Playing quarterback is considered the most demanding job in all professional sports. A quarterback is expected to be a leader, motivator, highly intelligent, and deliver for his team on the field. A quarterback carries the burden and expectation of the franchise on their shoulder. Some players excel while others wilt and lose their job by the end of the season. In this article, we will explore the five quarterbacks facing a make-or-break season to keep their place on their respective teams.
5. Dak Prescott-determining number 5 on this list was a tough decision. However, I decided in the end to select the Cowboys quarterback. Yes, Dak is a good quarterback because last season, he ended with 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 4,449 passing yards, and 68.8% completion of his passes. Prescott is on this list because of how badly last season ended. After winning the division, the Cowboys hosted a home game in the wild-card round against the 49ers. In the matchup, Prescott completed 23 of 43 passing attempts for 254 yards with one touchdown and one interception, and the team trailed 23-17 with under a minute and no timeout. On the last play with 14 seconds left, Dak executed a quarterback draw up the middle for 17 yards but failed to spike the ball to stop the clock from running down. It was a bad decision to run the ball without a timeout, and it created a hysteria that now ratchets up the pressure on Dak to take this team to the Superbowl this season. After signing a four-year contract extension with the Cowboys worth $160 million in March 2021, it is time for Prescott to deliver on his potential for greatness or risk being on the trading block for 2023.
4. Tua Tagovailoa-it is hard to believe but Tua is entering only his third season in the NFL. Tua led a remarkable turnaround for the Dolphins last season from 1-7 to a 9-8 record and missing the playoffs by just one game. Tua’s stats indicate that he is an above-average at best because in 2021 he passed for 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 2653 yards, and a 67.8 completion rate. The Dolphins made one of the stunning moves of the offseason by trading for Tyreek Hill, and the team also signed former Cowboy Cedrick Wilson to a three-year deal. Ownership has met Tua’s need for weapons, and now there are no excuses if this team fails to make the playoffs. If Tua fails to produce next season, then the team could look to move on from the Qb.
3. Matt Ryan-Ryan will be remembered by most NFL fans, as the quarterback of the team that lost the Superbowl after leading 28-3 against the Patriots. Last season, Ryan passed for 3,968 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Ryan took the criticism as the Falcons hovered at a .500 record but predictably fell out of the playoff picture. However, Ryan is embracing a new challenge as he heads to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts’ season ended in disaster with the team embarrassingly losing to the 3-win Jacksonville Jaguars 26-11 in a must-win game to enter the playoffs. The franchise was desperate for a quarterback to make the big throws when needed and reduce the risk of bad interceptions by trading for Matt Ryan and giving the Falcons a third-round pick. Ryan has two years remaining on his contract but having a stout running game backed by Jonathan Taylor and a potent offensive line, he will be expected to hit the ground running in Indianapolis by making the playoffs… or else.
2. Carson Wentz- On March 16, 2022, the Colts traded Carson Wentz a second and seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a 2022 second, a third-round pick, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Wentz had a decent season with 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. However, as mentioned, the Colts choked away their chances to make the playoffs, and Wentz fell on his sword as he faced criticism. The Commanders will be looking to ignite the fan base in the nation’s capital under a new franchise name, and despite a three-year contract remaining on his deal, Wentz has to view this as his last chance to be a starting quarterback in the league.
1. Ryan Tannehill- Tannehill is one of the most polarizing players in the league. Some fans think he should not be a starting quarterback while some feel there is some upside to his game. Tannehill and the Titans were poised to potentially head to the Superbowl by clinching the number one seed in the conference. However, the dream fell apart against the Bengals in the Divisional round. Tannehill started the game with an interception and ended it with another terrible throw as he finished with 15 of 24 passes, 220 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Somehow, the Titans have kept Tannehill for the upcoming season as their quarterback but make no mistake that he must play well if he is to keep it by the end of it.
Do you think Dak belongs on this? Who would you take out and put in? Let me know in the comments section.