Dec 28, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) walks off the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. The Eagles defeated the Giants 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
13. Eli Manning
The New York Giants haven’t made the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in 2011. Manning, a two-time champion, has been productive in the past six seasons, hitting 4,000 yards four times. Manning has no mobility and throws too many interceptions, but he’s a great, big-game player.
12. Matt Ryan
Ryan throws for a ton of yardage and led the Atlanta Falcons to the NFC Championship game in 2012, but he gets lost in the shuffle with the team in decline. Ryan has thrown for more than 4,000 yards each of the last four seasons, but gets knocked for the Falcons’ recent performances.
11. Joe Flacco
Flacco is wildly overpaid, throws too many interceptions and doesn’t have an ounce of mobility; but he wins. In the regular season, Flacco is an average Joe. In the postseason, when the iron is hottest, Flacco is a super Joe. In Baltimore’s Super Bowl run of 2012, Flacco threw 11 touchdowns during the playoffs without logging a single interception.
10. Russell Wilson
Wilson is one of the best athletes in football. While he has a capable arm, Wilson looks to throw first but can run with anybody, keeping plays alive for extended periods of time. Wilson has never thrown for 4,000 yards but shouldn’t be penalized for that. He has a great team around him and plays to their strengths beautifully.
9. Peyton Manning
Manning is a phenomenal player, perhaps the best to ever grace a football field. He’s a champion, a five-time MVP and an offensive coordinator on the field. All that said, Manning appeared on the sharp decline during the second half of 2014. Does the 39-year-old still have enough juice? Only time will tell.
Next: The elite eight..