We are through 17 weeks of the 2021 season. This past slate of games featured another massive performance from Joe Burrow, and Tom Brady led yet another winning drive.
On a weekly basis throughout the season, I will rate my current confidence in each quarterback’s play. Who is unstoppable and in the MVP conversation? Who is struggling and needs to find consistency? Who is rising, and who is falling, after each week’s game slate? Which rookies are exceeding expectations, and which veterans are leading their offenses to playoff contention? And remember, this is based on the present, not future potential.
True backups will not be included, though teams with multiple legitimate starting options might have multiple QBs listed in the rankings. Backups in line to play for injured starters also will be ranked. The list will be accompanied each week by some of the biggest takeaways and lingering thoughts from the recent performances under center, including what both the tape and numbers say about some of the game’s starting quarterbacks. Here are this week’s QB rankings and some notes regarding the position.
Last updated: Jan. 5
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Rankings | Week 17 takeaways
Mike Tannenbaum’s current QB rankings
Biggest takeaways from Week 17
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Watching the Browns-Steelers game on Monday night, it was clear to me that both teams need new quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger‘s tremendous career has clearly come to the end. He had 34 pass attempts in the first half and just 96 passing yards. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, he is the only player in the past 40 years with at least 30 pass attempts and fewer than 100 passing yards in a half, including playoffs. And Baker Mayfield‘s limitations are manifesting. He is getting hit a ton because of his speed deficiency, and his passes are getting batted because he doesn’t have ideal size for an NFL QB.
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The Buccaneers’ win over the Jets came as a result of Tom Brady‘s 53rd career winning drive, tying Drew Brees for the most among QBs since 2000 (ESPN Stats & Information). But I’m curious to see who Brady turns to moving forward without receivers Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown. It’s just a gut feeling, but I wouldn’t be surprised if tight end Cameron Brate became a household name during the playoffs.
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Over the past two weeks, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow has 971 passing yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions — and he fell only 3 yards short of Dak Prescott‘s record for the most passing yards in consecutive games (Prescott had 974 over Weeks 3-4 in 2020). The Bengals are just really hard to defend against with three talented receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd and a very underrated tight end in C.J. Uzomah.
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The Rams’ Matthew Stafford threw his 27th career pick-six, and his fourth this season, on Sunday. Only three players since 1950 have thrown more interceptions that were returned for TDs: Brett Favre (32), Dan Marino (28) and Joe Namath (28). Despite their recent five-game winning streak, there is tremendous pressure on Stafford, who will carry the burden of not winning a playoff game until he does.
