What's Happening to These Four NFL QBs?

We all know the NFL is an erratic league.

Some recently successful quarterbacks are finding it more erratic than others this season.

Whether their problems are new offensive personnel, off-the-field distractions or drops in their self-confidence is anybody’s guess.

We’ll take a look into what made these quarterbacks successful, how they’ve struggled this season, and how they can get back on track.

Philip Rivers

Credentials

In one of the most controversial drafts in NFL history, Eli Manning refused to play for the Chargers who picked him first overall. San Diego traded Manning to the Giants who picked Rivers with the No. 4 pick.

After backing up Drew Brees his first two seasons, Rivers hit the ground running in 2006 and hasn’t missed a start since.

Of the 22 QBs that have started 50 games since 2006, Rivers ranks in the top five in passing yards, touchdown passes, QB rating and yards per attempt.

Despite the Chargers’ struggles in the playoffs, they have amassed a 59-28 regular season record with Rivers under center.

This Season’s Struggles

Rivers has piled up the passing yards and maintained a high level of accuracy this season. Unfortunately, his scoring is down and his interceptions are up.

He has averaged 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in the first seven games of the season over his career. The numbers have flipped this year with 7 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rivers has only thrown more than 11 interceptions twice in his career.

Will He Improve?

The Chargers are a better team in the second half of the season, going 37-7 from November to January during Rivers’ career.

It’s hard for me to believe that Rivers won’t bounce back. He has been such a consistent quarterback over the last five years and I think he has the mental toughness to overcome his turnover issues.

Matt Ryan

Credentials

Taken third overall in the 2008 draft, Ryan has shown a great understanding of the quarterback position. Aided by workhorse Michael Turner and speedster Roddy White, Ryan put up huge numbers in his first three years.

Only Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer threw more touchdowns in their first three seasons.

Ryan’s winning ways helped to bring the Falcons back into a positive light after Michael Vick’s dog-fighting incident.

This Season’s Struggles

After going 13-3 last season, Ryan and the Falcons have stumbled to a 4-3 start. A lot of the blame rests on the defense that ranks 20th in points allowed, but Ryan has contributed to the bad play.

Like Rivers, Ryan has averaged 11 interceptions per season over his three-year career. He already has eight through seven games in 2011.

A large part of this has to do with the protection Ryan is receiving, or should I say, not receiving.

Ryan has never been sacked more than 23 times in a season, but he’s already been downed 18 times this year.

Will He Fix It?

Ryan needs more time to throw if he’s going to cut down the turnovers. If the offensive line can’t get it together, Ryan will either put up subpar numbers or get injured. It’s that simple.

Joe Flacco

Credentials

As the second quarterback picked in the 2008 draft (Ryan was first) Flacco was not originally slated to start immediately. Kyle Boller, the Ravens’ starter at the time, landed on injured reserve and backup Troy Smith fell ill with Lemierre’s syndrome. That gave Flacco the starting job for Week 1 of the 2008 season.

He hasn’t looked back since.

Flacco and the Ravens have gone 37-18 in the regular season and have won four playoff games since.

On the all-time list of most touchdown passes in the first three years of a career, Flacco is right behind Matt Ryan.

He’s also thrown the second-fewest interceptions among QBs in their first three years (Jeff Garcia is first, but he was 29 in his first NFL season).

This Season’s Struggles

If you combine his Week 1 and 3 performances, you’ll find some impressive numbers (306.5 yards per game, 6 touchdowns, no interceptions, a 108.8 rating.)

The problem is the Ravens have played five other games, and they haven’t exactly been pretty for Flacco. He’s averaged 230 yards, tossed only two touchdowns to six interceptions and posted a 61.4 rating in those games.

Will He Fix It?

It really doesn’t look like Flacco has gotten into a comfort zone this year.

It could be that his receiving corps consists of four new players and free agent Lee Evans has missed the last five games. It could also be that his offensive line has experienced a lot of moving and shaking as well. Stud left guard Ben Grubbs has missed the last six games and the line has a new left tackle in Bryant McKinnie.

It’s no surprise Flacco is on pace for his third-straight 35-plus sack season.

Still, I think Flacco will get back on track. He’s never been one to get rattled by a bad performance. Flacco has gotten better in each of his three seasons in nearly every passing statistic.

Josh Freeman

Credentials

After an up-and-down rookie campaign, Josh Freeman made a huge splash last season.

His touchdown to interception ratio was second in the league behind only Tom Brady and he finished fifth in passer rating (95.9).

He cut his interception total by 12 from 2009 to 2010, which is quite a feat for a 22-year-old starting QB.

The Bucs didn’t make the playoffs, but Freeman led the team to its first 10-win season since 2005.

This Season’s Struggles

Freeman has maintained his solid completion percentage and passing yardage output from last season.

On the flip side, his touchdowns are down and his interceptions are back to his rookie-year levels. With 10 picks in seven games (he had six all of last year), Freeman has fans wondering if last year was a fluke.

Will He Fix It?

The sample size is small for Freeman. He has only started 32 games and last year was the first time he started all 16 games in a season. He’s only 23, which gives him plenty of time to work out the kinks.

Unfortunately, the Bucs’ upcoming schedule won’t provide much relief.

Trips to New Orleans, Green Bay and Tennessee in the next four games will show us if Freeman can return to last year’s form.