Who is the most clutch quarterback in the NFL? Which quarterback do you want with the ball in his hands with the game on the line?
I looked to the numbers to answer these age-old questions, using two stats:
Quarterback conversion rate on game-tying or go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter and overtimeExpected points added (EPA) per play in these situations (looks at value added on all plays between rushes, passes, sacks and fumbles)
Essentially, how often does a quarterback lead his team down the field successfully in do-or-die situations, and how does he perform on those drives? I broke those numbers down between a quarterback’s career in the regular season, career in the playoffs, and 2023 performance. All of these were evenly weighted and used to churn out this top 10 list of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL.
Last disclaimer. I only looked at the 26 current starting quarterbacks with NFL experience. Rookies and other projected starters with only a few starts (like Anthony Richardson) weren’t considered.
10. Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert has converted on 42 percent of game-tying or go-ahead drive chances in his career, the 10th-best rate in the league among active starters.
He was effective in the clutch again last year, but the Chargers defense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Get this, he had five game-tying or go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime of losses last year, the most in a season in NFL history.
No one in NFL history has more game-winning drives (14) and game-tying or go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and OT (16) at age 25 or younger than Justin Herbert.
I have a feeling he’ll be getting more shine now with Jim Harbaugh at the controls.
9. Lamar Jackson
Jackson has the third-highest conversion rate on these clutch drives (48 percent) among active starters behind only C.J. Stroud and Patrick…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-nfls-top-10-clutch-qbs-no-surprise-at-no-1-c-j-stroud-ranks-high-daniel-jones-cracks-list/
Author : Douglas Clawson
Publish date : 2024-07-01 12:25:47
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