Power Ranking the Top 10 Quarterbacks in the NFL Entering Week 14

2011 has arguably been the year of the quarterback—in fact ESPN has actually "officially" dubbed 2011 that title. 

With that being said, ESPN has certainly gotten it right: This season has truly been all about the passers at the NFL level. Quite frankly, a team's success depends on how much of an elite level its quarterback is playing at—a prime example is the undefeated Green Bay Packers with Aaron Rodgers playing out of this world. 

Enough of the chit-chat, let's drive right into my power ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL entering Week 14. 

10. Cam Newton

The only knock that I have on Cam Newton this season is that he's throwing far too many interceptions however he is playing against the toughest schedule in all of football.

Either way, Newton's production at the professional level has been very impressive for a spread-option quarterback at the college level. 

In 12 games as Carolina's starting quarterback, the Auburn product has posted an 82.4 quarterback rating while throwing for 3,297 yards and scoring a combined total of 18 touchdowns. 

9. Alex Smith

2011 has been really something for Alex Smith—Jim Harbaugh has turned around his career in a huge way.

In the first season in Harbaugh's offensive system, Smith has been very effective as he's posted a 94.9 quarterback rating through 12 games this season. In those 12 games, Smith has thrown for only 2,390 yards but has tossed 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. 

8. Matthew Stafford

Perhaps this will be the first season that Matthew Stafford can actually play without missing game.

Stafford has been an integral part in the Detroit Lions' success this season as he's thrown 27 touchdowns while accumulating 3,527 total passing yards and completing 63 percent of his passes. 

The former first overall pick back in 2009 has developed quite a relationship with wide receiver Calvin Johnson, as the two are one of the top QB-WR tandems in the NFL today. 

7. Tony Romo

Tony Romo has been the key to the Dallas Cowboys' success this season. 

The 31-year-old has thrown for 3,325 yards, 22 touchdowns and only nine interceptions while recording a very impressive 97.3 quarterback rating. 

This has been arguably Romo's best season in the NFL as he's played extremely well under pressure. 

6. Eli Manning

At times Eli Manning is one of the NFL's finest, but then there's other times when he's just downright bad. Thankfully this season, Manning has been very productive despite his New York Giants' record of 6-6.

Through 12 games, Manning has recorded a career-high 96.0 quarterback rating while throwing 23 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions—definitely much better than his 25 interception season from a year ago. 

5. Tim Tebow

You heard it right: Tim Tebow is the fifth best quarterback in the NFL today.

You're probably wondering how a quarterback with only a 47.4 completion percentage can be ranked so high—well it's all about the wins and losses and thus far he's a winner with a 6-1 record. 

To go along with his record, Tebow has taken good care of the ball for the Denver Broncos as he's only turned the ball over twice in 2011. 

All in all, Tebow is improving every single week and will face a tough test this weekend against the Chicago Bears. 

4. Ben Roethlisberger

The toughness from Ben Roethlisberger so often goes unnoticed but what he did on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns was simply heroic. After appearing to severely injuring his left ankle, Big Ben came back to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 14-3 win. 

In Roethlisberger's 13 games this season, he has thrown 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while recording a respectable 95.6 quarterback rating. 

3. Drew Brees

With all the attention going towards Aaron Rodgers nowadays, Drew Brees has been overlooked by a lot of people.

So far in 2011, Brees has led his New Orleans Saints to a solid 9-3 record, which is good enough for first in the NFC South. Through 12 games, Brees has thrown for a league-high 4,031 yards, completed 70.4 percent of his passes while throwing 30 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. 

It certainly appears that Brees is playing at the same elite level like he was back in 2009 when the Saints won the Super Bowl. 

2. Tom Brady

Believe it or not, a lot of people have been overlooking Tom Brady as of late, and I actually believe that many are underrating his performance thus far in 2011.

Brady may have thrown 10 interceptions but has yet to be picked off in the last four games. In those four games, the 2010 reigning MVP has thrown 10 touchdowns, passed for 1,213 while posting a 119.6 quarterback rating. 

All in all, TB12 is on pace for yet another record-breaking season as he'll likely surpass Dan Marino's single season passing record set back in 1984.

1. Aaron Rodgers

Can anyone stop Aaron Rodgers? There isn't one defense that I think can shut-down the reigning Super Bowl MVP as he's completing an amazing 70.6 percent of his passes while leading his Green Bay Packers to 12-0 record.

Through those 12 games, Rodgers has a recorded a league-high 125.3 quarterback rating while accumulating 3,844 yards, tossing a league-high 37 touchdowns and throwing only five interceptions. 

As of right now, with Rodgers playing on a completely other planet, he is sure lock for the 2011 NFL Most Valuable Player Award. 

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