Shuffling the Numbers/Passing
With the end of the 2008 season, we are taking a look inside the statistics generated by the league’s 32 teams over the 356-game schedule.
Today, we focus on the quarterbacks
.
INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS
Quarterbacks can be judged by many different numbers, depending on the emphasis of the evaluation. Touchdown passes to interceptions; that ratio is a very important number. So is completion percentage and ditto for average gain per attempt. That’s why those numbers all factor in to the number we’ll use for judging the individual quarterbacks and that’s passer rating.
The top quarterback in the league was San Diego’s Philip Rivers, who finished with a passer rating of 105.5. He was the only quarterback to finish the season above the 100 passer rating mark. Miami’s Chad Pennington (97.4) and Kurt Warner of Arizona (96.9) were right behind him
When it comes to touchdown passes, Rivers and Drew Brees of New Orleans led the league with 34 each. The fewest interceptions for full-time starting quarterbacks was Washington’s Jason Campbell, who threw six in 506 attempts.
The best TD/INT ratio was Rivers, who threw 34 TD passes and 11 interceptions. The best completion percentage was Pennington, who hit 321 of 476 passes, 67.4 percent. And the best average gain per attempt was Rivers at 8.39 yards for his 478 throws.
Here’s the top ten in pass rating for the ’08 season:
| # | Player | Team | Passer Rating |
| 1. | Philip Rivers | SD |
105.5 |
| 2. | Chad Pennington | MIA |
97.4 |
| 3. | Kurt Warner | ARZ |
96.9 |
| 4. | Drew Brees | NO |
96.2 |
| 5. | Peyton Manning | IND |
95.0 |
| 6. | Aaron Rodgers | GB |
93.8 |
| 7. | Matt Schaub | HOU |
92.7 |
| 8. | Tony Romo | DAL |
91.4 |
| 9. | Jeff Garcia | TB |
90.2 |
| 10. | Matt Cassel | NE |
89.4 |
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Interesting note on the top 10: as the league hits the divisional games in the playoffs this coming weekend, only two of the top passers are still playing: Rivers and Warner. Only four of the top 10 made the playoffs with Pennington and Manning eliminated last weekend. Proof positive again that it’s great to have one of the league’s top passers, but it guarantees nothing when talking about victories and playoffs.
TEAM NUMBERS
The team that had the most people attempt passes in ’08 was the Chiefs, with seven different players, including four quarterbacks: Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, Tyler Thigpen and Quinn Gray. That matched the four quarterbacks who attempted passes for the Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson, Ken Dorsey, Brady Quinn and Bruce Gradkowski. But the Chiefs and Browns finished behind the Detroit Lions, who had five different quarterbacks throw passes: Jon Kitna, Daunte Culpepper, Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson.
Only three teams had a single quarterback throw all the passing attempts: Rivers in San Diego, Matt Ryan in Atlanta and Jake Delhomme with Carolina. Along with those three teams, two other clubs used just one starting quarterback: New Orleans with Brees and Washington with Campbell.
Here are the best and worst team passer ratings for the season.
| Â # | Â Team | Passer Rating |
 |  # |  Team | Passer Rating |
| 1. | San Diego |
105.5 |
 |
32. |
Cleveland |
54.8 |
| 2. | Miami |
97.6 |
 |
31. |
St. Louis |
66.9 |
| 3. | Arizona |
96.1 |
 |
30. |
Cincinnati |
68.0 |
| 4. | New Orleans |
95.4 |
 |
20. |
Detroit |
71.3 |
| 5. | Indianapolis |
94.7 |
 |
28. |
Oakland |
71.6 |
| 6. | Green Bay |
93.3 |
 |
27. |
Seattle |
72.5 |
| 7. | New England |
89.1 |
 |
26. |
Chicago |
77.1 |
| 8. | Houston |
88.4 |
 |
25. |
Kansas City |
77.5 |
| 9. | New York Giants |
88.2 |
 |
24. |
Tennessee |
78.8 |
| 10. | Denver |
85.9 |
 |
23. |
New York Jets |
80.2 |
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THE 5,000-YARD CLUB
Brees came with 16 yards of setting a new single season passing yardage mark, as he finished with 5,069 yards. The league record was set in 1984 by Miami’s Dan Marino with 5,084 yards.
They are the only two quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season:
| Â Passer | Â Att. | Â Cmp. | Â % | Â Yds. | Avg. Gain |
 TD |  INT |  Rating |  Rec. |
| Marino | 564 | 362 | 64.2 | 5,084 | 9.01 | 48 | 17 | 108.9 | 14-2 |
| Brees | 635 | 413 | 65.0 | 5,069 | 7.98 | 34 | 17 | 96.2 | 8-8 |
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THE 4,000-YARD CLUB
There were six quarterbacks who cracked the 4,000-yard mark during the ’08 season: Brees, Warner (4,583 yards), Denver’s Jay Cutler (4,526), Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay (4,038), Rivers (4,009) and Peyton Manning (4,002).
In NFL history, there have now been 68 season performances by a quarterback who threw for more than 4,000 yards. It’s been done now by 40 quarterbacks, with Cutler, Rodgers and Rivers doing it for the first time. It was the third time for Warner and Brees and the ninth time for Manning.
GOING FOR 300 YARDS
Over the season, there were 76 games where a quarterback passed for more than 300 yards. Those quarterbacks were 46-29-1 in those games, a winning percentage of .612. There were eight games where a quarterback threw for 400 yards or more. Those quarterbacks saw their teams lose five of the eight games.
In all, 24 quarterbacks had games with 300 yards or more. Brees had 10 and Cutler had eight. There were 10 teams that did not have at least one game with a 300-yard passer.
BIG GAMES
The most yards thrown in a game came from Warner on September 28 against the Jets in the Meadowlands when he completed 40 of 57 passes for 472 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The most touchdown passes thrown in a game came from Brett Favre, who threw for six in the Arizona game on September 28.
FOURTH QUARTER PASSING LEADERS
In crunch time, the guy with the best passer rating was Romo, at 114.7. That was nine TDs and just one INT in the final period. Right behind him was Rivers at 111.7 (12 TDs/2 INTs) and surprisingly Buffalo’s Trent Edwards was third at 106.3 (six TDs, 2 INTs.)
THIRD DOWN PASSING LEADERS
Brees was the best passer on third down, hitting 96 of 144 throws for 1,399 yards, with 11 TDs and two INTs. That was a passer rating of 117.8. Behind him came Rivers (110.7) and Rodgers (105.8).
If you accept the above as a basis for what is successful in the NFL, you might say that Thigpen is fighting an uphill battle to be anything more than a backup in the near future. While he was the one high point of the season, he may not be the answer. Sorry, hope he makes it but…..
Ya but Thigpen needs a better line to protect him and allow us have a running game, that too will ease the presure.
Yes but also Thigpen is young, and inexperienced…on basically all levels….I would hate to see the chiefs take a QB in the 1st with a guy who has more promise than 50 percent of those taken in round 1, and hes actually proven it in the NFL…Thigpen deserves a year as a starter after last season filling in, so finding another wideout, a back, 2 OL, a defense, can go a long way.
I am not sold on him, but I also believe he deserves a chance, and shouldnt be sold out early like Brees when his numbers destroy Brees’ first year.
I’m not sure Thigpen has proven anything (besides the fact he is uncomfortable taking a snap from under center…isn’t that the first thing a QB learns how to do?). Did he get better?…yes. Did we win more than one game with him as a starter?…no. I don’t think we can write him off yet, but at the same time I don’t think we can anoint him as our QB of the future. Obviously the new GM and coaching staff (Herm or someone else) will have something to say about that.
Thigpen proved alot of people wrong (myself included) with his play this season. That being said, when we get a real GM and a real HC who know what they’re doing, we’ll get a real QB. A common misconception alot of fans make is that Thigpen’s protection failed him somehow. Our pass protection was solid at the very least once we started running the spread. Even SackinTosh played well. Now, the run blocking could stand to improve, but Thigpen was quick to run. He wasn’t rushed from the pocket as much as his rush attempts would suggest.
Saw Sam Bradford tonight vs Florida. Didn’t want the Chiefs to take him in this 2009 draft before tonight & the sentiment is even stronger against drafting him now…he was NOT impressive.
Tebow will not go until day 2 – that’s “day” 2 – not round 2- this according to Charlie Casserly.
Tebow thus might be available at the top RD #3 for KC, especially if DET takes the other major bust in waiting Stafford in RD #1, & STL passes on taking any QB early – whether Stafford if he comes out (which presumes KC also would pass on Bradford) and also Tebow/other.
A nice OT or LB is still Rin’s choice in RD #1 – even better a trade down & pick up one extra pick as well.
Tebow’s a hybrid Bobby Douglass & Jared Lorenzen, tho hopefully better than either. Don’t know if KC takes him or not (Casserly has stated Tebow’s skills don’t translate as well to the NFL… and true enough he’s driving that Cadillac in college called ‘Florida’, but…we shall see.
“& STL passes on taking any QB early – whether Stafford if he comes out”
- should read whether ‘Bradford’ if he comes out…
First off, there are pundits about saying Tyler Thigpen didn’t win more than one game as a starter, and because of that he is not the answer. In response to that statement I’d simply like to say it’s a team game. No one person is more important than the next on either side of the ball. Yes, one player will have a different skill-set than another, but the importance of a position still remains the same: they’re equal.
With that being said, you can’t grade Thigpen’s season on wins and losses. The Chiefs lost those games. If memory serves correctly, the team was gutted and veterans were replaced with rookies long before Tyler got the call to take any snaps (i.e. they were doomed from the start). You can grade Tyler Thigpen on his grit and determination. You can also grade Thigpen on his leadership qualities and the command he has in the huddle. Maybe you can grade him on the fact that he took a team that was not competitive and gave it some stability and direction.
Some (or most) will say Sam Bradford is the answer at QB and should be taken with the 3rd pick if available. I saw the game last night and have concluded the following statement: “You’re an idiot”. Bradford, while being an accurate QB (sometimes), showed that when pressured, he makes very big mistakes. He also shows he has no escapability skills and doesn’t show much in the form of leadership skills. So, to those who wish Bradford is taken as the 3rd pick I say to you: Thank God you’re not the GM!
- J_r0kk
I would have to agree with you “Rin” in your thoughts of the Chiefs first couple of picks, I can’t believe I just said that. lol
IMO – Tebow would work well with a team like the Vikings & Eagles, more the system & protection than anything. I like Tebow’s Heart & Spirit as a Football Player tho.
Ya Bradford needs another year at school. They both do for that fact.
Have to agree with not only my own comments but with J_r0kk and MenInRed who echo them.
Tebow is a larger & stronger if a bit less nifty than Thigpen. Seems a leadership comparison tween Tebow & Bradford – indeed, perhaps an indictment the latter QB’s maturity, least from a view afar -is on the other a plus for Tebow & a demerit for Bradford (another season college his best bet.)
Concerns? In round #3 he’d be a great pick, maybe even round #2, but one thing about him my opinion is he has a bit of a long throwing motion & sorta winds up – seems to leave himself really exposed, so it’s good he’s as ‘big as an ox’ as he’ll take some shots in the chops NFL & if he keeps up that all out running style will not last long at least not unscathed, regradless of his heft.
He’s not a classic ‘picture’ perfect QB, but then neither’s Thigpen. Both are refreshing (least for a fan) in that a while say a B Croyle has the arm he does not overtly exhibit the same ‘grit’ as the other 2 guys (a Brodie Croyle may be a total taskmaster in the huddle, it just doesn’t come across when you see/hear him and that slow “golly gee gosh darn” demeanor…a Don Meredith the 2nd persona.)
On the plus side, Tebow can play offensive line for Kaycee or whomever if he’s found wanting as a QB…
Tebow would be an excellent H-Back, but unfortunate for him, that is a position all but extinct, to tall for a Full Back (imo) but if he can catch just a lick, Tight End.
I still believe we need a top flight outside LB in the mold of a Merriman from the Bolts or say a Derrick Thomas or Bobby Bell. Someone who can change the outcome of a game defensively. Then in round two get another quality OT for the right side of the OL. I think if we get a GM who brings in a new HC. Then we really need to get a excellent QB coach who can really tutor Thigpen.
Merwin,I agree…It wouldn’t be the kiss of death if the Chiefs don’t get one of the top rated QB’s. I too still think Thigpen has a chance of being a very effective QB, but his progress was set back dramatically this season. It was unfair and more importantly UNREALISTIC to put a young team on his back and expect him to carry it while abandoning the run, suspect Wide Outs, add in the fact of a very leaky O-Line, well it makes one wonder WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING? He wasn’t equipped to handle that, not as a first yr. player who came outta Coastal Carolina.
I’m anxious to see him compete in Training Camp, That’s why I think it’s important to have another young guy to come in a challenge him and Croyal for the starting job, of course this would require a competent coaching staff. Thigpen has the tools (I’m a little suspect of his arm strength) to play but he is RAW, given some time and tutelage from a competent coach he could be a success.
I think it makes sense to talk about a QB’s win/loss record. That’s what happens in the NFL…fair or not. I don’t think it’s completely on the QB, but if you go down that road then it doesn’t matter what Herm’s w/l record is because it’s not only his fault either. That’s the life of a NFL QB and head coach. Like I said in my earlier post, I don’t think Thigpen proved anything this year other than he got better from the ATL game. Can you make a solid case for him being a starter next year?…sure. Can you make a solid case for him being our 3rd stringer next year?…sure. Therefore, he didn’t prove anything to me.
Behind Enemy Lines says: “I think it makes sense to talk about a QB’s win/loss record.”
Yes, there is some truth in that statement.
So too should a Coaches W/L record be discussed,
Regular Season: % Playoffs: %
Wins; 54 Losses; 74 .422 Wins; 2 Losses 4 .333
Lets make some other compairisions, experience, herm; 30 yrs! Thigpen 2 yrs
herm proved what exactly? I have some answers.
1 herm is no leader on the side lines come game day.
2 herm wants no responsibility for play calling. time clock management. (in his case that’s a plus)
3 herm can not make half time adjustments.
4 herms teams lack in physical conditioning.
5 herm holds no one accountable (most of all him self)
6 herm is a man who thinks he is more intelligent than he has ever shown.
I’m sure if any one else wanted to take part in this constant, yet stupid and futile argument, could add 10 more things to the list of things herm has proved.
Now lets count off some of the things that Thigpen has proved in is first yr as an accidental starter.
1 Thigpen can play in the NFL.
2 Thigpen can gain the respect of his team.
3 Thigpen is a leader in the huddle and on the field.
4 Thigpen proved he is a competitor.
5 Thigpen has proved he can make most of the throws required to have success.
6 Thigpen proved he can take a hit.
7 Thigpen has proved he is an athlete
Thigpen has potential!
I believe I did say that the HC w/l record
1 Thigpen can play in the NFL. (so can Ryan Leaf)
2 Thigpen can gain the respect of his team. (doesn’t matter if you don’t win…ask Herm)
3 Thigpen is a leader in the huddle and on the field. (Lead us to 1-something…right?)
4 Thigpen proved he is a competitor.
(So is Tebow…difference is, he wins)
5 Thigpen has proved he can make most of the throws required to have success. (again…1-something)
6 Thigpen proved he can take a hit. (you got me there)
7 Thigpen has proved he is an athlete (so are cheerleaders)
Thigpen has potential! (That’s like saying a girl has a good personality)
Don’t get me wrong…I like Thigpen, I really do. He got a lot better throughout the year. I think you can make a solid argument either way on him (not that yours was particularly solid in my opinion).
Just to clarify, I did say that is the life of being a QB and HC in the NFL which means I think Herm has to be evaluated by w’s/l’s too…so I won’t touch your Herm list except for #1…are you on the sidelines or are you just going off of what you see of him on television. Because that would be a weak argument…and #5…He sat LJ for missing meetings and being late for the plane.