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Two Generations of QBs Headline 2013-14 Playoffs

By Rishi Pochiraju

Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.The Saints defeated the Buccaneers 42-17. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

There’s a particularly interesting way to look at this year’s NFL postseason: by quarterbacks of the twelve teams. This year, no team with borderline starters made the postseason. Christian Ponder and the Vikings didn’t make the postseason; neither did Matt Schaub and the Texans (who are on the clock for the 2014 NFL draft). Arguably the worst quarterback this year is Andy Dalton, who, while inconsistent, has at least been a game manager, guiding the Bengals to their third straight postseason appearance and a division title.

All of the quarterbacks are at least solid starters. Half of them are the seasoned veterans who are all at least 29 and were drafted in 2005 or earlier: Peyton Manning, Alex Smith, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. The other half are all 25 or younger and were drafted in 2011 or later: Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles.

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