The Best Rookie Quarterback Playoff Performances

Since 1970 only nine different quarterbacks have started a playoff game, and only four of those nine have won a game in their rookie playoffs.

This season, two rookie quarterbacks—T.J. Yates and Andy Dalton—are prepped to potentially start in the playoffs.

Let's take a look at the nine others before them and how they fared in their first ever playoff games.

9. Todd Marinovich, Los Angeles Raiders, 1991

Stats: 12-of-23, 140 YD, 0 TD, 4 INT

Prior to his playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Marinovich had only one start in his rookie season, but received the playoff nod due to an injury to starter Jay Schroeder.

The Raiders lost the game 10-6 and Marinovich played awful, tossing four interceptions and not getting the Raiders into the end zone.

To this day, Marinovich remains as one of the saddest falls from grace in NFL history.

8. Bernie Kosar, Cleveland Browns, 1985

Stats: 10-of-19, 66 YD, 1 TD, 1 INT

After Bernie Kosar's pre-draft stipulations to play for the Cleveland Browns, his wishes finally came true after becoming the starting quarterback midway through the year.

The Browns sneaked into the playoffs with an 8-8 record, but that is where their season would end.

The Browns fell to the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round by a score of 24-21, as Kosar was anything but impressive.

7. Jim Everett, St. Louis Rams, 1986

Stats: 9-of-18, 136 YD, 1 TD, 2 INT

Many of us remember Jim Everett because of the famous interview one Jim Rome presented, where he continuously referred to him as women's tennis player Chris Evert.

During the regular season, Everett played well but really struggled when he got into the playoffs.

In the Rams' 19-7 loss to the Washington Redskins, Everett tossed two costly turnovers for a St. Louis team that relied heavily on the run.

6. Shaun King, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1999

Stats

Game 1: 15-of-32, 157 YD, 1 TD, 1 INT

Game 2: 13-of-29, 163 YD, 0 TD, 2 INT

The difference between Shaun King and the previously mentioned players is that King actually quarterbacked his team to a playoff victory when the Bucs defeated the Redskins 14-13.

In both games King started in his rookie playoffs, he didn't play entirely well, and the Bucs defense held opposing offenses to keep them in the game.

Credit is given where credit is due however, as King and the Buccaneers capped off a second-half comeback with a 1-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

5. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins, 1983

Stats: 15-of-25, 193 YD, 2 TD, 2 INT

Dan Marino is arguably the best quarterback to never win a Super Bowl, even though he made several post season appearances since his rookie season. 

In the Dolphins' 27-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, turnovers told the story for Miami, as they handed the Seahawks the ball on five difference occasions.

Marino played well, connecting on two touchdowns, but you can't win games if you turn the ball over five times.

4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 2008

Stats: 26-of-40, 199 YD, 2 TD, 2 INT

Matt Ryan was the third overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft and started from day one.

When the Falcons visited the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs, Matt Ryan came to play and kept his team in the game up until the final whistle.

A late touchdown pass to Roddy White got the team within one touchdown, but Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald were too strong.

The Cardinals would eventually play in the Super Bowl.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004

Stats

Game 1: 17-of-30, 181 YD, 1 TD, 2 INT

Game 2: 14-of-24, 226 YD, 2 TD, 3 INT

Ben Roethlisberger's rookie season was one of the best in the history of the NFL, and his 13-0 regular season record helped the Steelers to the No. 1 overall seed.

In the divisional round, Ben threw a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 17-17, and the Steelers eventually went on to win in overtime, 20-17.

In the conference championship, Tom Brady and the Patriots were too much for the rookie quarterback as the Steelers fell 41-27.

2. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 2008

Stats

Game 1: 9-of-23, 135 YD, 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 Rush TD

Game 2: 11-of-22, 161 YD, 1 TD, 0 INT

Game 3: 13-of-30, 141 YD, 0 TD, 3 INT

Joe Flacco started every game for the Ravens his rookie season and led the team to the playoffs with a 11-5 record.

He was also the first quarterback in NFL history to win three games in the playoffs his rookie season.

In the first two rounds, Flacco played well by not turning the ball over. His yardage and completion percentage weren't great, but he didn't make the big mistakes we would see him make in the conference finals.

Against the Steelers in the AFC championship, Flacco was exposed by tossing three interceptions and only 13 completions.

1. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets, 2009

Stats

Game 1: 12-of-15, 182 YD, 1 TD, 0 INT

Game 2: 12-of-23, 100 YD, 1 TD, 0 INT

Game 3: 17-of-30, 257 YD, 2 TD, 1 INT

Like Joe Flacco and the Ravens the previous year, Mark Sanchez led the New York Jets to the conference championship with two wins on the road, in Cincinnati and San Diego.

Sanchez has always been one of the more polarizing figures in the NFL, but his ability to deliver in the playoffs speaks for itself.

In the AFC championship the Jets ran into Peyton Manning and the Colts, and despite leading at the half, Manning was too strong in the second half and the Colts won 30-17.