Enter rookie Andy Dalton, who seems to have been handed the reins to the offense. Honestly, it's going to be atrocious for him as a rookie, but having A.J. Green with him will help with some of the growing pains in running a two-minute offense. Just don't expect it anytime soon.

QB: Andy Dalton

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: zero (Rookie)

Game-winning drives in career: zero (Rookie)

27. Minnesota Vikings

Things should be looking up for the VIkings offense now that they don't have a washed up, broken down has been as the quarterback now...what's that? They traded for Donovan McNabb? Disregard my prior statement.

Mike Shanahan publicly called out McNabb last season by saying he wasn't in good enough shape to run a two-minute offense. Which, after watching some of his performances in 2010, turned out to be true and false, as he did have two game-winning drives. Add him to a new offense and add another year to his age, and I wouldn't expect too much of an improvement, though.

QB: Donovan McNabb

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 17 

Game-winning drives in career: 25

26. Oakland Raiders

Even with the defense being pretty decent in 2010, the offense really held them back from being a surprise team. They did finish 8-8, and despite the fact that the Raiders did have two game-winning drives led by Jason Campbell, he struggled mightily in the red zone.

With a new coach, there is no telling if he will regress or not in his already mediocre ability to run a two-minute offense in 2011.

QB: Jason Campbell

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: six

Game-winning drives in career: nine

25. Tennessee Titans

I'm still scratching my head about the Matt Hasselbeck signing, to be honest. Sure, he's more experienced than any of the other options they currently have, but in a full rebuild like the Titans are in, why not just play the youngsters?

Hasselbeck has been a shell of his former self going on a couple of seasons now. The last time he threw more touchdowns than interceptions was 2007. That isn't a stat that gives you confidence in a guys ability to march down the field in the crunch.

QB: Matt Hasselbeck

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 12

Game-winning drives in career: 19

24. Carolina Panthers

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Panthers are going to be very good in 2011. But I think Cam Newton will have a couple of big games just off of his athletic talent alone, which might be good for one game-winning drive or so. If Jimmy Clausen wins the starting job somehow, the Panthers will be ranked lower than this.

QB: Cam Newton

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: Zero Rookie)

Game-winning drives in career: Zero (Rookie)

23. Buffalo Bills

No doubt that the Bills are going to be a mess this year, and at times, their offense is one of the most stagnant in all of football. With deep threat Lee Evans now in Baltimore, someone will have to step up in his place for Buffalo to move up here. But for now, I like them here with Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the youth movement. He did have one game-winning drive in 2011, and he can creep up on a snoozing secondary pretty easily.

QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: four

Game-winning drives in career: three

21. Denver Broncos

For all of the quarterback mess over in the Rocky Mountains, you'd think at least one of them were really good. Kyle Orton isn't terrible; not by a long shot. You can with him, if you have a lot of talent around him. Fact is, the guy was an average quarterback until he got into Josh McDaniels' system. With the changes John Fox is making, he'll probably struggle in any kind of two-minute offense.

QB: Kyle Orton

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: six

Game-winning drives in career: seven

21. Kansas City Chiefs

I think this will probably be the first pick where I catch some flack in the comments. I like the Chiefs and I like their young receiving core. There are just 20 other teams in the league I'd be more scared of with two minutes and a potential winning drive underway.

Matt Cassel showed me a ton of improvement last year, but he still has a ways to go before he gets into that middle tier on guys that can execute a two-minute drill effectively. He did have two game-winning drives last year, but I need to see it from tougher defenses than Cleveland and Buffalo.

QB: Matt Cassel

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: four

Game-winning drives in career: six

20. Cleveland Browns

I'm not going to lie; I really like what I saw from Colt McCoy in 2010 and early in the 2011 preseason. Just like I predicted before he was drafted, Colt is already the second best quarterback in said draft.

The Browns had two fourth quarter come from behind victories in 2010 with Jake Delhomme behind center, and there is no reason to believe if he can do it, Colt can't.

QB: Colt McCoy

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: zero

Game-winning drives in career: zero

19. Detroit Lions

The Lions, who are my pick to surprise people in 2011, have one of the best long threats in the game in the person of Calvin Johnson. They also have a quarterback with some of the biggest potential in the league. In a small sample size in 2010, Matthew Stafford had an impressive game-winning drive in the two-minute offense against the Redskins. After his injury, Shaun Hill added another one. This one would be higher if Stafford's durability weren't always a concern up to this point in his career.

QB: Matthew Stafford

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: two

Game-winning drives in career: two

18. St. Louis Rams

Sam Bradford exceeded expectations in 2010 and was the offensive rookie of the year for a team that was playing for a playoff spot in their final game of the season. While Bradford couldn't leas any game-winning drives last season, having added a couple of new wide receiver threats he is poised to do so in 2011.

QB: Sam Bradford

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: Zero

Game-winning drives in career: Zero

17. Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb, while going into a tough situation this season, has one of the most elite options in the game: Larry Fitzgerald. Usually one or two on just about every list of the best receivers in the game, Fitz makes the two-minute offense better by himself. Add to it the fact that he really likes Kevin Kolb, who is ready to shine as a starter.

QB: Kevin Kolb

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: Zero

Game-winning drives in career: Zero

16. New York Giants

When Eli Manning quits saying silly stuff in the media, he's actually a better quarterback than people give him credit for. And running a two-minute offense is one of his strengths, as evidenced by his 17 game-winning drives in his career. But he only managed one in 2010 and lost one of his favorite deep ball targets.

QB: Eli Manning

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 14

Game-winning drives in career: 17

15. Dallas Cowboys

It's unfair to say that Tony Romo didn't lead his two-minute offense well in 2010 because Dallas was in the toilet before his season-ending injury early in the year. Look for a bounce back year for both Romo and the Cowboys as Miles Austin and Dez Bryant make their two-minute offense fun to watch.

QB: Tony Romo

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: nine

Game-winning drives in career: 10

14. Chicago Bears

Everyone seems to be down on Jay Cutler right now. I am quite guilty of it myself, honestly. But it's hard to look past his four game-winning drives in 2010. It remains to be seen if Roy Williams can regain his former glory and make the two-minute offense better, but I'd consider it middle of the road as is.

QB: Jay Cutler

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 11

Game-winning drives in career: 15

13. Baltimore Ravens

I'm probably one of Joe Flacco's biggest detractors out there, but the kid makes plays when it counts. He led four game-winning drives in 2010 and would have had a fifth if his defense didn't let him down in Atlanta. He lost one of his favorite targets, but he still has Anquan Boldin and that can go a long way in a two-minute offense.

QB: Joe Flacco

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: four

Game-winning drives in career: eight

12. Jacksonville Jaguars

I know. It was a surprise to me, too. But it seems like every year the Jags find a way to be right a .500 when everyone predicts them to be awful. But David Garrard, for all his shortcomings, runs a solid two-minute offense. Need proof? How about his five game-winning drives just last season.

QB: David Garrard

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 11

Game-winning drives in career: 18

11. New York Jets

Much like Flacco, I'm don't really buy into the Mark Sanchez hype. But the guy gets results in the two-minute drill somehow. The guy led six game-winning drives last year, which was good for a tie atop the league. The guy may not impress with his arm, but his poise is off the charts. Losing Braylon Edwards could hurt him a little this year though, which is why the Jets don't make the top 10 here.

QB: Mark Sanchez

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: five

Game-winning drives in career: seven

10. Indianapolis Colts

Before everyone starts chucking rotten fruit at me, Peyton Manning's health has to be a concern by this point. But I have to put Indy in the top 10 just off of reputation alone. Even Peyton at 50 percent could still lead a two-minute offense like one of the best ever. This one doesn't really need an explanation.

QB: Peyton Manning (presumably)

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 35

Game-winning drives in career: 46

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Every year that I think Pittsburgh is going to take a step back, they usually go to the Super Bowl. Be it the playoffs or the regular season, Ben Roethlisberger always seems to make the big plays the team always needs with under two minutes remaining. With the Steelers returning pretty much the same team that had four game-winning drives in 2010, nothing changes here.

QB: Ben Roethlisberger

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 19

Game-winning drives in career: 25

8. Philadelphia Eagles

While I'm still not sold that the Eagles are the slam-dunk best team in the NFC this season, if Michael Vick can play anywhere up to the explosive level he did in 2010, their two-minute offense will still be one of the most dangerous in the league. He led four game-winning drives in 2010, and with DeSean Jackson on his side, anything is possible in this unit.

QB: Michael Vick

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 10

Game-winning drives in career: 11

7. Green Bay Packers

Let me say this first: Aaron Rodgers is an amazing talent. His run in the playoffs last year was one of the best I've ever seen. But the fact remains that the Packers were this close to missing the playoffs in 2010, and their two-minute offense let them down a few times in the regular season. They only had one game-winning drive all year. However, I think things work more soothingly in two-minute success this season.

QB: Aaron Rodgers

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: three

Game-winning drives in career: five

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A term that gets thrown around in the NFL around young quarterbacks is something called the "It Factor." Well, whatever "it" is, Josh Freeman has. It seemed like every week, the Bucs were winning on some last-minute play. This is probably because half of their 10 wins in 2010 were won with a game-winning drive led by Freeman.

QB: Josh Freeman

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: Seven

Game-winning drives in career: seven

5. Houston Texans

Say what you want about the Texans defense, but their offense is a monster. If the D had been able to hold anyone at the end of the game last year, the Texans' record very well could have been flipped. They had a 12-4 offense and a 2-14 defense. But you can't put that on Matt Schaub and the Texans' two-minute offense. Houston can move the ball against anyone and do so quickly with Arian Foster and Andre Johnson back there. And it is an offense I think will even improve in 2011.

QB: Matt Schaub

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: seven

Game-winning drives in career: nine

4. Atlanta Falcons

While I hate the nickname "Matty Ice," it is hard to deny that the youngster is cool under pressure. Matt Ryan demonstrated this with six game-winning drives in the 2010 season, which led the NFL. Adding Julio Jones opposite Roddy White should only make this two-minute offense even more finely tuned.

QB: Matt Ryan

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: eight

Game-winning drives in career: 13

3. San Diego Chargers

Being close to leading the league in offense is one thing. Doing it while having a pretty solid defense is a gift. Philip Rivers had amazing numbers in 200, and when you add Vincent Jackson back into the equation and a healthy Antonio Gates, a stout two-minute offense just got better. The Chargers can score on any given play, and that always makes them a threat in a two-minute offense.

QB: Philip Rivers

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 12

Game-winning drives in career: 15

2. New England Patriots

I don't know what else Tom Brady has to do before people consider him one of the greatest of all time. I'm sure many do, you just hear so much negativity about the guy from fans around the league. But when you're this successful, especially in the clutch, you tend to anger a lot of opposing fans. No lead is safe regardless of how much time is left in a game when Tom Terrific is behind center. Chad Ochocinco is only going to make this two-minute offense better.

QB: Tom Brady

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 23

Game-winning drives in career: 32

1. New Orleans Saints

While I think I would prefer to have Tom Brady leading my two-minute offense given the choice between him and Drew Brees, I'd take the Saints' personnel first. No one leads as explosive of an offense quite like Brees does in New Orleans. He could have to go 90 yards in 45 seconds, and your defense would still be scared. His interceptions went up in 2010 because he is a playmaker that takes risks, but in the crunch, he usually ends up making opposing defenses make the mistakes. With 11 game-winning drives in the past two years alone, I can't think of any other team I'd bet on to crack the scoreboard in a two-minute drill. 

QB: Drew Brees

Fourth quarter comebacks in career: 16

Game-winning drives in career: 25