Home » Lions » Sports Illustrated List Ranks Tim Tebow Seven Spots Higher than Matthew Stafford
If you were to rank the NFL quarterbacks as they stand right now, how would you do it.
How about this?
1. Aaron Rodgers – of course
2. Drew Brees – can’t argue
3. Tom Brady – sure
4. Ben Roethlisberger – ok
5. Tim Tebow – what?
While it might look like a list compiled by a Tebow-slappy Broncos fan but that is the top five in Jim Trotter’s most recent quarterback rankings on SI.com.
The explanation for Tim Tebow’s ranking is as follows:
He looked so completely lost as a passer after his first two starts this season, I put him 31st in my midseason rankings. But Tebow is a different QB today. He has flourished since the Broncos adjusted their offense to take advantage of his read-option skill set.
Overall, he is 6-1 as a starter, with 11 touchdowns (nine passing) and only two turnovers (one fumble, one INT). But his incredible rise up the rankings is due to him coming up biggest when games matter most: at the end. Review the Broncos’ last six wins and you will see Tebow was an integral factor in the outcome, particularly down the stretch. Will it last? Who cares? The rankings are about today, not tomorrow.
Where does Matthew Stafford stand? You’ll have to scroll down seven spots on the list from Tebow to find Matthew Stafford. Trotter says the following after ranking Stafford 12th:
Like Manning, Stafford has had to carry the offense because injuries have crippled the running game. He has been solid on early downs, but has struggled on third down, completing only 48.4 percent of his passes with six interceptions and six touchdowns. It’s not a reach to say the Lions go as he goes: In their seven wins, he has thrown for 21 scores with only six INTs; however in their losses he has only six scores with eight picks. Detroit has lost three of four and five of seven.
The quarterbacks that check in between Tebow and Stafford are Alex Smith, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Cam Newton, Matt Hasselbeck and Mark Sanchez. I have a feeling a lot of Lions fans will have a hard time believing that a few of those guys really should be ahead of Stafford. I know I do.
