Week 2 QB Power Rankings: San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers shines
Aug 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Week 2 featured some stellar quarterback play, much better than that of Week 1. Although there are some unheralded players in this week’s edition of QB power rankings, there are also familiar faces who are returning to the lineup for the first time this season. (Note: the players’ movement over the last week is in parentheses. A “+” indicates improvement; a “-” indicates regression.)
1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (+1)
Manning played a mistake-free game, and although he didn’t throw for 250 yards, he completed 81 percent of his passes and posted a 143.9 passer rating. Manning overtakes Matt Ryan, who didn’t have as stellar a week (and that’s an understatement).
2. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (+13)
Rivers thoroughly torched Seattle’s defense. Maybe Richard Sherman wasn’t “exposed”, but the entire Seahawks’ defense was. Posting a 76 percent completion rate with three touchdowns and no interceptions hasn’t happened in… years. Maybe the 115 degree heat had something to do with that, but Seattle’s defense shouldn’t have an excuse for the 30 points San Diego dropped on them.
3. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (+3)
Yes, I know Luck only completed 58 percent of his passes. But his 20 for 34 does not at all reflect how well Luck actually played. I counted at least five catchable passes that were dropped. And the interception should have been called back – T.Y. Hilton fell on what should have been a pass interference call. Luck still moves up here.
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (+3)
Rodgers did miss on some passes that he could have made. The Jets’ defense gave him some trouble in the first half, but he and Jordy Nelson torched them in the second. Down by 18 points at halftime, the victory against New York was the biggest comeback of Rodgers’ career.
5. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (+3)
Before this week, I could’ve said Wilson was undefeated against the game’s top quarterbacks (Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees). Not anymore – Rivers established his dominance while the Seahawks went down. Despite Seattle’s surprising loss to San Diego, Wilson was his usual self. He kept the ball clean and completed almost 70 percent of his passes, moving him up by three spots.
6. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (± –)
Newton looked excellent in his return from injury. This is about where I ranked him after last season, so he’s picking up where he left off.
7. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (-2)
Against Atlanta, Brees looked merely average. The Browns’ defense seemed to have his number for much of the day, and he falls two spots because of that.
8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (-7)
I expected more from Ryan, even against a tough Cincinnati defense. Ryan arguably had the worst week out of any QB in the top 20 of these rankings, but because of a superb Week 1, Ryan only drops down by 7.