This Season's NFL Playoffs Are Stocked With Good Quarterbacks

Last season, Blake Bortles, Tyrod Taylor, and Case Keenum all quarterbacked teams in the NFL playoffs.

While all three have shown flashes of decent play, none of them is exactly an elite-level NFL quarterback and that showed in their biggest games.

During this year’s postseason, there likely won’t be a similar issue as, for the first time in a long time, there are no weak links at the quarterback position in the playoffs.

This year, the playoffs will feature a mix of all-time greats (Drew Brees, Tom Brady), established top-tier pros (Andrew Luck, Philip Rivers), and promising, heralded newcomers (Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff).

The weakest link at quarterback on any of the teams is probably either Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles. But Trubisky, a high first round pick, is one of the best running quarterbacks in the NFL and has made strides as a passer this year under Matt Nagy. And, of course, Foles in the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

It’s a great development for the league – and top talents like Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan aren’t even in this year’s mix

How did this happen?

“It’s a combination of NFL-engineered health and overdue innovation,” according to The Washington Post. “Enough smart coaches figured out how to maximize the skills of the best college quarterbacks, mostly by borrowing and building on concepts from the college game. Rule changes continued to protect all quarterbacks, allowing new stars to stay healthy and prolonging the careers of the best from a prior generation. Those factors combine to make it easier to play quarterback and the result is a better product. It will be on display in these playoffs and it should be a lot of fun to watch.”