QB No. 8: Matt Ryan

The number eight spot was a tough rank this year. For me, it came down to Eli Manning, Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan. While, it is a "what have you done for me lately" league, you can't completely ignore past success. So while Matt Ryan was undoubtedly better in the regular season, and actually won his first postseason game last year, he wasn't better than Flacco, and I'd still rank Eli Manning over Ryan.

Let's start with the good from Ryan. And there's a lot of it. It looked as if, in year 5, Ryan finally took that next step. He's always been a pretty efficient quarterback. He's never thrown more than 14 interceptions in a season. And in 2011, when he led the Falcons to a 13-3 record and home-field advantage, Ryan only threw nine interceptions. Over the last three seasons he has a 2.5:1 TD-INT ratio. But last season he threw for 4,700 yards, 32 TD, and completed 68% of his passes.

Perhaps most importantly, Ryan finally performed well in the postseason. Against the Seattle Seahawks, Ryan threw for 250 yards, 3TD, and 2 INT, but most importantly led the Falcons on a game-winning drive with about 30 seconds left to stun Seattle. The following week was just as impressive, going against the 49ers defense. He threw for 395 yards, 3TD, and 1INT, but the Falcons fell short 24-28.

As much as last season was an improvement for Ryan, we still can't forget the previous couple of seasons. Again, he's always been fine in the regular season. He's like Peyton Manning in that regard. Obviously not to that statistical level, but just in terms of how he plays well overall in the regular season, but once the playoffs arrive it's anyone's guess as to what he'll do. In 2011, the Falcons were the number one seed and hosting the Packers in the Divisional Round. The Packers rolled into Atlanta and trounced Matt Ryan's team, 48-21! Ryan was pretty poor, and the ultimate check-down master, throwing for only 186 yards, 1TD, and 2INT. The following year, the Falcons travelled to New York in the playoffs, to take on the Giants. It was an embarrassing performance for the whole team, but Ryan led them to 0 points! Their only two points came via a safety. Ryan again threw for only 199 yards, 0TD, and 0INT.

Ryan is one of the games best young quarterbacks, and if he continues to build on last year's success then he'll be alright. But I need to see more than one year at that level for me to move him up the rankings.

Projections: 4,500 yards, 31 TD, 12 INT

QB No. 9: Russell Wilson

And now we arrive at Seattle's own Russell Wilson. The savior for Seattle sports. Never has this city been this excited about the team's quarterback, certainly not since I've been alive. The tough part about this ranking was to be able to put my bias aside and look at all quarterbacks through the same lens. I love Wilson. There's virtually no one else I'd rather have. That's how big an impression he made during his rookie season.

Wilson's rookie season began slightly differently than Andrew Luck's or RG3's. Wilson found himself in a direct QB competition in camp. In fact, Matt Flynn was seen as the QB for 2012 since the Seahawks paid him in the offseason. But Wilson eventually took the job from both Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson. RG3 and Luck both had the job handed to them in camp. Of course, they were light-years better than their backups. Wilson proceeded to throw for 3,100 yards, 30 total TD, 10 INT, and 489 rushing yards by the end of the year.

The first few weeks were rough however. Pete Carroll treated Wilson like he was a rookie. Limiting the number of throws he made in a game. Limiting part of the playbook, only dialing up simple plays for the young QB. But when the Seahawks were forced to throw more to match Tom Brady in the 6th game of the year, Wilson was up to the task. He threw for 293 yards, 3TD, and 0INT, while leading the Hawks to an upset win.

The real change came in Week 9, when it seemed like the restraints were lifted from Wilson's game. From week 9 on, Wilson threw for 1,600 yards, completing 66.8% of the passes, accounted for 20 total TD, and only threw 2 INT! And most importantly, he led the Seahawks to 7 wins in the final 8 games, and the playoffs. You never know what you're going to get from rookies in the postseason, and Wilson seemed a little overwhelmed in his first game against the Redskins. The stats don't look great from that game, but just the fact that he led them back from a 14-point deficit is impressive enough. The following week against the Falcons probably was Wilson's most impressive performance of the year. In a hostile atmosphere in Atlanta, Wilson threw for 385 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, with 60 rushing yards and a rushing TD. The Seahawks came back from 20 points to take the their first lead with 30 seconds left. Unfortunately, all Seattle fans know the rest.

Regardless, Wilson showed much growth in his full rookie season. He accomplished so much more than normal rookies accomplish. Especially getting to play in two playoff games. I love Wilson for his accuracy, his elusiveness, and most importantly his knoweldge of the game. He seems to be in the same mold as a Peyton Manning. A "football junkie". Someone who endlessly watches game tape and works to get better. I believe his "smarts" alone separate him from fellow rookies Andrew Luck and RG3.

Projections: 4,300 yards, 38 total TD, 13 INT

QB No. 10: Robert Griffin III

So we have finally arrived at the Top 10. While Andrew Luck was the top pick in last year's draft, and broke the rookie record for passing yards in a season, it was RG3 who really captivated the NFL last season.

He opened up the season in spectacular fashion, leading the Redskins to a shocking road win against the New Orleans Saints. In Griffin's first NFL game, he completed 73% of his passes, for 320 yards, two touchdowns, no picks, and ran for 42 yards. He never looked back. Week-after-week, RG3 dazzled with incredibly accurate throws, spectacular running plays, and terrific leadership. RG3 finished the year with 3,200 yards, 20 TD, only 5 INT, with a 102.4 passer rating, while completing 65% of his passes! Not to mention the 815 yards rushing with seven rushing TD. Very impressive in a rookie season.

Sure he had a few bumps in the road, as is the usual for NFL rookies. But clearly his bumps were few and far between. Another highlight came during his 6th game of the year, when he clinched the game with a 76-yard touchdown run, displaying elite track speed. Here's the impressive thing though. The Redskins started the season 3-6. The season looked lost, despite the play of RG3. Remember, this was a bad football team the previous year, and honestly the 2012 version wasn't so much better, besides the addition of RG3. Granted, Alfred Morris came out of nowhere to lead the backfield. But the defense was mediocre at best. And the passing weapons around RG3 were poor, especially when Pierre Garcon missed games.

But RG3 led the Redskins to six straight wins to end the year, (Kirk Cousins won a game late in place of RG3 to make it seven straight wins overall), and the division title. Unfortunately, RG3 completely tore his ACL in the playoff game vs. the Seahawks, and the Redskins failed to advance. I've already seen enough of this guy to know he is a stud at quarterback. He's not just an elite running QB; he's an incredible pocket passer, as well as thrower on the run. The only question mark one has to have with Griffin at this point is how he recovers from the ACL injury. All reports this offseason are encouraging, and it might not be ludicrous to suggest that he returns much like Adrian Peterson did a season ago. This kid has all the talent in the world, and I expect big things for him in year two.

Projections: 3,800 yards, 29 TD, 8 INT, 500 rushing yards, and 3 rushing TD

QB No. 11: Andrew Luck

Now we get down to the tougher part of the rankings. The eleven guys I have left are all very talented in my eyes, and most have accomplished much in their careers. At number eleven I have to put Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback.

Andrew Luck certainly had his ups and downs in his rookie season, as you would expect from a rookie QB. The only major blemish on his rookie season was the amount of turnovers he produced. Luck turned the ball over 27 times, 18 of which were interceptions. He forced too many throws, and locked onto a single target too often, which allowed defenses to easily make plays on the ball. That must be Luck's number one priority heading into year two, limiting the turnovers.

But let's get real. That's really the only faulty thing about Luck's game. There's so much good to take from Luck's rookie year. How about the fact that Luck broke the rookie record for passing yards in a single season with 4,374? He also threw for 23 TD, while also rushing for 5 TD.

Yet, for all of the stats, undoubtedly the most impressive thing I noticed about Luck was his leadership and his poise. I don't know if people remember, but this was a 2-14 football team the season before. Luck turned that team, along with the brilliant coaching of Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians (let's not forget them), into an 11-5 playoff team. How many come-from-behind victories did Luck lead the Colts to? The number seems endless. How about the incredible 18-point comeback at the Detroit Lions, when Luck threw the game-winning TD pass as time expired? The Colts made a habit of close wins last season, with nine of their eleven wins decided by a touchdown or less. That, to me, speaks to incredible poise from a rookie, and an overall young football team.

Overall, I only expect Luck to improve in year two. Bruce Arians is gone, which might lead to slightly less passing yards, because the new Offensive Coordinator is his former OC at Stanford, Pep Hamilton. His offense is synonymous with the West-Coast, short passing game. But it should help Luck cut down on the turnovers. He's already one of the smartest QB in the NFL, which is scary since it's about to be year two for him, so the sky is truly the limit for him.

Projections: 4,100 yards, 29 TD, and 12 INT 

QB No. 12: Tony Romo

Yes, Tony Romo is my number 12 quarterback. I fully acknowledge that I'm a little uneasy with this spot.

After all, Tony Romo has just one playoff win in seven years starting for the Dallas Cowboys. One! He's a guy wildly renowned for failing in the biggest moments. You can go right down the list. Last year, in Week 16, Romo and the Cowboys lost by three at home versus the Saints. Now, keep in mind that a win in either week 16 or 17 would've given the Cowboys the NFC East title. The loss set up a "winner take all" game versus the Redskins in Week 17. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Romo played awful at the worst possible point in the season, throwing 3 interceptions, throwing for only 218 yards, and completing only 54% of his passes, as the Cowboys lost 28-18. Same scenario in 2011. On the final day of the season, the Cowboys and Giants vied for the NFC East crown. Romo again played poorly and the Cowboys were blown out 31-14. And of course there's the "botched snap game" against the Seahawks in the playoffs years ago.

Right or wrong, that's all that fans choose to remember about Tony Romo. The bad. But for much of every regular season Tony Romo is actually impressive. First off, he is a 3-time pro-bowler. Something that can't be said for any of the quarterbacks below Romo on my list, with the exception of Philip Rivers. But in that case, if we're looking at "what have you done for me lately", Rivers has regressed over the last two years, whereas Romo has stayed pretty much at the same level.

Of course, people remember the final games of the season, when everything is on the line. But look at what the Cowboys went through last year. They started the season 3-5. Panic was setting in for America's team. But then Romo led the team to five wins over a six game stretch to propel them to 8-6. Romo threw 12 TD to only 3 INT during that stretch. Of course, we know the rest. I also believe however, that the Cowboys have had a string of bad luck over the last few years. Injuries to key players hindered the chemistry with the team. They never seem to have a healthy running back. Demarco Murray has missed significant games in his first two years, as did Felix Jones. Plus, Miles Austin, once a favorite target for Romo, dealt with hamstring issues and they still seem to dog him to this day.

The bottom line for me is that yes, this guy has seemed to fail too many times in big games, but I think the talent he has is unquestioned. I think it's a mental barrier preventing Romo from being better than he already is. This must be the year that he delivers for the Cowboys. He just got paid. Now go show us why you were paid.

Projections: 4,400 yards, 30 TD, and 14 INT. 

QB No. 13: Matthew Stafford

Lucky number thirteen. Or maybe not so lucky in the case of Matthew Stafford. Stafford has truly seen the ups and downs of the NFL game over his first four seasons.

He was thrust into the starting job as rookie but suffered through the season as the talent around him was atrocious. His season ended in late December with a knee injury. The following season Stafford once again felt the injury bug, injuring his throwing shoulder in the season opener. He only played three games that year. But in 2011, Stafford and the Lions seemed to put it all together. We finally saw the talent that made Stafford the number one overall pick. He became the second-youngest quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, and he led the Lions to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. He actually matched Drew Brees throw for throw in the Wild Card game, until late in the 4th when he threw a couple of costly picks. Last season was a major dissapointmnet in most people's eyes as the Lions underachieved, and Stafford regressed into a more innaccurate, turnover-prone QB (Stafford's final stats: 4,900 yards, 20 TD, 17 INT).

But when I look at these rankings I ask myself, "Who do I most want to have on my team, at the quarterback position, entering this season?". Maybe I'm too high on Stafford. He's really only produced one fantastic year over his four years. But I look at his talent. His explosive arm. His Jay Cutler/Ben Roethlisberger-esque guts. Then I look at the guys I ranked slightly below Stafford. I love his throwing talent compared to a Cam Newton or Colin Kaepernick. Plus, I've seen more of Stafford than a guy like Caepernick (again, prove it for more than 10 games. At least give me a full season, Colin). And then there's a Schaub and a Rivers. And I truly believe that this guy has more talent than either of them.

Listen, I understand Stafford makes too many risky throws at times. He's like Cutler in that regard. His decision-making definitely could improve. But I also have to look at the situation he's been in with Detroit. Throw out the first year. That was a lost cause from the start. Unfortunately you have to throw out year two as well, since he couldn't play. But in his first true, healthy year, and with talent around him, Stafford led the team to the playoffs. And last year, the Lions defense was just as bad as it always has been, plus they had no running game and their wide receivers were dropping like flys due to injury, besides Megatron. The bottom-line is that I believe in this guy's talent, I do think he is a "tough" QB that fights through injuries, but he needs to prove that he can continue to stay healthy, as well as improve his decision-making if he wants to climb up the list.

QB No. 14: Cam Newton

So now we come to Cam Newton, third year quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. If you read my previous article on Colin Kaepernick, then you'll see a lot of the same stats and arguments in this piece. Sorry. Just had to make a comparison yesterday and set the record straight.

Cam Newton dazzled in his rookie campaign, completing 60% of his passes while throwing for just over 4,000 yards, 21 TD, and 17 INT. Oh, and he rushed for 706 yards and an incredible 14 TD! Last year, he and the Panthers got off to a horrible start, losing six of their first seven games. During that stretch Cam posted a 5:8 TD-INT ratio. He had a 100+ passer rating only twice, and three times his passer rating was under 60. Plus, his immaturity was shining through. He was often seen on the sidelines isolated, with a towel around his head, giving off the appearance that he was pouting. His demeanor angered some of his teammates and the media began attacking his character, as well as his play on the field.

But then something changed. I'm not sure what is was, or when it occurred. Over the final nine games, the Panthers went on to win six of those. Now, after a 1-6 start, one would have thought Cam and the Panthers would've folded the tent. They did not. Two of the six wins were extremely impressive. They first beat the Washington Redskins on the road 21-13, a game in which Cam outplayed the new, exciting, and prolific rookie RG3. Then, in the second weekend of December, Carolina beat down an Atlanta team that would go on to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. In my opinion, it was Newton's best game of the season because of what he did, and who he did it against.

So although many people believe Newton regressed last year, I choose to look at how he closed the season, and have come away impressed. In those last nine games, Newton passed for 2,168 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT while rushing for 436 yards and 5TD. Like I stated earlier, Cam and the Panthers could have folded the tent. But they didn't. Which speaks to a growth in maturity, and in leadership from Cam Newton. Now, he's still woefully inaccurate at times, and will eventually need to learn to avoid taking SO many hits. But I still liked what I saw to end the season, and I'm expecting another big step forward this season.

Projections: 4,100 yards 26 TD, 15 INT, 600 rush yards, and 7 rush TD

QB No. 15: Colin Kaepernick

A lot of people may be up in arms over this ranking. Kaepernick dazzled upon taking over the 49ers QB job, leading them not only to the playoffs, but to the Super Bowl. All he did was make plays, adding a dynamic element to the 49ers that seemingly made them unstoppable. He set the single-game record for most rushing yards by a QB in the Divisional round of the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers with 181 yards. So why the low ranking?

Allow me to be skeptical for a minute. I'd like to use this column to do a comparison between Kaepernick and another "running" QB you might be familiar with.

Player A: In 8 games: 1,725 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT, 63% completion, 304 rush yards, and 3 Rush TD
Player B: In 9 games: 2,168 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT, 58% completion, 431 rush yards, and 5 Rush TD

Player A is Kaepernick. Player B is Cam Newton, a guy many believe had a down year last year, and a QB that Jaws put at No. 18 on his list. Point of order: Newton's numbers are the final 9 games of his season, when most people said he looked like Cam from his rookie season again. The accuracy is something that Kaepernick holds an advantage in, but other than that, I don't see anything definitive besides straight-line speed, which I don't believe matters too much when comparing these quarterbacks.

My point is that I think people are being "prisoners of the moment". They remember Kaepernick because he took over a Super Bowl contender, (yes with Alex Smith they were contenders anyway), played well, and appeared in a Super Bowl. What does Cam Newton look like in the minds of many? "A guy who didn't play as well as he did in his rookie season, didn't win many games for the Panthers, and we stopped caring about Cam around December."I'm not a believer in elevating a quarterback just because he's surrounded by great talent, unless he absolutely deserves it. See Matt Schaub

From what I see, Cam matches up very favorably with Kaepernick. He doesn't nearly have the same talent level around him as Kaepernick does. Most believe the Panthers are quite awful. Yet, Cam managed to lead the Panthers to 6 wins over their final 9 games, including wins against the Redskins, Falcons, and Saints in a shootout to end the year. It wasn't all gravy for Kaepernick last year. Remember that Sunday night game against the Seahawks? Of course you do! The Rams and Cardinals gave him fits as well. And then the playoffs arrive and everyone loses their minds when they see what Kaepernick did to the Packers and Falcons. Both those defenses, especially the Packers, were HORRIBLE! What happenned when he faced a stout, prideful defense in Ray's final ride, in the Super Bowl?

Now I like Kaepernick. I think he is a special talent. But part of me, ok most of me, says "alright do it again for a full season." He hasn't even played a full year, and people are moving him into the top ten quarterbacks. And why? Because that team around him was a Super Bowl team? All I'm saying is give him some more time. If he plays the same way in 2013, then I'll be happy to move him up next season.

Projections: 3,900 yards, 24 TD, 11 INT, 500 rush yards, and 4 Rush TD

QB No. 16: Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers comes in at number 16 on my pre-season NFL quarterback rankings. The general feeling I get is that people don't believe Rivers is that good anymore. It's true, he had a fairly disastrous 2012 season, throwing for only 3,600 yards with 26 TD and 15 INT. If I were ranking quarterbacks strictly after last season's performances, then Rivers would clearly be outside my top 20. But these rankings aren't solely based off of last year. Sure, it's a "what have you done for me lately" league. But you also have to use good judgment. Use the eye test. Analyze stats, and see how players actually get their stats.

The biggest reason for last year's debacle in my opinion was the ineptitude of the supporting cast around Rivers. First and foremost, the offensive line was atrocious, allowing 49 sacks. He also had lost his best receiving option in Vincent Jackson to Tampa Bay, and saw former star TE Antonio Gates turn into a shell of his former self. Each of these reasons contributed to Rivers forcing more throws into tight coverages, and really just making poor judgments overall. He accounted for 28 turnovers, the most by any quarterback in the NFL. His throws were woefully inaccurate at times, and it seemed he didn't have his normal zip on the ball. Now, the lack of talent around him could be a viable excuse, but truly great quarterbacks don't need loads of talent around them to succeed. Take Tom Brady for example. For many years, the Super Bowl years for New England, most people had no idea who the receivers were that Brady was throwing to (Deion Branch? Troy Brown? David Givens?). What last year proved was that Rivers needs help, like most quarterbacks, but the biggest concern is that he resorts to high-turnover tendencies when things aren't right around him.

But I believe in Rivers. I admire his guts and leadership qualities, which were certainly evident in his playoff appearances. In fact, Rivers is well known for playing the entire 2007 AFC Championship game on a torn ACL. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune said, "To go out there and put his knee, and utlimately his career, on the line. It has to go down as one of the gutsiest performances." You also have to love that Rivers has never missed a game in his NFL career due to injury.

So, yes, last year was awful for Rivers. Perhaps with the departure of Norv Turner, and his aggressive down-field passing attack, Rivers can become more accurate and smarter with the throws he makes. People forget that for several years he was considered a top-10 QB, and I don't think his game has deteriorated so much to the point where he can never regain that status. The bottom line for me is that Rivers, with equal talent around him, is better than Schaub, or Dalton, or Cutler with that same talent. And I think that's been proven over the years.

Projections: 4,200 yards, 29 TD, and 13 INT

QB No. 17: Matt Schaub

This one may shock some people considering Jaws put this man at QB No. 9 on his quarterbacks list. But Matt Schaub appears at number 17 on my list. I was baffled, stunned, and a little outraged when I saw Schaub's placement on Jaws' list. I'm sorry, I don't get it.

Let's start with the positives. The Houston Texans were a perfect spot for Matt Schaub to land a starting QB job. The team has now built up an elite running game, led by the steady Arian Foster, and a strong defense. The Texans focus is on the ground game, and their passing game consists mainly of play-action passing. Schaub fits this system well. He's not a high-turnover QB, he executes play-action effectively, and he's a great front-running quarterback. That is, when he has the lead, he'll                                                                                       do well to protect it and close out the win.

But here's my main issue with Schaub. I think his success is directly tied to the supporting cast around him. In other words, I think people (Jaws) give too much credit to Schaub, when in fact the running game and defense have more to do with Texans victories than Schaub. There was a reason Schaub was a backup quarterback for several years. He's just a game manager.

Let's analyze this a little more closely. I went back and studied games in which the Texans were involved in close wins and losses. Nine such games existed in 2012. First, let's frame this by saying most people believe that Schaub is a pretty accurate QB. His 64% completion rate last year suggests as much. But in those nine games, games where the running game and defense didn't carry the Texans to a win, Schaub's completion rate fluctuated. In those nine games, Schaub had a 59% completion rate with 12 TD and 12 INT. My point is that these are the games where the QB needs to step up his play, yet Schaub could not. Elite quarterbacks are able to carry their teams when necessary, whereas game managers aren't capable of that. Additionally, Schaub's performances in the postseason this past year are simply average. He "managed" the Texans to a low-scoring playoff win against the Bengals, but couldn't keep up with the fast-paced offense of the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.

Matt Schaub is definitely a quality starting quarterback in the NFL. Put him in the right situation, like the one he is in now, and he can succeed. But the problem is, if you're truly a good quarterback, you can succeed in any situation. And I don't believe that is the case with Matt Schaub.

Projections: 4,200 yards, 25 TD, and 11 INT

QB No. 18: Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler appears as the 18th best starting quarterback in the NFL on my list. From the time Cutler became the man for the Denver Broncos, I had much respect for the guy. He had a big arm, and could make all the throws...Blah, blah, blah. What did it for me, though, was the fearlessness I saw in him. I've always respected him for that. He carries himself with a certain arrogance, a belief that he is the best quarterback, and can make any throw. He's willing to take immense punishment, but get back up and make the next play. He can "win" you games, unlike the previous two quarterbacks on my list, who are more "game managers".

However, there are still a lot of deficiencies with Cutler that prevent him from being ranked higher on my list. Although Cutler can "win" you games, he's nearly as likely to "lose" you games instead. Cutler has been a turnover machine much of his career, routinely throwing 14+ INT in a season. Plus, he fumbles way too much (24 times in four years with Chicago). Some of that could be blamed on the offensive line, who have allowed Cutler to be sacked 113 times in the last three years. But some of that is on Cutler himself for holding onto the ball way too long, looking to make the spectacular play. He makes too many risky throws, that pay off at times, but more often than not, fail miserably.

The other thing with Cutler is that for all his "talent", he's only made one Pro Bowl. Additionally, since coming to Chicago, Cutler's only managed one playoff victory, despite having a very talented defense backing him up. Now, it's true that until 2012, Cutler didn't have a truly viable option in the passing game other than his RB Matt Forte. But even when he got Brandon Marshall this past year, the Bears still couldn't make the playoffs.

I don't mean to rip the guy. Again, I actually like Jay Cutler. His toughness, arrogance, willingness to make the tricky throws, and fearlessness are all things I admire. But he's also wreckless. Which leads to him not being able to stay on the field for his teammates for a full season (hasn't played a full 16 games since his first year in Chicago). And the bottom line is that he commits too many turnovers and bone-headed mistakes for me to rank him higher.

Projections: 4,100 yards, 28 TD, and 15 INT

QB No. 19: Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton comes in at number 19 on my top 20 NFL starting quarterbacks list. After a solid rookie campaign, Dalton was expected to take the next step in year two. The pieces were there; a solid running game, an elite wide receiver, and a fairly stout defense. However, Dalton didn't really make that leap in year two. 

His final statistics in 2012 were pretty similar to 2011, although he threw for seven more TD and 300 more yards. The bad news: he threw three more interceptions. He actually appeared to be taking that step through his first 11 games. But he regressed in his final five games, throwing only four TD while committing seven turnovers! 

And then the playoffs arrived. Coming off a disastrous playoff game a season ago against the Houston Texans, throwing 0 TD and 3 INT, Dalton looked for redemption facing the same opponent. Unfortunately, Dalton looked even more pathetic in his second go-around. He completed only 46% of his passes, while throwing for only 127 yards, 0 TD, and 1 INT. 

Now, you're probably thinking how I could even rank him this high after hearing all of that. It's true, I believe he has to prove a lot this coming season. But it still says a lot that in his first two years in the league, he did lead his team to the postseason with an underwhelming roster, in regards to their talent. Again, he showed well for the first 11 games of last year. During that stretch Dalton looked incredibly accurate, completing 64% of his passes while really taking care of the ball well. That's the biggest difference from his first 11 games to his final six. Perhaps he hit the wall towards the end. But this year he has no excuses. He's got one of the premier wide receivers in the game in A.J. Green. The team also drafted Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame, as well as dynamic RB Giovani Bernard. Dalton's got the talent around him, but is he poised to put it all together?

Projections: 3,900 yards, 31 TD, and 15 INT

Top 20 NFL QB Countdown: Number 20 Revealed Today

This whole Ron Jaworski QB countdown has got me thinking. He's not the only one who can do a quarterback countdown. What makes him so special? It's not like he is, or was, a professional QB himself, or has expertise in the area..."What's that? Oh..."

No matter. I feel I have a tiny amount of expertise of my own on the NFL. Maybe I don't study hardcore "film" like Jaws, but I do watch loads of live NFL games. I can use my eyes too Jaws! Anyways, each day I will reveal a quarterback from my list, counting down from 20 to the number one quarterback in the NFL, in my humble opinion.

First, let me give two honorable mentions who were extremely close to making the top 20, Sam Bradford and Josh Freeman. Freeman especially has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief career thus far, leading his team to a 10-6 mark in 2010 with a remarkable 25:6 TD-INT ratio. From there, his career has gone downhill a bit and, in the last two years, has been marred with inconsistency. 

Without further ado, here's quarterback number 20:

Alex Smith

Smith, the newly acquired quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, kicks off our countdown. It appears as though Jaws and I see eye-to-eye with this one. Alex Smith is the ultimate game manager. He's not going to "win" you a ton of games, yet when surrounded by a strong running game and defense, he executes well. However, on rare occasions, he can "win" the game. And in his first playoff game against the New Orleans Saints he proved it. Smith made clutch play after clutch play in the 36-32 thrilling win for the 49ers. He first ran for a 28-yard TD late in the 4th, only to be matched by the great Drew Brees. But Smith again had an answer, finding Vernon Davis for the 14-yard game-winning TD with nine seconds remaining.

 Smith was a pretty accurate QB over the last two years starting for the 49ers, posting a 61% completion rate in 2011 and a 70% rate in 2012 through 10 games. He was off to a terrific start in 2012, only to be derailed by a concussion against the St. Louis Rams in week 10. He then proceeded to watch Colin Kaepernick burst onto the scene and light up the NFL for the final eight games of the season, plus the postseason. It wasn't fair that Alex Smith's injury led to his demotion, but could you hardly blame Coach Harbaugh after seeing Kaepernick play? 

Again, many will say Smith benefited from a great team around him, and I don't refute that. But what I see in Alex Smith is a guy who takes care of the ball extremely well, and has proved he can lead a quality team. I anticipate him having fairly decent success under the tutelage of new coach Andy Reid. If anyone can get the full potential out of this man, it's coach Reid. What separates Smith from the Bradford's, the Freeman's, or the Palmer's is the fact that he rarely turns the football over. Add to that the leadership qualities that were evident in his play over the last two seasons, and Smith gets the nod. Now the question is, can he take that next step as a quarterback, as the new face of the Kansas City Chiefs? 

2013 Projections: 3,150 yards, 24 TD, and 8 INT

MLB 2nd Half Preview

With the All-Star Break nearing it's end, teams and players are focused on gearing up for the stretch run. Congratulations to the American League on earning home field advantage for the World Series. Congratulations also to Mariano Rivera on earning MVP honors in his final All-Star game. There are many intriguing storylines that fans will be fixated on. Will Chris Davis surpass Roger Maris' single-season Home Run total? Will he ruin Miguel Cabrera's chances at earning his second straight triple crown? Will Yasiel Puig build on his torrid start and help lead the Dodgers back to the postseason? Can the defending champion San Francisco Giants make yet another late run to reach the playoffs? These are just a few of the many intriguing subplots to follow in the 2nd half.

The Chase For Triple Crown Numéro Deux

Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis became the first AND second players in the history of Major League Baseball to record 30+ HomeRuns and 90+ RBI before the All-Star Break. That's staggering considering that the all-time greats that have played before them have never been able to accomplish that feat. Many people know Miguel Cabrera. He won the triple crown a year ago, and is regarded as the best hitter in all of baseball (taking that honor from Albert Pujols a couple of years back). He's an 8-time All-Star and a World Champion. Chris Davis, on the other hand, only recently burst onto the scene. In his first full season with the Baltimore Orioles, last season, he recorded a respectable 33 HomeRuns and 85 RBI. But this season he's taken the league by storm with his ridiculous 37 HomeRuns through the 1st half. I anticipate this being an extremely close race towards the end of the season, barring injury to either one. 

Some believe that Davis has to slow down. It's only one good half of a season, and he's never done something this astonishing before. And I agree to a certain extent. I anticipate his batting average to drop to probably around the .285 mark, whereas I think Cabrera can maintain .340+ batting average for the rest of the season. But where I believe the triple crown will be lost for Cabrera is in the long ball category. I don't see Davis' power slowing down, and I believe he gets to 55+ HomeRuns. He has effortless power and sprays it to all fields. What may look like a pop-up off his bat, amazingly turns into a HomeRun more often than not. Cabrera, while certainly the superior hitter, has only hit more than 40 HomeRuns once in his career. And while I believe he gets past that again this year, I don't see him getting 50+. The guy is incredible, and will win MVP once again this year, but the triple crown will elude him this year thanks to the power bat of "Crush" Davis.

National League West

The most intriguing team to watch out for in the second half of the season has to be the L.A. Dodgers. Injuries and poor run support plagued much of the 1st half for the Dodgers. But once the rookie Yasiel Puig got called up, life began to change in LA. The Dodgers slipped to as many as ten games under .500 in June, but Puig almost single-handedly re-energized that team and helped bring them to .500 by the All-Star Break. Puig hit a ridiculous .391 with 8 HomeRuns, 19 RBI, while showing off his blazing speed and cannon for an arm in RF. As long as Matt Kemp can come back healthy relatively soon out of the break, the sky's the limit for this team in the second half. Hanley Ramirez has been on fire since his return from injury, and Adrian Gonzalez has continued to rake at the plate. Their pitching rotation is one of the best in baseball with Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke anchoring the top half of the rotation. Barring even more injuries, there's no reason not to think that the Dodgers will win the West. The time for underachieving stops now.

The San Francisco Giants find themselves in a similar situation to the Dodgers. The defending champs are 6.5 games out of 1st place, but unlike the Dodgers, the Giants can't blame it on injuries so much as actual performance. Their pitching, so crucial to their World Series run a season ago, has been poor to say the least. They rank 20th in baseball with a 4.11 team ERA. Their "Ace", Matt Cain, has delivered much less than that, posting a 5.06 ERA with a 5-6 record. It also doesn't help that pitchers Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito seem to be shelves of their former selves. Plus, they're a middle of the road run-scoring team. I won't count out this team, since they've made late runs in years past, but clearly things must improve if they hope to defend their title come October. 

And then there are the other two "contenders" in the N.L. West. Arizona sits atop the West at the break behind strong pitching and timely hitting. Emerging stars Paul Goldschmidt and Patrick Corbin will look to carry this team to a surprising first place finish. As for the Colorado Rockies, they boast a strong lineup and sit only 4.5 games out of first place. Much of their second half success will depend on the health of Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, and Michael Cuddyer, the Rockies' heavy hitters. If they can stay healthy, that lineup could potentially carry them to perhaps a WildCard berth at least. 

Seattle Mariners 

Hey, it is a Seattle Sports Blog. What would a second half preview be without talking about the M's? The Seattle Mariners are in an interesting predicament. They finished off the 1st half of the season as one of the hottest teams in baseball. The offense is scoring a ton of runs, and look forward to getting a healthy Michael Morse back. Things appear to be turning for the better in Seattle. Unfortunately the trade deadline is looming. And rumors continue to swirl around Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez, and their potential departure. For all of the good things we've seen in the last several weeks, realistically the Mariners are still not in contention for the postseason. 

Does Jack Zduriencik deal one or both of these veterans, who have been the main two reasons why the offense is so improved this season? It's hard to say. It's also hard to see them getting fair value in return. I say you keep these two veterans, look forward to getting Morse back, and hope that Nick Franklin, Brad Miller, Justin Smoak, and Mike Zunino can produce around those guys. Think about it. If we lose these veterans, then we're forced to rely solely on the young guys, which puts too much pressure on them too early in their careers. If you keep this same lineup heading into next season, and insert Taijuan Walker next to Felix and Iwakuma in the rotation, then perhaps we may be talking about a team that could compete for a WildCard berth as early as next season. We shall see as the deadline approaches. 

Riveting NBA Offseason

With the NBA draft behind us, Free Agency well under way, and the Summer League showcasing some of the game's rising talent, NBA diehards are becoming more and more excited for the upcoming NBA season, even though this past season has only recently ended. Although the Miami Heat are reigning two-time champions, it feels like the NBA landscape is shifting beneath them. Teams have made big-time free agent and trade acquisitions to help bolster their chances at taking down the champs. For some, it's not about the moves they made; it's about who's returning that give fans reason for optimism. Here's a look at which teams have given their fans the most to be excited about for the upcoming season:

Houston Rockets

Perhaps the most anticipated move in the offseason was the potential landing spot for Dwight Howard. Howard chose to team up with rising superstar James Harden, signing a four-year, $88 million contract. This seemed like the likely destination all along. He never seemed to fit in with the Lakers, and many believed that he wouldn't accept being second fiddle to a Kobe Bryant. Dallas never really had a chance, while Golden State made a late, intriguing push, but eventually to no avail. For Houston, this is obviously a brilliant move. If they get Orlando Dwight, which I believe they will since I put a good portion of the blame for last year on the injuries Dwight suffered, then Houston is getting the most dominant big man in the game and should position themselves nicely as a top-four team in the West and potential NBA Finals contender.

Brooklyn Nets

The boldest and most shocking move to me this offseason has to be the trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, a move that upstaged NBA draft night. They may be old and past their prime but Pierce and Garnett still have two high quality years remaining. Listen, the Brooklyn Nets were a talented team last season. With Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez, they reached the playoffs, losing in the 1st round to a depleted Chicago Bulls team in disappointing fashion (a game 7 loss at home). The main problem with their team was a lack of chemistry, as well as a lack of mental toughness. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett instantly bring that to an already talented team. The question will be if they can all get on the same page by the time the playoffs roll around because on paper, this is the best starting lineup in the NBA. Add to that the additions of Jason Terry and Andrei Kirilenko, and this team now has veteran depth. Pierce and Garnett won't have to expend much during the regular season, relying on the three younger stars. But once the playoffs arrive look out, this team has a chance to go all the way.

L.A. Clippers

Almost unquestionably the biggest change to an NBA team this summer has to be the transformation of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers were an explosive, "box-office" team to watch last year, earning the moniker "Lob City". Well "Lob City" got into the playoffs, and then got punked by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies out-hustled, out-rebounded, out-defended, and truly outphysicaled the Clippers. But with the arrival of new head coach Doc Rivers, that's about to change. Doc Rivers, known for being "a leader of men", a tough-minded, and defensive coach, will change the culture of the Clippers immediately. Chris Paul chose to remain a Clipper, signing a five-year, $107 million contract. Gone is high energy point guard Eric Bledsoe. In is sharpshooter J.J. Redick, as well as tough-defender and excellent 3-point shooter Jared Dudley and solid backup point guard Darren Collison. The Clippers might finish with around the same record as last season, but these moves no doubt give them a greater chance go further in the postseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers 

The Cavs struck gold once again this year landing the number one pick for the 3rd time in the past 11 years. It's worked out twice before, and I believe that it will work out again this time with Anthony Bennett. Many people were shocked when the Cavs took Bennett, and I'll admit I was as well, but I believe they made the right call, and the fans should trust in (Cavs GM) Chris Grant. Grant said that Bennett was the most talented player in the draft, and I'm inclined to agree. At 6'8'', 240 pounds, Bennett is a load down low, yet can effectively shoot the basketball from range. Some see Larry Johnson in him, some see Paul Millsap. Either would be fine for the Cavs to pair with superstar Kyrie Irving. But perhaps their most shocking move was not drafting Bennett, but signing the oft-injured Andrew Bynum. However, with only $6 million guaranteed going to Bynum, this seems like a genius move for the Cavs. If Bynum can stay healthy, a big IF, then the Cavs got a steal. Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark, and getting a healthy Anderson Varejao back will certainly bolster that bench. This team will go from one of the worst in the East to one of the best 6 or 7 teams this season.

Chicago Bulls 

He's baaaack. Derrick Rose, MVP in 2011, will finally make his return at the beginning of the 2013-2014 season. This is the single biggest addition to a team in this offseason. Sorry Houston fans. The Bulls somehow made the playoffs last year without Rose and actually won their first-round series against Brooklyn before losing in 5 games to the Miami Heat. The Bulls are the toughest, most defensive-minded team in the NBA, coached by the exceptional Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau always gets his guys to play hard, no matter who's on, or in this case not on, the court. The Miami Heat may have run through the NBA the past two years but that was without Derrick Rose. The Bulls always give the Heat trouble, especially on the boards. Even this year, without Rose and Deng, they still managed to give them problems. Rose is the star that the Bulls desperately need to go along with their incredible toughness and defensive grit. He took a lot of flack for not returning in the postseason when it looked like he could. But I think the whole world is in for a treat this coming season when he makes his return. The Bulls are my early favorite to win the NBA title. You heard me.

Other teams to keep an eye on include the Oklahoma City Thunder who obviously missed Russell Westbrook in the postseason. If he comes back healthy, this team will again be in contention in the Western Conference, even though the loss of Kevin Martin will hurt. The Minnesota Timberwolves seem to be making moves every day. Kevin Martin signs with them to add a wing scorer, Shabazz Muhammad is drafted, and Kevin Love returns from injury. Look for them to be a dark-horse playoff team. The Dallas Mavericks didn't miss the playoffs by much, and now they get a healthy Dirk for a full season, and signed an explosive wing guard in Monta Ellis.