Nearly two weeks of the NFL season have wrapped up and there are just eighteen days until the Dallas Cowboys play the New York Giants on September 5 for the first regular season game. Fans are getting anxious and cannot wait to cheer on their favorite team, player, or fantasy football team.
To help you get prepared for the 2012 season, here are my top five quarterbacks to start the season:
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has won a Super Bowl and fell a little short last year. Rodgers was the 2011 MVP after putting up a stellar season.
Yes, he didn’t break Dan Marino’s passing yards record (Drew Brees did,) but he did throw for 45 touchdowns to only six interceptions as well as throwing for 4,643 yards. Not to mention Rodgers did break Peyton Manning’s quarterback rating with a 122.5 rating.
Rodgers had to put a lot of points up last year as his defense was ranked dead last in the NFL and he has an elite wide receiving corp with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jermichael Finley.
Oh and I forgot to mention Rodgers’ mobility. He has ran for 200+ yards the last 4 seasons.
It is throws like this below that make Rodgers so good. Watch as he goes over the top of Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns to connect with Nelson for the touchdown. Right on the money.
Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson touchdown pass
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Tom Brady is 35 years old, but can still play. He had 39 touchdowns to 12 interceptions last year along with 5, 235 passing yards. He had a passer rating of 105.6 and completed nearly 66% of his passes.
Brady, like Rodgers has some really big targets. He has turned tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in starts and has Mr. Reliable, Wes Welker running in the slot. The Patriots also added Brandon Lloyd in 2012, so they should be loaded for another Super Bowl run.
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Wait, you’re telling me Brees is third on my list and he just broke Dan Marino’s single season passing record with 5,476 yards?
You have to be confused right?
Brees has a better completion percentage too. He threw for 46 touchdowns but threw 14 interceptions (more than Rodgers and Brady,) and had a 110.6 passer rating.
Brees has a emerging superstar at tight end too in Jimmy Graham along with Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Lance Moore.
So, why isn’t he number one? Well, I think not because of Brady’s Super Bowl appearance last year and Rodgers’ Super Bowl win a year ago. Otherwise, it can be a toss-up.
4. Eli Manning, New York Giants
Eli Manning has won two Super Bowls now to his brother’s one. He is now an elite quarterback. What most jumps out at me his ability to succeed in the fourth quarter. In 2011, he had eight fourth quarter comebacks. Whoa.
I guess every year we should write the Giants off early and say Tom Coughlin is on the hot seat and Eli Manning might just lead his team to another Super Bowl, rightNe?
5. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning didn’t play a year ago, and hasn’t take a “big” hit yet after having neck surgery. However, the past speaks for itself. John Elway says Manning is the same passer he used to be.
Cindy Boren of the Washington Post writes,
“I went back and looked at film from 2010 and 2009 to get a comparison of Peyton, and he looks to me to be the same guy throwing now that he was then. The ball is coming out quicker all the time the more and more time he gets with the offense and getting to know all his receivers and tight ends. . . . That’s always been his style.
“He’s never been the Nolan Ryan of quarterbacks anyway. He’s always thrown the ball with great anticipation and touch.”
I guess we will see come Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Feel free to comment and leave your opinion as well!
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