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| Poll via ESPN.com (Click on picture for larger view) |
Buffalo Bills --- 2013: Thaddeus Lewis 2003: Drew Bledsoe (Advantage: 2003)
Simply put, Bledsoe's experience destroys Lewis's limited track record of 3 starts. Could Lewis be better? Considering E.J. Manuel is almost definitely the starter once healthy, I'd say no.
Miami Dolphins --- 2013: Ryan Tannehill 2003: Brian Griese (Advantage: 2013)
Brian Griese's 2003 season was filled with injury and being consistently average as was his entire career. Ryan Tannehill has so far this season been above average and after being a first round pick, it's hard to imagine being worse than Brian Griese unless you're a complete bust. I think Tannehill would need a serious Rex Grossman-like turnaround to be classified as a bust.
New England Patriots --- 2013: Tom Brady 2003: Tom Brady (Advantage: 2003)
Tom Brady is still Tom Brady but he no longer looks like a super bowl winning quarterback as he was in 2003. Also, I don't care how inept his receiving core is, a 55.4% completion percentage doesn't just magically happen to an aging elite quarterback.
New York Jets --- 2013: Geno Smith 2003: Vinny Testaverde (Advantage: 2003)
Vinny Testaverde is basically Andy Dalton if Andy Dalton were Andy Dalton for 20 years. Always quarterbacking an 8-8 team give or take a few pro bowlers (A.J. Green helps Dalton) but never hitting that next elite level. Geno Smith isn't nearly as consistent as Testaverde was in 2003.
Baltimore Ravens --- 2013: Joe Flacco 2003: Kyle Boller (Advantage: 2013)
Joe Flacco is the best quarterback in franchise history and Boller was the one thing keeping the Ravens from winning 5 super bowls. Advantage: Unibrow.
Cincinnati Bengals --- 2013: Andy Dalton 2003: Jon Kitna (Advantage: 2013)
This was a close one but recently we've seen Dalton connect with some receivers not named A.J. Green and that is something that was greatly needed in Dalton's game. Kitna was replaced by #1 pick Carson Palmer the next season.
Cleveland Browns --- 2013: Jason Campbell 2003: Kelly Holcomb (Advantage: 2003)
It took a lot of self-control not to type Advantage: Baltimore. Holcomb was the quarterback the last time the Browns made the playoffs in 2002 and while inconsistent, at least had some good games. Jason Campbell's entire career has been filled with average games. He's not going to wow anybody with his ability (like every Browns QB since 1999) and hasn't started since last season so we have yet to see how he could help Cleveland.
Pittsburgh Steelers --- 2013: Ben Roethlisberger 2003: Tommy Maddox (Advantage: 2013)
The Steelers were unsatisfied with Tommy Maddox, so they drafted Ben Roethlisberger. Two super bowl wins and 10 years later... Advantage: 2013.
Houston Texans --- 2013: Matt Schaub (assuming he's ready to go this weekend) 2003: David Carr (Advantage: 2013)
Hey Texans Fans, remember David Carr? Of course you don't. If you remembered David Carr, you wouldn't have cheered your best QB in franchise history getting injured.
Indianapolis Colts --- 2013: Andrew Luck 2003: Peyton Manning (Advantage: 2003)
Slow down everyone, Luck isn't a hall of famer yet. Peyton Manning will be once he retires in 2025 as he finally shows signs of slowing down.
Jacksonville Jaguars --- 2013: Chad Henne 2003: Byron Leftwich (Advantage: 2003)
For as terrible as the Jaguars team has been, Chad Henne hasn't been laughably terrible unlike his back-up Blaine Gabbert. Byron Leftwich was never the answer in Jacksonville but at least he had a positive TD:INT ratio.
Tennessee Titans --- 2013: Jake Locker 2003: Steve McNair (Advantage: 2003)
2003 was the year that Peyton and McNair shared the MVP award and rightfully so. Jake Locker is certainly beginning to look like a franchise quarterback but will it keep up? Only time will tell.
Denver Broncos --- 2013: Peyton Manning 2003: Danny Kanell (Advantage: 2013)
30-year old Danny Kanell came back for two random starts in 2003 to replace an injured Jake Plummer and a turnover-prone Steve Beuerlein... Oh yeah, it's Peyton Manning.
Kansas City Chiefs --- 2013: Alex Smith 2003: Trent Green (Advantage: 2003)
Trent Green made his first of two career pro bowls after the 2003 season and led one of the 3 most prolific offenses in the NFL. Now, defense is the story in KC as Alex Smith continues to be a great game manager.
Oakland Raiders --- 2013: Terrelle Pryor 2003: Rick Mirer (Advantage: 2013)
I guess we should've noticed the signs early. The season AFTER the Raiders won the super bowl, they were forced to start Rick Mirer halfway through the season. Oakland has not had a winning season since that super bowl loss. Terrelle Pryor might not be a top 20 QB but Rick Mirer was an inaccurate turnover robot.
San Diego Chargers --- 2013: Phillip Rivers 2003: Drew Brees (Advantage: 2013)
Before complaining, realize that Drew Brees '03 was benched more than once for Doug Flutie. In other words, '03 Drew Brees was not 2013 Drew Brees. Phillip Rivers has made a comeback into relevancy and is now on a level with the Romo's and Cutler's in consistently good but has a tendency to crumble under pressure.
Dallas Cowboys --- 2013: Tony Romo 2003: Quincy Carter (Advantage: 2013)
Quincy Carter was Geno Smith if Geno Smith were to remain a rookie forever. Tony Romo has had his ups and downs but currently he's riding a very high peak in his career. Fun fact: Tony Romo was undrafted rookie on Dallas's practice squad while Carter was starting.
New York Giants --- 2013: Eli Manning 2003: Kerry Collins (Advantage: 2013)
It's really too soon to tell who has the advantage in this matchup based on their two compared seasons. Kerry Collins was 4-9 with 13 TD's and 16 INT's. Eli Manning is 1-6 with 10 TD's and 15 INT's. If you remove the names from the argument, you'd probably go with Kerry Collins, but based on Eli's 2 rings compared to Kerry's zero... Eli wins by a fingernail.
Philadelphia Eagles --- 2013: Michael Vick 2003: Donovan McNabb (Advantage: 2003)
Injuries have cost Michael Vick any chance at being a serious contender with Philly, something that kept McNabb from getting to contender status after his 5 trips to the NFC Championship. Donovan was in his prime of a hall of fame career in 2003, Vick is past his.
Washington Redskins --- 2013: Robert Griffin III 2003: Patrick Ramsey (Advantage: 2013)
RG3 seems to be back at 100% and for that, us football fans are grateful. RG3 can run for 100, throw for 300, and make you hungry for Subway all in the span of one game. Patrick Ramsey could make you lose your lunch with some of the throws he put up. A proven franchise QB vs. a draft bust, the former always wins.
Chicago Bears --- 2013: Jay Cutler 2003: Chris Chandler (Advantage: 2013)
The Bears had a 20 year stretch of incapable quarterbacks. All that ended with the trade acquisition of Jay Cutler, who has made Chicago's passing offense look the best it's looked since the days of Sid Luckman. 2003 Chris Chandler was a washed up, injury prone QB who fit in well with the long stretch of weak Bears QB's after replacing an injured Rex Grossman.
Detroit Lions --- 2013: Matthew Stafford 2003: Joey Harrington (Advantage: 2013)
As reckless as Stafford's throws may appear, none of them will match the depressing Joey Harrington era. Harrington was a bi-product of the horrific Matt Millen era. Stafford's worked on his turnovers and it's shown. Congrats Detroit, you have a real quarterback.
Green Bay Packers --- 2013: Aaron Rodgers 2003: Brett Favre (Advantage: 2013)
"The 'ol gunslinger" was up to his slinging ways in the 2003 season as he threw for 21 interceptions. Aaron Rodgers has not and may never throw that many interceptions over a 16-game span. Favre was an insanely great quarterback but Rodgers is more efficient.
Minnesota Vikings --- 2013: Christian Ponder 2003: Daunte Culpepper (Advantage: 2003)
Minnesota's quarterback situation contributed to SportsNation's poll question that this whole investigation is about. After starting Ponder to begin the season, Ponder suffered a minor injury which Leslie Frazier used as an excuse to hand the starting job to Matt Cassel. Once the team saw Josh Freeman being released by Tampa, they jumped at the chance to sign him and misguidedly chose to start him in week 7. Now, Freeman is concussed and Ponder returns to starting line-up. Daunte Culpepper never would've been benched as he was a pro bowler in 2003.
Atlanta Falcons --- 2013: Matt Ryan 2003: Kurt Kittner (Advantage: 2013)
Michael Vick had suffered the Madden curse. Atlanta was in shambles on their third quarterback of the season. Kurt Kittner never appeared in an NFL game after 2004 after doing close to nothing to prove he was even an NFL quarterback. Matt Ryan is the franchise quarterback in ATL now, with many years left in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers --- 2013: Cam Newton 2003: Jake Delhomme (Advantage: 2013)
Jake Delhomme was the Super Bowl runner-up QB this season despite less than stellar seasonal statistics. Cam Newton's stats are really starting to impress in the passing game in a way they hadn't his first two seasons. No, Cam has not even made the playoffs yet but there appears to be a superstar status there that did not exist with Jake Delhomme. Also, Jake Delhomme's team around him was levels better than Newton's supporting cast today.
New Orleans Saints --- 2013: Drew Brees 2003: Aaron Brooks (Advantage: 2013)
Drew Brees is a future hall of famer and Aaron Brooks was a nice QB in his day. Add in a super bowl ring for Brees and it should be obvious who's better.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers --- 2013: Mike Glennon 2003: Brad Johnson (Advantage: 2003)
Brad Johnson was an above-average super bowl winning quarterback in 2003 (Think: Joe Flacco). Mike Glennon is an untested 0-7 rookie (Think: Chris Weinke with better teammates).
Arizona Cardinals --- 2013: Carson Palmer 2003: Jeff Blake (Advantage: 2003)
Both of these quarterbacks have eerily similar track records. Both started out with at least 1 pro bowl and a promising career ahead of them in Cincinnati until the injury bug hit Palmer and the turnover bug hit Jeff Blake. Both were completely turnover prone and just earning a paycheck until Blake was and Palmer will be replaced next season. Jeff Blake gets the win here because he was not nearly as turnover prone as Palmer has been through 7 games.
San Francisco 49ers --- 2013: Colin Kaepernick 2003: Jeff Garcia (Advantage: 2013)
Jeff Garcia's 2003 season was filled with inaccuracy and a 5-8 record as a starter. Both of these quarterbacks are mobile but only one has rushed for the record rushing yards by a quarterback in the playoffs. Colin Kaepernick hasn't had too many accuracy issues and continues to be a bright young star in the league today. Garcia was out of San Fran the next year.
Seattle Seahawks --- 2013: Russell Wilson 2003: Matt Hasselbeck (Advantage: 2013)
Russell Wilson is a superhuman QB who looks like one of the league's best in just his second year. Hasselbeck was just starting to figure out this whole quarterbacking thing in 2003, his first full season as a starter.
St. Louis Rams --- 2013: Kellen Clemens 2003: Marc Bulger (Advantage: 2003)
For as injury prone as Marc Bulger was near the end of his career, he really looked like a second-coming of Kurt Warner around 2003 and the injuries just took their toll later on. Kellen Clemens hasn't started a game since 2011 and he looked overly-conservative with his passes and was never that accurate. Now, they have to trust him with Sam Bradford out for the season. The Rams were so desperate that they decided to contact Brett Favre which is what caused ESPN to overreact and ask this terrible poll question.
FINAL RESULTS
2013 --- 19
2003 --- 13
I just randomly chose a season ten years ago off the top of my head since most of the quarterbacks from that era have either retired or crapped their way out of the league. What does this mean? Considering I was able to pull out a random season and prove that 2013's QB class is better, it means that not only is 2013's NFL QB situation not the worst ever, but if you look back over history (especially the 70's), we are currently in the presence of one of the greatest quarterback classes in league history. Maybe SportsNation should consider this...
I love your Washington Redskins quarterback analysis. lol
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