the 2013 nfl best to worst QB

The quarterback is the most influential position in all of sports. Ten of the last 15 Super Bowl MVPs and 11 of the last 15 regular season MVPs have been quarterbacks. Teams can win without having a great QB (word to the '03 Bucs) but having a skilled player under center makes things a whole lot easier. With the 2013 season getting fully underway today, we're taking a look at which teams are put at an advantage because of their solid passers and which ones should start looking at their backup options.
And since it's always more fun to put the spotlight on the unfortunate (a la your 5th grade teacher always calling on the poor kid with the speech impediment to read), we're ranking this season's starters in reverse order from best to worst. How bad can things get when Terrelle Pryor is your starter? Al Davis returning as a zombie in an attempt to set things straight? Can Tom Brady keep New England in the hunt with one former receiving option in Denver and the other rocking an orange uniform of a whole different sort? Find out the answers to those questions and more in our 2013 NFL Starting Quarterback Rankings: From Best to Worst.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Backup: Seneca Wallace

Best-case scenario: Aaron Rodgers adjusts to life post-Greg Jennings and the Packers actually develop a decent run game, giving him a chance to relive 2010.
Worst-case scenario: Jordy Nelson has injury problems. Green Bay's offensive line shits the bed again after ranking second-to-last in sacks allowed last seasn.

2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Backup: Brock Osweiler

Best-case scenario: A full year of play in 2012 removed what little rust the veteran had. Also, a new weapon in Wes Welker will help make Denver a lock for the Super Bowl

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Backup: Luke McCown

Best-case scenario: Brees and head coach Sean Payton are back like cooked crack after Payton's one-year suspension for Bountygate. Brees has the same supporting cast at the skill positions as last season, when he threw for 5K+ yards and 40+ TDs, so reuniting with the coach who resurrected his career only makes the Saints' attack more potent, provided the offensive line can keep him upright. Speaking of which...
Worst-case scenario: The Saints let veteran left tackle Jermon Bushrod go to the Bears in the offseason, leaving untested fourth-year man Charles Brown to protect Brees' blind side. Brown has started just eight NFL games, all at right tackle. If he's not up to the task, Brees will have a great view of the Superdome ceiling, while laying flat on his back.

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Backup: Ryan Mallett

Best-case scenario: The Brady-Belichick duo adapts to losing Wes Weler and Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski gets (and stays) healthy, and the Patriots remain a contender. In other words, Tom Brady gives us reason No. 1,359 to hate him for haivng a better life than ours.
Worst-case scenario: Losing players like Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker proves as costly as skeptics think and the Pats miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Bill Belichik has a Dennis Green-esque press conference meltdown that sets Twitter ablaze.

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Backup: Dominique Davis

Best-case scenario: Matty Ice teams with the one of the best wide receiving combos in the league in Roddy White and Julio Jones, the greatest tight end of all time in Tony Gonzalez, and brand new marquee running back Stephen Jackson to repeat as NFC South champs and, wait for it, win—NO, WAIT FOR IT FALC FANS—two whole January games.
Worst-case scenario: With too much of his supporting cast on the wrong side of 30 (White, Jackson, and Gonzalez, who's a long, long way on the wrong side of 30), Matty Ice finds himself handing off to Jacquizz Rodgers and throwing to Drew Davis and Chase Coffman more than any man with a nickname that wack should, and the Dirty Birds drop to third in the NFC South behind the reunited Saints and the surprising Panthers.

6. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Backup: Curtis Painter

Best-case scenario: At this point in Eli's career, the best case is always going to be a ring. Haters: If you don't think he's "elite" by now, just stick to playing Madden.
Worst-case scenario: He still makes big plays with the newly re-upped Victor Cruz, but mediocre production from the injury-prone Hakeem Nicks and the still-unproven Rueben Randle leaves him with perpetual Eli face.

7. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Backup: Colt McCoy

Best-case scenario: The second-year starter builds on his 2012 success and gets the 49ers over the hump to bring San Francisco its first title in 19 years. Smart play on the field = fans getting stupid and going dumb in the stands!
Worst-case scenario: Defenses around the league adjust to Kaepernick and bring down stats like his 98.3 QBR and 31.9 rushing yards per game average. That or a serious injury to the young QB could put an end to the 49ers being Super Bowl favorites. Kaep then demands a trade to Miami in the offseason because he loves their snapbacks.

8. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Backup: Derek Anderson

Best-case scenario: Newton doesn't have to serve as the team's primary running option (he led the team in rushing yards last season), and with a more balanced Panther attack, Killa Cam repeats the performances of his first two years (fantasy impact aside, Newton had essentially the same season in his rookie and sophomore seasons) and leads Carolina to quiet contender status in the NFC South.
Worst-case scenario: New "weapons" Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn repeat their squirt gun-level play from previous stops, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart revive their long-running buddy comedy Two-Headed Backfield of Suck, and Steve Smith remains older than old dirt. Newton is forced to play one-on-11 on a regular basis, and offers to take a pay cut to return to Auburn.

9. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins

Backup: Kirk Cousins

Best-case scenario: Despite suffering what appeared to be a catastrophic knee injury, RGIII makes like Adrian Peterson and triumphantly returns in the season opener. Once under center, he immediately picks up where he left off: confounding NFL defenses with his arm and his legs and confusing women with his braids.
Worst-case scenario: RGIII's knee and reckless style remain a gruesome injury waiting to happen and the first big lick this season puts his career in jeopardy. Slide, Robert. SLIDE!

10. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Backup: Tarvaris Jackson

Best-case scenario: The trendy pick for the Super Bowl is led by the trendiest QB this side of RGIII: Russell Wilson proves that he is the best quarterback from the 2012 class by taking the 'Hawks all the way.
Worst-case scenario: Seattle really does appear to be that good, but the NFC West is kinda killer this season, so getting swept by the Niners and splitting with the improved Cardinals and Rams could leave Russy and crew out of the playoffs. But we wouldn't bet on it.

11. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Backup: Shaun Hill

Best-case scenario: Reggie Bush becomes the second option that Stafford has always needed, while also managing to reinvigorate the Lions' running game. Detroit's new, high-octane offense carries them to 10 wins and a trip to the playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: Stafford hangs onto Calvin Johnson and refuses to let go. Defenses regularly gang up on Megatron because they know that's all they need to do to put Detroit down. Led by this stagnant, predictable offense, Los Leones limp to a 6-10 season in a tough NFC North.

12. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Backup: Matt Hasselbeck

Best-case scenario: Luck improves his completion percentage (just 54% last year) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-18 in '12), throws for another 4,000+ yards, and, like, Peyton Manning in his second year with the Colts, leads Indy to a 10-win improvement, finishing the '13 season with 21 wins and negative-five losses. (Okay, Colts fans would probably settle for 13-3 and a division crown.)
Worst-case scenario: Opponents blanket Reggie Wayne, neither Vick Ballard or Ahmad Bradshaw are up to the task of being a full-time running back, and Luck's ears continue to drift away from the side of his head until he's collared by a mid-November Indiana gale, propelled airborne, and deposited in a cornfield outside Muncie.

13. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Backup: Tyrod Taylor

Best-case scenario: Pretty Flacco earns every penny of that monster $120.6 million contract by bringing the Ravens back to the Super Bowl for a chance to repeat as champs.
Worst-case scenario: Flacco's contract starts feeling like an albatross when it's mentioned after every game in which he sucks—just like he did in last Thursday's opener in Denver. Well, at least he's always got that awesome T-shirt line to fall back on. Snicker.

14. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Backup: Kyle Orton


Best-case Scenario: Romo's inevitable late-season meltdown occurs at the end of January-or even on February 2 in MetLife Stadium. You already know a "Romo" is coming, it's just a matter of when.
Worst-case Scenario: In his seventh season as a full-time starter, Romo seals his fate as the dude that racks up big numbers but can't win big games. But hey, bright side for Cowboys fans: He may finally get Jason Garrett shit-canned.

 

15. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Backup: Bruce Gradkowski

Best-case scenario: The Steelers' offensive line bounces back from its group-wide epic fail last year, and Big Ben stays upright long enough to make full use of his unknown but solid skill position corps (Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell) and lead Pittsburgh to a wild card berth.
Worst-case scenario: Big Ben likes to scramble-just not this much. His O-line develops more holes than a particularly porous strain of Swiss cheese, and Roethlisberger gets

16. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Backup: Nick Foles

Best-case scenario: A healthy Michael Vick plays in perfectly to Chip Kelly's offense and returns to being the 2010 QB that put up a rating of 100.2, had a completion percentage of 62.6, and rushed for over 650 yards. The Eagles become a contender and Philly fans are feeling good enough to show Santa some love in December.
Worst-case scenario: Bad Newz Kennels 2.0 in full effect! Riley Cooper comes out as a Klansman! Just kidding, relax. At worst Michael Vick will once again have a season riddled with nagging inuries and flip-flopping between Vick and Nick Foles at QB prevents the team from developing any kind of offensive consistency. The Nightmare Team era continues in Philly.

17. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Backup: Josh McCown

Best-case scenario: Cutler finally silences all of his haters by fluorishing under Marc Trestman's tutelage, and leading Chicago to an NFC North crown.

18. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Backup: Kellen Clemens

Best-case scenario: Bradford takes over the previously run-centric offense of the Rams and assumes more of a leadership role. No Steven Jackson. No Danny Amendola. No problem.
Worst-case scenario: Bradford takes a leadership role on a team full of young and unproven wide receivers. Best of luck for the Rams and their babysitting service. Oh yeah, and they drop a 2013 remix of "Ram It." Ayo!

19. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Backup: Josh Johnson

Best-case scenario: The Red Rifle leads Cincinnati to a season-sweep of their division rivals, and the Bengals grab their ninth AFC North title in team history. And this year, they finally make it out of the first round in the playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: Dalton fails to elevate his game enough for the Bengals to contend against a rejuvenated Pittsburgh squad, and the still-hungry Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati takes a step backward, and ends up with a middling 8-8 record.

20. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Backup: Charlie Whitehurst

Best-case scenario: The Chargers get a healthy Antonio Gates, and their wide receivers Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Brown step up. Also, it wouldn't hurt if Ryan Mathews figured out how to get healthy and stopped fumbling the rock. At best the Chargers complete their first winning season since 2009 and secure a Wildcard berth.
Worst-case scenario: Philip Rivers fails to deliver and continues his rapid fall from the second-tier quarterbacks club to the mediocre. Norv Turner gets reconstructive surgery on his scrotum neck and laughs at Mike McCoy for leaving Denver to take such a shitty gig in SD.

21. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Backup: Matt Moore

Best-case scenario: Mike Wallace comes in and becomes the ultimate complementary target to Ryan Tannehill. The long ball option could definitely fix some of the offensive problems ailing the 'Fins last season. If the Patriots truly have a big fall from grace, an AFC East title could be in Miami's future. It's 2008 all over again!
Worst-case scenario: The Dolphins weak run game leads to a predictable offense and ultimately leads to another struggle season. Rozay slips molly in his own champagne to ease the pain.

22. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Backup: Chase Daniel

Best-case scenario: The high IQ, accurate Alex Smith who led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 2011-12 shows up and helps Kansas City reach the playoffs. But temper your hopes, they're not going far with the Patriots and Broncos still around.
Worst-case scenario: Smith ends up back on the sidelines nursing yet another injury while looking for another coaching job when Chase Daniel "pulls a Colin Kaepernick" and takes his starting spot.

Worst-case scenario: Cutler says, "Fuck it," and actually just starts smoking during games.

23. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Backup: T.J. Yates

Best-case scenario: DeAndre Hopkins impresses as a wideout, leaving Andre Johnson with more opportunities to get touches and make Matt Schaub look good. The Texans repeat as AFC South champs and make a deep playoff run.
Worst-case scenario: If Houston finds itself in a "win and you're in situation" that would find the team needing Schaub to be on point. The Texans take two steps back and allow Andrew Luck & Co. to take over the division

24. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Backup: Drew Stanton

Best-case scenario: With a bonafide No. 1 receiver in Larry Fitzgerald to throw it to, Palmer gives the Cardinals a legit offensive threat to go along with their improving defense. Unfortunately, the Cards are in an incredibly hard division which features the Seahawks and the 49ers. Arizona would need to hope for at least Wild Card berth but yeah, that ain't happening.
Worst-case scenario: If Palmer and Fitzgerald fail to get on the same page and gel, it's going to be a difficult season for the Cardinals' offense. But aren't Cards fans used to seeing a struggle offense out on the field already?

25. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Backup: Mike Glennon

Best-case scenario: With a strong offense featuring Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson, Josh Freeman realizes his potential and leads the Buccaneers deep into the playoffs. How far? If Freeman is playing well, the NFC Championship is a strong possibility.
Worst-case scenario: It's hard to believe that the Buccaneers didn't draft Mike Glennon with the intent to: 1) light a fire up Josh Freeman's ass, 2) have a back-up plan in place if Freeman doesn't get his act together this season. Simply put, if Freeman struggles again, Glennon will be the team's starting quarterback. And it won't take an entire season to reach that conclusion.

26. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Backup: Matt Cassell

Best-case scenario: Adrian Peterson actually does break Eric Dickerson's record. The collection of ankles wide receiver Percy Harvin messes up doesn't include his own. Sidney Rice gets back to being healthy and Minnesota gets back to its first Conference Championship game since 2009.
Worst-case scenario: Adrian Peterson gets injured for at least four games. The Vikings end up
 

27. EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills

Backup: Jeff Tuel

Best-case scenario: Manuel has weapons all around incuding Stevie "I Still Don't Know Who Patrick Chung Plays For" Johnson, Robert Woods, CJ Spiller, and Fred Jackson is back this year. As long as Manuel makes smart decisions and doesn't turn the ball over the Bills will be looking like draft geniuses taking EJ at 18 overall in the draft, and will probably be taking home offensive rookie of the year hardware.
Worst-case scenario: His knee bothers him throughout the season and an undrafted, unheard of quarterback takes his job and the Bills playoff drought continues.

28. Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans

Backup: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Best-case scenario: Tennessee's new O-line helps protect Jake Locker and opens up more running room for Chris Johsnon. The Titans improve to an 8-8 record, still missing the playoffs but managing to gain back some of the dignity lost over the last few seasons.
Worst-case Scenario: The inexperienced O-line fails to protect Locker and tears the same shoulder he tore last season. Ryan Fitzpatrick takes over and Titans fans find out that it does actually get worse than 2012's 6-10 record. That and CJ2K hits the booth again.

29. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

Backup: Jason Campbell

Best-case scenario: Partnered with Rob Chudzinski (who? the new head coach of the Browns!), Weeden improves on his underwhelming rookie campaign to lead the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2002. Just kidding! At best they'll pray that the Steelers and Ravens show their age and fall off, allowing the Browns to claw their way to a near .500 record.
Worst-case scenario: The Browns continue being the Browns. The same team that has posted just two winning records over the last 14 seasons adopts a fitting heap of dog shit as their logo.

30. Geno Smith, New York Jets

Backup: Mark Sanchez

Best-case scenario: The Geno era in New York will go through its share of bumps and bruises. Maybe Smith will learn to adapt to the NFL sooner rather than later and get Gang Green to an 8-8 record, at best.
Worst-case scenario: Smith takes too long to adjust to the speed of the game and improve his decision-making skills, forcing the Jets to return to Mark Sanchez, which means...well...more Mark Sanchez.

31. Terrelle Pryor, Oakland Raiders

Backup: Matt Flynn

Best-case scenario: If the Raiders can protect Pryor for more than two seconds he has a chance to be successful. Employ the read option and become the poor man's RG3 and the Raiders win five games.
Worst-case scenario: Darren McFadden will end up getting injured (sorry, but it happens every year), and Pryor is forced to become the team's leading rusher and passer. He dies after taking his 150th sack of the season.

32. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

Backup: Chad Henne

Best-case scenario: A healthy Maurice Jones-Drew plays as close to his 2011 form as physically possible and Blaine Gabbert does his best to stay out of the way. In other words, not fuck things up with his mediocre-at-best passing.
Worst-case scenario: The Jags seriously challenge the 0-16 record of the 2008 Lions and realize that they may have missed out by failing to pick up Tim Tebow.