Rating the Clutch Factor of All 32 NFL Starting QBs

Despite the importance and influence fantasy football has on today's NFL viewing public, statistics aren't always the best measure of performance. 

In many cases, it doesn't matter how a quarterback does through the first three quarters of a game—interceptions, fumbles, missing open receivers—so long as they come through in the clutch with a brilliant final period or put together a game-winning two-minute drill. . 

Now, granted ranking quarterbacks along that criteria is difficult considering the experience factor: how do you compare a 10-year veteran with 200-some starts against a rookie making his third or fourth?

But, I gave it a try here.

And since the clutch factor doesn't diminish over time or dissipate with age—quite the contrary—a quarterback with a history of clutch play, no matter how far back it stretches, will climb the list. 

No. 32: John Beck, Washington Redskins

Beck doesn't have a victory as an NFL starter. Now in some ways, that should be enough to validate his bottom-of-the-barrel standing here at 32. But because the same could be said about Curtis Painter, I'll have to add a bit more to the explanation.

For one, since the Redskins were blown out today by the Bills and were beaten handily in his first start last week against the Panthers, Beck has never had an opportunity to shine in the clutch. So in this case, an incomplete is as good as an F. 

Clutch Factor: 1 out of 10

No. 31: Curtis Painter, Indianapolis Colts

I realize that Painter, like John Beck, has not once led his team to victory, but because he's at least showed a few glimpses of clutch-ability, he easily gets the spot above Washington's signal caller.

Look at what Painter did in his very first appearance: he made some clutch throws against the Steelers to help keep the Colts in contention back in Week 3—although he did miss a few wide open receivers—and in the loss to Cincinnati, Painter led the offense to 10 quick fourth quarter points that put them close to that first victory. 

And besides: filling Peyton Manning's shoes is a much taller task than filling Rex Grossman's. 

Clutch Factor: 1 out of 10

No. 30: Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins

Moore did not look very clutch at the end of today's loss to the Giants, tossing a pick to Corey Webster and a week earlier against the Broncos, he put up decent stats, but didn't produce the completions needed to salt away the game.

But at least his resume isn't bad: He's had a few moments of brilliance in the fourth quarter. 

Moore had an outstanding game against the 49ers last season (producing 10 points in a fourth quarter comeback) and in the very first start of his career, back in 2007, Moore led the Panthers to three fourth quarter scores in a win over the Seahawks. 

Clutch Factor: 1 out of 10

No. 29: Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

It's not much of a body of work, but both of Ponder's two career starts suggest he has significant clutch ability. 

In the loss to Green Bay Ponder, he led the Vikings to a pair of fourth quarter scores—including a touchdown to Michael Jenkins—that kept the game close, allowing the Vikings and their fans to hold out hope for an upset of the world champions.

And look what he did today in Charlotte. With Ponder shouldering some of the load (it helps to have Adrian Peterson) the Vikings drove 90 yards in the third quarter to take tie the game, then set up the game-winning field goal with a handful of clutch completions. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 28: Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

He has a long way to go, but Gabbert is starting to show reasons why he was not only a first round pick, but why the Jags traded up to get him. 

Two weeks ago, on the road against a ferocious Steelers defense, Gabbert hung in the pocket time and time again, ultimately throwing that clutch touchdown pass to Jason Hill, then keeping Jacksonville in the game with a big completion to Marcedes Lewis.

And although he was marginal (at best) a week later against the Ravens, he didn't flinch in front of that top notch defense either.

Considering how few weapons he has in the passing game, those were both pretty impressive feats. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 27: Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

Say what you will about Tebow—and today at home he was awful against the Lions—but it's hard to look at the previous two weeks and not credit him for clutch play.

By now you know about the effort he put up in the final minutes against Miami, producing a sparkling overtime comeback. But even the previous Denver game—that home loss to San Diego—he showed some of those steely late game heroics. He led the Broncos to two scores in the final period and made the throws that set up an (albeit unsuccessful) Hail Mary attempt. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 26: Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks

Neither of Jackson's wins as the Seahawks starter were directly attributed to any outstanding play on his part, but there have been moments where his fourth quarter presence was felt. 

In Seattle's win over Arizona he scrambled for the game-winning score, and two weeks later against the Falcons, Jackson put together a fine second half as the Seahawks nearly came back from a huge deficit to defeat Atlanta. 

And today against an on-the-rise Bengals defense, Jackson replaced Charlie Whiterhurst in the second period and again crafted a mini-run for the Seahawks, pulling within five points in the middle of the fourth quarter. Maybe he's not John Elway or Tom Brady, but Jackson has shown at least a glimpse of being clutch since arriving in Seattle. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 25: A.J. Feely, St. Louis Rams

Feeley's effort today in the stunning win over New Orleans is a part of why he ranks relatively high on this list: after all, to replace Sam Bradford and throw the ball pretty efficiently was impressive. 

But Feeley outranks a few of the other lowest-tier quarterbacks on this list because of what he did in an Eagles and once in a Dolphins uniform. Twice in 2002, he replaced Donovan McNabb and kept the Eagles Super Bowl hopes alive, winning four of his five starts: given the pressure and the stage, that was clutch no matter what the stat sheet looked like. 

Two years later in Miami, it was Feeley who engineered a sparkling fourth quarter comeback against the defending (and eventual repeat) Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, thoroughly outplaying Tom Brady that day in South Florida. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 24: Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals

Kolb's place among even the mid-level NFL quarterbacks has to be in question given the way he's played this season and the fact that he didn't really have that much on his resume prior to joining the Cardinals. But that's an argument for another list.

In terms of clutch play, Kolb has to be considered relatively low on the food chain.

He only won three of his seven starts in Philadelphia and never really had a great performance in the fourth quarter that sparked a comeback for the Eagles...and he had his chances. 

More to the point, in Arizona, he's played pretty poorly at times late in games where the Cardinals had a chance to win: today against Baltimore was a prime example, but so was the loss to the Giants, when he threw a fourth quarter pick. 

Clutch Factor: 2 out of 10

No. 23: Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

Although I stated in the introduction slide that a quarterbacks complete body of work make up the criteria for this list, Palmer is a special case. 

Sure he was an NFL starter for eight years, went to a pair of Pro Bowls, and has 11 fourth-quarter comebacks on his resume.

But since he just joined a new team and a new system a week ago—after missing all of training camp and the first six weeks of the NFL season—he is not the same quarterback and won't be until all the rust is knocked off.

Clutch Factor: 3 out of 10

No. 22: Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

Twice this season McCoy has led the Browns to a win by way of a fourth quarter, go-ahead score, last week against Seattle in that 6-3 shootout, and a month earlier against the Dolphins when he threw the game-winner to Mohammad Masaquoi in the final minute. 

And a week before that win, McCoy was very efficient in the final quarter against Indianapolis, producing three fourth quarter scores as the Browns earned their first win.

The rest of his season—and essentially his entire career—don't exactly knock your socks off, but with the injuries, the reduced productivity of Peyton Hillis, and the installation of a new offense, for McCoy to have played well enough in the fourth quarter to give Cleveland three wins, it's well beyond respectability. 

Clutch Factor: 3 out of 10

No. 21: Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prior to last week, I would have put Freeman a few spots higher on this type of list.

Last year, he led the surprising Bucs to five fourth quarter comebacks and in Week 2, he was as responsible as anyone for that victory over Minnesota, a game in which Tampa Bay trailed 17-0 at the half. 

But the repeated interceptions, especially in the second half, of that loss to Chicago are hard to overlook. And don't forget, that twice last season, in losses to Atlanta—games that could have given Tampa Bay the division title—Freeman was intercepted in the fourth quarter, ending the Bucs chances for victory. 

Clutch Factor: 3 out of 10

No. 20: Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

As much good as he's done in 2011, it's going to take much more than a 6-1 start for Alex Smith to overcome the bad will he's built by the Bay over the previous six seasons. 

Nevertheless, it's hard to dispute Smith's positive impact on this team, especially in tight games. 

Efficient passing against the Bengals helped San Fran pull out that win in Cincinnati, he was borderline brilliant when the club came back to stun the Eagles, and with the game on the line against Detroit two weeks ago, he hit Delanie Walker for the game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute on a 4th-and-goal from the 6. 

Joe Montana or Steve Young? Absolutely not. But in 2011, he's showed flashes of clutch-ness. 

Clutch Factor: 3 out of 10

No. 19: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

I'd really like to rank Dalton higher on this list than 19: after all, his resume seems to only have clutch performances.

But I feel compelled to temper the love for Dalton and ground it a bit by keeping him on the bottom half of the list.  And since he was anything but clutch today against Seattle, throwing two second half interceptions that allowed Seattle to pull within five points, knocking him down a peg or two is justified. 

Still, Dalton's clutch play towards the end of close games is one of the main reasons why the Bengals are 5-2. He engineered a great comeback against Buffalo to end the Bills undefeated run, and a week later in Jacksonville, he hit two vital passes that set up Bernard Scott's game winning score. 

Clutch Factor: 3 out of 10

No. 18: Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

Cassel has a few comeback notches on his belt, including one over the Steelers back in 2009 and most recently a win over the Colts back in Week 5, when the Chiefs overcame a 17-point deficit and Cassel threw the game winner late in the fourth period. 

But that's not enough to push him past any number of signal callers—young and old alike—who have showed far more in clutch moments. 

Take the egg the Chiefs laid in the postseason last year against Baltimore: Sure the rest of the team didn't step up at that big time moment either, but his 70 yards passing and three picks are best described as "anti-clutch."

Clutch Factor: 4 out of 10

No. 17: Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

I know Schaub has put up humongous stats each of the previous two seasons, and to have the numbers he's posted recently—without Andre Johnson—is admirable. 

And along the way, Schaub has a handful of nice comebacks and heroic efforts in crunch-time. 

But he struggled in the fourth quarter of that shootout against the Saints and misfired on the game's final play in the loss to Oakland. So that's just barely enough to keep him out of the top half of this list. 

Clutch Factor: 4 out of 10

No. 16: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

I think it's safe to assume that this will be the most hotly contested, comment-inducing slide among all 32. 

Romo's unyielding critics (Chris Cooley, for one) will point to the type of game he had against Detroit earlier this season, the poor showing in Dallas' playoff loss to Minnesota two years ago, or even fumbling the field goal hold against Seattle back in 2006 as evidence of Romo as a "choke artist." 

And Romo's unwavering supporters will hold up the game-winning drive against Washington in late September, or his collapsed-lung effort a week earlier in the overtime win at San Francisco as proof that he has a knack for clutch play. 

But the truth is that both sort of cancel each other out. Romo is equal parts clutch and choke, so he lands smack dab in the middle of this list with. 

Clutch Factor: 5 out of 10

No. 15: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Having Calvin Johnson makes life infinitely easier, but even if Stafford didn't have Megatron, you get the sense that he would be clutch regardless.

Sure he's having an incredible season, what may prove to be the greatest ever by a Lions quarterback. And along the way, he's showcased some trademark clutch performance: the wins over Dallas and Minnesota are the best examples.

But it was that 10-play, 88-yard drive—which culminated in a game-winning touchdown on the game's final play—he put together as a rookie in 2009 against Cleveland that surges him past a handful of more experienced and more accomplished passers on this list. 

That was clutch. 

Clutch Factor: 5 out of 10

No. 14: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Cutler-haters would probably issue the Bears quarterback a zero on the Cluch-O-Meter.

At times he has played pretty poorly in the fourth quarter of close games. And then there was that whole debacle in the NFC championship game, when he was forced to the sidelines because of a knee injury: detractors would say that a "clutch player" wouldn't have let that injury keep him from the field.

But when he was with Denver, there were handful of games in which Cutler tossed the game winner or sparked a turnaround late in the fourth quarter, most notably the win over San Diego in 2008, when he drove the Broncos 80 yards in 12 plays at the end of a 39-38 triumph.

Clutch Factor: 5 out of 10

No. 13: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Flacco is the AFC's version of Tony Romo: some games he is outstanding, other times he is horrible. 

And his performance in the clutch is no different. 

Twice—once in 2009 at home, and a year later in Heinz Field—he's beaten the Steelers with memorable fourth quarter comebacks. To do that against Baltimore's arch-enemy certainly qualifies as clutch. 

And even today, in the comeback victory over Arizona, Flacco repeatedly made big throws that set up each of Ray Rice's second half touchdown runs and the game-winning field goal as time expired. 

But it seems as if for every one of those positive moments, there's an equally disastrous one: Troy Polamalu's pick-six at the end of the 2008 AFC Title Game, the back-to-back turnovers in last season's playoff loss to Pittsburgh, and the interception at the end of last week's terrible loss in Jacksonville stand out right off the bat. 

Clutch Factor: 5 out of 10

No. 12: Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Here's a pretty tricky entry.

I think you'd be crazy to say that Vick has a knack for choking. Yes, he and the Eagles fell flat in the playoffs last season and the same was true with his best Falcons team back in 2004. And in each of those two playoff losses, Vick did not play terribly well. 

But comebacks and big plays in critical moments are a significant part of his NFL legacy as well. 

Think about that overtime, game-winning touchdown run against the Vikings in 2002: that was certainly clutch. So too were the three fourth-quarter scores he put up in the "Miracle of Meadowlands II." And even this year, he's shown some clutch-capabilities: in Week 3, when he returned to the Georgia Dome—where the pressure was extremely intense—he threw the ball very well and built a lead until the concussion knocked him out of the game and the Eagles ultimately lost. 

So while Vick isn't anywhere near the class of truly clutch, unflappable signal callers, with his arm strength and speed, he's an ideal person to have under center when the game's on the line. 

Clutch Factor: 6 out of 10

No. 11: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Fitzpatrick's overall numbers—even in the comeback category—don't really compare with those of Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub or Michael Vick. But the way in which the Bills have rallied around Fitzpatrick this season is enough to give him a slight edge over those more accomplished passers. 

He wasn't fazed at all by the big deficits against Oakland and New England (each a great Bills comeback) nor was he fazed a few weeks later against the outstanding Eagles secondary: Fitz completed 21-of-27 passes in the Bills win.

And although he's made his share of mistakes in both of the Bills losses this season, in each game, he completed just enough passes to keep the game close and give his team a chance to win.

Clutch Factor: 6 out of 10

No. 10: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Although Newton is "just a rookie," when putting a list like this together, you have to remember that he's "just a rookie."

He's only had a scant few opportunities to prove that he's a clutch player and more often than not, he's done so. 

Consecutive 400-yard passing games to start his NFL career—you don't think there was major pressure on him as the No. 1 overall draft pick and reigning Heisman winner?—is part of that, but so is the fact that he threw the game-winner against Jacksonville, he was virtually flawless in the second half against Washington, and today in the loss to Minnesota, he drove the Panthers into field goal range for the game-tying score...Olindo Mare should have sent it to OT.

Is Newton a "better" quarterback right this moment than Michael Vick or Matt Schaub or Tony Romo? Probably not. But with the game on the line, I'd rather have Newton and his ability to run and pass his team in position for a tying or winning score. 

Clutch Factor: 6 out of 10

No. 9: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Has Philip Rivers endured a fairly disastrous season in 2011, most notably the loss to the Jets last Sunday? Sure.

Does that negate half a decade of spectacular passing and clutch outings? No.

Whenever Rivers gets whatever physical/emotional/mental problems have ailed him this season, expect him to return to the type of clutch passer we saw at the end of the 2008 season—when each week was a must win and he responded with 11 touchdowns and one interception in the final four games—or as recently as the Week 1 win against Minnesota when Rivers led the offense to 17 unanswered second-half points.

Clutch Factor: 6 out of 10

No. 8: Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

After Tony Romo, this is probably the next most contentious choice. 

I'm well aware that people think Sanchez is horribly overrated and he is far from elite status in the NFL.

But in a relatively short career, he's managed to put together a string of extremely clutch moments. He's already won four road playoff games: neither Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady nor Drew Brees can say that. And in last year's postseason, he was outstanding, leading the Jets on the game-winning drive in Indianapolis, playing a near flawless game against the Patriots, and tossing a pair of second-half touchdowns in Pittsburgh to pull the Jets within five points of the Steelers. 

And for all his blunders this season, Sanchez was magnificent at the close of the season opener against Dallas and again last week in San Diego. 

Clutch Factor: 7 out of 10

No. 7: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

With a nickname like Matty Ice, it's hard to argue that Ryan isn't clutch. And his record for comebacks—10 in less than four seasons at the helm—has validated that handle. 

But there's more to being a clutch player than just a late-game drive that leads to the go-ahead field goal. Being clutch also includes fine performances on the biggest stage: the postseason. And Ryan has made a handful of costly mistakes in both of his two playoff starts, each a Falcons loss.

Clutch Factor: 7 out of 10

No. 6: Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans

As stated in the introduction slide, the only way to streamline this type of ranking is by judging players by their complete careers. And although he hasn't exactly torn up the league in 2011, this old veteran has a great track record for clutch play.

Hasselbeck played extremely well in that Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh and does have five postseason wins under his belt, including that one over Dallas in 2006 (the Tony Romo fumbled snap game) in which he threw the game-winning touchdown in the game's final few minutes. And when the defending champion Saints came to Qwest Field last January, Hasselbeck again came through in the clutch, throwing four touchdowns. 

Even leaving his longtime home in Seattle hasn't completely driven the clutch play from Hasselbeck's legacy. With easily his best receiver (Kenny Britt) out of action, Hasselbeck had a great performance in Week 3, throwing the game winning touchdown pass in a narrow win over Denver. 

Clutch Factor: 7 out of 10

No. 5: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Here's where we start to split hairs.

Clearly Brees is one of the NFL's elite passers and in 2011, he's on pace to have another outstanding season. More to the point, this year alone, he's come up with several big throws late in important games: the touchdown pass at the end of the win over Carolina, the back-to-back-to-back touchdown drives that produced a win over Houston, and even the way he almost led the Saints to a comeback in the season opener at Green Bay was highly impressive. 

But beginning with last year, when he threw a career-high 22 picks and fumbled the ball nine times—many of which came in the fourth quarter of tight games—Brees has shown an, albeit minor, chink in the armor. Not enough to strip him of his elite status, but enough to cost him one of the top four spots. 

Just look at the mistakes he made in the critical divisional loss to Tampa Bay two weeks ago. That interception late in the fourth quarter was a killer. 

Clutch Factor: 8 out of 10

No. 4: Eli Manning, New York Giants

Like Drew Brees, Manning struggled throughout last season with turnovers, but not anywhere near enough to taint a career that already has one Super Bowl MVP. 

And although Manning has had his share of detractors who don't believe he plays his best football when it counts most, his resume suggests otherwise. And this season is a fine example.

The Giants trailed in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia: Manning led them back with two touchdown passes. 

The Giants trailed in the fourth quarter against Arizona: Manning led them back with two touchdown passes. 

The Giants trailed in the fourth quarter today against Miami: Manning led them back with a game winning touchdown pass to Victor Cruz. 

It's not always glamorous with Eli, but when the game's on the line and the Giants need a score, he routinely comes through: just see Super Bowl XLII. 

Clutch Factor: 8 out of 10

No. 3: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay PAckers

Five years from now, Rodgers might very well deserve the top spot on this list. But for now—considering who is above him and how relatively short his career is—the bronze medal sounds about right.

You'd be hard pressed to find a time when Rodgers wasn't clutch, and last year in the playoffs—when the spotlight was brightest—Rodgers put up one of the all-time great stretches in postseason history, culminating with that Super Bowl MVP. 

And this year, he's been the very definition of clutch, seemingly completing every pass in those close wins over New Orleans, Carolina, Chicago and Minnesota. 

But to earn one of the top two spots on this list, a somewhat fuller complete resume is needed. 

Clutch Factor: 9 out of 10

No. 2: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Now Big Ben hasn't necessarily been clutch in every moment since he arrived in Pittsburgh back in 2004. He's seen plenty of bad games, bad fourth quarters, and bad late-game throws that cost the Steelers wins here and there. And there was evidence of that in last year's Super Bowl loss.

But when you already have two Super Bowl triumphs—one of which came via the greatest Super Bowl drive since Joe Montana's masterpiece in Super Bowl XXIII—by the age of 26, the word "clutch" becomes attached to your legacy.

And although his chemistry over the years with players like Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller or Mike Wallace is the main reason he is so clutch, Roethlisberger's ability to escape pressure and scramble for first downs, especially late in the game, adds that extra dimension that always seems to be on display at the end of close and critical games. 

Clutch Factor: 9 out of 10

No. 1: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Yes, Brady hasn't won a Super Bowl in over six years and he hasn't even won a playoff game in three. But the three Super Bowls he won in a four year stretch—each of which featured relatively flawless outings—and the handful of memorable playoff victories completely overshadow any recent "failures." 

And even if he is not the same dominant player he was a few years back—a ludicrous statement—as some people have suggested, Brady is still the best two-minute-drill conductor in the game.

That is the ultimate test of a quarterback's clutch ability: when the game is tied or your team is behind by one score, can you produce? Seemingly without exception, Brady has done that every single time, whether it was in 2001 with the "Tuck Game" followed later by Super Bowl XXXVI or two weeks ago when he drove the Pats 80 yards in two-plus minutes for a game-winning touchdown against Dallas. 

Clutch Factor: 10 out of 10