2012 NFL Season Predictions – Top 5 Quarterbacks in the NFL: It wasn’t too long ago that throwing for 3,500 yards was a solid season for an NFL quarterback. With the game becoming more passing oriented in recent, 4,000 yards has become the new normal, and 5,000 yards has become the mark that elite QBs shoot for. The shift to more complex passing systems has only put more pressure and importance on a position that has been the most valuable on the field since football was in its infancy. Every team is searching for its franchise quarterback, and finding one can mean becoming a perennial playoff contender for a decade or more. On that note, here is a look at how the top QBs in the game stack up for the upcoming 2012 NFL season.
2012 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Quarterbacks
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Last year, Brady didn’t have a defense behind him and was given two tight ends, a tiny slot receiver and zero deep threats to work with. He responded by throwing for 39 touchdowns and more than 5,200 yards and leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl. Brady has the best pocket presence of any quarterback in the NFL, and he can shred any coverage thrown at him regardless of the weapons he has to work with. There have been a ton of moveable parts during New England’s run of success, but the one constant has been Brady. He may not be the most-athletic or exciting player at the position, but he is accurate, smart and a great leader. I wouldn’t take him first for my fantasy team, but I would build a franchise around him in a heartbeat.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The defending NFL MVP has a cannon arm, he is deadly accurate, and his ability to throw on the run just isn’t fair. From a pure skills standpoint, Rodgers is the best in the business these days. His numbers last year were incredible, and he finished with 45 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions, posting the top quarterback rating in the league. Rodgers has plenty of weapons around him to continue to pile up monster numbers, and last year’s early playoff exit could be the motivation he needs to get even better. With one Super Bowl title in hand, he doesn’t have a lot to prove, but there is something to be said about winning a title as the frontrunner when everyone is gunning for you rather than an underdog.
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Coming off a year when he led the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage and broke Dan Marino’s single-season record for passing yards, Brees earned his gigantic new contract in New Orleans. He personifies the league’s shift to pass-oriented offenses, and he spreads the wealth as well as any QB in the game today. Brees also runs one of the most-complex offensive systems around, and his knowledge of the playbook will be even more valuable this year in the wake of the suspension of coach Sean Payton. There is no doubt that his numbers dip a bit when the Saints play outdoors, but he is still one of the best QBs in the league and one of the most valuable players.
4. Eli Manning, New York Giants
He hasn’t go a lot of love as far as regular season accolades go, but with two Super Bowls under his belt, Manning’s place among the elite signal callers in the game can no longer be denied. With the Giants’ ground game completing disappearing last season, Manning responded by nearly reaching 5,000 yards and carrying his team into the playoffs and all the way to a championship. He has quietly become one of the clutch throwers in the game, and he seems to be at his best on third downs and in the fourth quarter. His stats may not jump off the page as much as some other players at the position, but Manning flat out gets it done when it counts.
5. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Manning sat out the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, and the Indianapolis Colts promptly collapsed after owning their division for nearly a decade. After seeing the Colts without him, it is very possible that the four-time MVP has been under appreciated. Sure, there are concerns about how he will rebound from his neck issues, but if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, it is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer that could set every career-passing record before he calls it quits. Until he proves he can’t get the job done, I am going to assume he can.
Check the latest odds to win the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII plus daily NFL vegas odds and line updated daily throughout the year at NSAwins.com!
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on 2012 NFL Football Odds! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN SBG Global Sportsbook Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get upto 265% in BONUSES upto $10,000 FREE added to your SBG Global Player Account Funds. |
Need Expert Winning NFL Football Picks? Be sure to check out NSAwins.com’s award-winning NFL Football Season Picks Packages for expert winners against the vegas spreads and totals in NFL Football this season including 2012 NFL Football Picks and Predictions to beat the vegas point spreads and totals!