Factoid

February 25, 2018

Elite quarterbacks

2017 season short on superstar quarterbacks

It was not a great year for quarterbacks last season. There were plenty of good quarterbacks, but not enough difference makers.

When you draft a quarterback in the first two rounds, after all, it’s not with the expectation that they’ll be good. You’re looking for greatness – a player who’s a lot better than all the other good options at his position.

With the way the game has changed, with rule changes and teams passing more, you’re looking for a quarterback who’ll put up close to 40 touchdowns. That’s what everyone is hunting for when they decide to be one of the first to choose a quarterback. In this century, 16 quarterbacks have finished seasons with at least 40 touchdowns.

But 2017 didn’t have one of those guys. Carson Wentz might have made a run at 40, but he missed the final three games. Tom Brady played well, helping the Patriots to another Super Bowl appearance, but he finished at only 32 touchdowns – 59 other quarterbacks have thrown more in this century.

Ultimately, only one quarterback finished with more than 33: Russell Wilson, who threw 34 TDs and ran for 3 more. But that total doesn’t crack the top 20 for quarterbacks since 2000.

Injuries were a factor. For the uber-elite quarterbacks, not only Wentz, but Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson both missed half of the season. Andrew Luck didn’t play at all. Only 12 quarterbacks started all 16 games, and that’s a lot lower than usual.

I expect this is more of a blip than a trend. I would say it’s more likely than not that a quarterback will finish with 40-plus total touchdowns in the 2018 season.

QUARTERBACKS: TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS (2000-2017)
Year	Player	Pass	Run	Total
2013	Peyton Manning, Den.	55	1	56
2007	Tom Brady, N.E.	50	2	52
2004	Peyton Manning, Ind.	49	0	49
2011	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	45	3	48
2011	Drew Brees, N.O.	46	1	47
2015	Cam Newton, Car.	35	10	45
2016	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	40	4	44
2012	Drew Brees, N.O.	43	1	44
2014	Andrew Luck, Ind.	40	3	43
2013	Drew Brees, N.O.	39	3	42
2011	Tom Brady, N.E.	39	3	42
2012	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	39	2	41
2011	Matthew Stafford, Det.	41	0	41
2004	Daunte Culpepper, Minn.	39	2	41
2014	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	38	2	40
2000	Daunte Culpepper, Minn.	33	7	40
2016	Drew Brees, N.O.	37	2	39
2015	Tom Brady, N.E.	36	3	39
2014	Peyton Manning, Den.	39	0	39
2016	Matt Ryan, Atl.	38	0	38
2012	Tom Brady, N.E.	34	4	38
2007	Tony Romo, Dall.	36	2	38
2017	Russell Wilson, Sea.	34	3	37
2015	Blake Bortles, Jac.	35	2	37
2012	Peyton Manning, Den.	37	0	37
2010	Tom Brady, N.E.	36	1	37
2001	Kurt Warner, Rams	37	0	37
2001	Jeff Garcia, S.F.	32	5	37
2015	Carson Palmer, Ariz.	35	1	36
2009	Drew Brees, N.O.	34	2	36
2015	Eli Manning, NYG	35	0	35
2015	Russell Wilson, Sea.	34	1	35
2013	Andy Dalton, Cin.	33	2	35
2011	Cam Newton, Car.	21	14	35
2009	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	30	5	35
2006	Peyton Manning, Ind.	31	4	35
2000	Jeff Garcia, S.F.	31	4	35
2015	Kirk Cousins, Wash.	29	5	34
2014	Tony Romo, Dall.	34	0	34
2014	Drew Brees, N.O.	33	1	34
2008	Drew Brees, N.O.	34	0	34
2008	Philip Rivers, S.D.	34	0	34
2007	Peyton Manning, Ind.	31	3	34
2007	Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.	32	2	34
2004	Donovan McNabb, Phil.	31	3	34
2000	Peyton Manning, Ind.	33	1	34
2017	Carson Wentz, Phil.	33	0	33
2016	Andrew Luck, Ind.	31	2	33
2016	Philip Rivers, S.D.	33	0	33
2015	Drew Brees, N.O.	32	1	33
2015	Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ	31	2	33
2014	Tom Brady, N.E.	33	0	33
2012	Matt Ryan, Atl.	32	1	33
2010	Peyton Manning, Ind.	33	0	33
2010	Drew Brees, N.O.	33	0	33
2009	Peyton Manning, Ind.	33	0	33
2009	Brett Favre, Minn.	33	0	33
2005	Carson Palmer, Cin.	32	1	33
2001	Brett Favre, G.B.	32	1	33
2017	Tom Brady, N.E.	32	0	32
2015	Matthew Stafford, Det.	32	0	32
2015	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	31	1	32
2015	Derek Carr, Oak.	32	0	32
2014	Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.	32	0	32
2013	Philip Rivers, S.D.	32	0	32
2011	Tony Romo, Dall.	31	1	32
2011	Mark Sanchez, NYJ	26	6	32
2010	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	28	4	32
2008	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	28	4	32
2007	Derek Anderson, Clev.	29	3	32
2003	Brett Favre, G.B.	32	0	32
2003	Rich Gannon, Oak.	28	4	32

—Ian Allan

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