The quarterback is arguably the most important position to have in football. They control the offense and where the passes are made. You can’t have a good team without a good quarterback. Luckily, for some teams in the AFC West they have just that, others, however, not so much. Here’s some projections for the AFC quarterbacks in 2013.
1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
There’s no doubt Manning is one of the best to play the game, and nothing seems to slow him down. Last year was his first season with the Denver Broncos after spending 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Not only did he join a new team and have to learn a new offense, he did so after missing the entire 2011 season due to neck injuries and ended up having a neck fusion surgery.
Coming off the surgery, Manning led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and an AFC West title. They had the second seed heading into the playoffs. Manning is known to have struggles in the playoffs, and 2012 was no different. He threw two interceptions as the Broncos lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the division playoff game.
Regardless of his play in the postseason, Manning had another remarkable year as he threw for 4,659 yards with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as he finished the season with a 68.8 completion percentage and a 105.8 quarterback rating.
So what can we expect from Manning in 2013? Well, much of the same. Now he has another great offensive weapon in Wes Welker which will no doubt boost his already good career numbers. Manning will throw for over 4,500 yards, have over 30 touchdowns, but will have more interceptions this season, around 15-20.
2. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs kicked Matt Cassel to the curb and welcome Smith as their new starting quarterback. No doubt Smith did some great things in San Francisco with the 49ers, but it took him quite a while to show promising numbers.
Last season, Smith didn’t finish the season as the Niners starting quarterback as Colin Kaepernick took over for him when he went out due to a concussion. Kaepernick was awarded the starting position and Smith sat on the bench.
Smith spent seven years in a Niners uniform before being traded to Kansas City. In ten games last year, Smith threw for 1,737 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 79.1.
2013 should be an interesting season for Smith. New team, new coach, and a new offense in a completely different league. After a very disappointing 2-14 2012 season, the Chiefs are hoping Smith can come in, and lead the team back to their competitive ways, but I wouldn’t be so sure.
Smith’s career numbers aren’t that great and I wouldn’t expect him to have a breakout year this season. Expect the quarterback to throw for around 3.000 yards, have 10-15 touchdowns and about 10-plus interceptions.
3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
A couple of years ago, Rivers was considered one of the better quarterbacks in the AFC, but he has regressed as of late, as have the Chargers. San Diego finished the 2012 season in third place with a 7-9 record, which led to the firing of head coach Norv Turner.
Rivers has been with the Chargers for nine seasons and has been the starter for seven. Last year he had a completion percentage of 64.1% as he threw for 3,606 yards with 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while posting an 88.6 quarterback rating.
He, and the rest of the Chargers, enter the 2013 season with a new head coach in Mike McCoy. Rivers has led the Chargers to some AFC West titles in his time with San Diego, but it’ll be a difficult task. This season, expect Rivers to hover around 3,500 yards and 25-30 touchdowns with around 15 interceptions.
4. Matt Flynn, Oakland Raiders
Well, the Raiders quarterback situation has become quite the story this offseason. Flynn has been named the presumed starter, but the competition is wide open. Either Flynn, Terrelle Pryor, or Tyler Wilson will be the starting quarterback for the silver and black in 2013.
Since, Flynn has the most experience of the three, he will most likely win the starting job and be the Raiders quarterback, at least for the beginning of the season.
Flynn hasn't had much success in the NFL as he has always been a backup. He sat on the bench behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for four years and then lost the starting job to Russell Wilson in Seattle last year. Flynn has only had two career starts in the NFL neither of which were impressive. In his career Flynn has thrown for 1,083 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a 61.7 completion percentage and a 92.0 quarterback rating, but that is a very small sample size to base anything on.
If Flynn wins the starting job, like he is expected to, his numbers won’t be anything extraordinary. If he lasts the whole season, which is also debatable, he may throw for around 3,000 yards with 10 touchdowns and around 10 interceptions.
It’ll be interesting to see how Flynn does as a starter, but he’s somewhat unknown as quarterback in the NFL, so average is all that can be hoped for.