Post Week Two NFC East QB Rankings
The first two weeks of the 2017 season have given us a nice snapshot as to how open this division could be this year. After two games, the Giants sit at 0–2, while the Redskins, Eagles, and Cowboys all sit at 1–1. The quarterbacks of the NFC have varied in their performances to start the season. Based on the small sample size we have, here’s how they stack up.
4. Kirk Cousins
Even though he rebounded in week two to put his team in the win column, Kirk Cousin’s start to 2017 does not reflect his $24 million salary. In week one, the Michigan Stare alum turned the ball over three times on an interception and two fumbles. You can make the case that one of those fumbles was actually a forward pass, but at the end of the day it is what it is. Both the Eagles and Rams kept cousins relatively contained, as he has yet to eclipse 250 yards passing in a game this season. Unfortunately for Cousins, the Redskins’ offensive line has done a poor job protecting their signal caller, but for the Redskins to march forward towards the playoffs, we will need to see Kirk perform at a much higher level.
3. Eli Manning
Prior to the 2017 season, the Giants were picked as a fringe Super Bowl contender. A reflection of their two unexpected runs to Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, this season was met with high expectations. I think it’s safe to say that after the first two weeks, expectations have been tempered. The Giants currently sit in the basement of the NFC East, but all does not seem to be lost. Eli Manning has performed poorly out of the gate, but the stagnated Giants offense does have a lot to due with the Odell Beckham Jr. situation. Beckham missed week one due to the ankle injury he sustained during the preseason and very clearly was not at 100% in week two. Father Time has taken away Manning’s mobility and ability to extend the play, subjecting him to more sacks. Coupled with a poorly pieced together offensive line and you have the recipe for more mediocre quarterback play.
2. Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott burst on to the scene last season, leading the Cowboys to the best record in the NFC. It seemed that Prescott’s performance all but secrued his place in line as the next great Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Prescott ranks at number two on this list, but certainly more for the struggles of his counterparts, rather than his own success. Prescott was as advertised in week one, leading Dallas to a 19–3 rout of the New York Giants. However, the second-year pro struggled in week two. Prescott & company were completely bottled up by the Denver Broncos. The former Missisiipi State star tossed two interceptions, including a pick-six to Denver’s Aqib Talib. If Dallas has any hope of repeating the success they had last year, then Prescott has to clean up his act quickly.
- Carson Wentz
Under normal circumstances, being named the best quarterback in your division would be something to write home about. In the case of Carson Wentz, it didn’t take much for him to top this list. Wentz has been solid through the first two weeks of the season, a win against Washington in week one and close loss to the Kansas Chiefs in week two. With over 600 yards and four touchdowns on the season already, Carson Wentz looks to build on the success he had last season as a rookie. Don’t get me wrong, Wentz is still guilty of making a few bad decisions, like missing some throws to Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith in week one, but his playmaking abilities have allowed him to rise above it through the early part of the season. He made what could have been the play of the week in week one, escaping several Redskins defenders to find Nelson Agholor 58 yards downfield for a touchdown. The play was reminiscent of a young Ben Roethlisberger, using physicality and arhlerixscm to extend the play. In week three, Wentz has a date with the New York Giants at home with a chance to not only add to his solid start against a struggling Giants team, but to put the nail in the coffin of a division rival this early in the season.
