What do Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Ryan Tannehill, Josh Allen, Ben Roethlisberger, and Patrick Mahomes have in common?
Each is playing the best brand of quarterback in their respective division, and all are in first place. The lone exception, if any, could be Tannehill, but his stats are almost identical to those of DeShaun Watson…but suffice it to say the easiest path to success in the NFL starts with the right man under center.
That accounts for seven of the league's eight divisions. Now what if you were asked to name the best QB in the NFC East?
Until this year, there were two quarterbacks - Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz - pining for the top position. But Prescott suffered a gruesome leg injury this autumn, and Wentz has, well, regressed, and now has a fraction of his former traction among NFL passers. While the Cowboys’ QB has been dismissed into a yearlong purgatory of surgery and rehab on his mangled ankle, the Eagles’ QB is posting career lows in all salient stats, except for interceptions (15) and sacks (46), both league-leading totals.
Wentz isn't even completing 60 percent of his passes, and sports a paltry 49.6 QBR in leading the Eagles to a 3-7-1 record. Wentz is lost in a dust cloud of poor play, a plague of injured teammates, and prevailing public opinion that Nick Foles is the team’s best option at QB.
So take out Wentz, whatever the backup is doing in Dallas, and DC – where three QBs have taken starting snaps, and, as good of a story as Alex Smith is, he’s been more inspirational than impeccable – and what does that leave you? Danny Dimes.
Jones has no ghosts haunting him, and while he hasn't been that much better than Wentz, he has still been good enough to support the assertion that he's the best QB in the division right now. Big Blue's QB has been sacked 15 fewer times, completes 63.2 percent of his passes, and posts a tangibly higher QBR (66.9). It's not an earth-rattling difference, but just enough for a 4-7 record and first place in the skeletal NFC East. Plus, Jones outplayed Wentz two weeks ago during the Giants' 27-17 win over the Eagles, completing 75 percent of his throws and posting his only passer rating over 100.
Jones has been much more efficient, especially during their current three-game winning streak, when hasn't turned the ball over once – the first such streak in his brief career. And it's more impressive considering Jones has played this well without the offense's most explosive player, Saquon Barkley, who is out for the year. Sadly, Jones tweaked his hamstring in last week's win over Cincinnati, and while the timing is terrible, the apparent good news is Jones didn't tear the most tender and tormenting muscle in the pro athlete's body. There is no sense from team doctors that Jones will toil on the shelf for weeks.
Word is Jones will travel to Seattle for Sunday's contest against the Seahawks. It's not likely a game the G-Men can or will win – they’re double-digit underdogs with Jones doubtful to start under center – and while Colt McCoy may have the coolest name ever for a quarterback, he clearly doesn't have Jones' game. Not to mention Russell Wilson is playing about as well as anyone in the NFL and, despite the bizarre fact that he's never received a first-place vote for NFL MVP, many have Wilson leading the race right now.
Still, recall where the Giants were just a month ago. On November 2, they'd just lost by two points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after losing by one point the week before to the Eagles. Big Blue had a black eye, a 1-7 record, and seemed to be in losing lockstep with the Jets for the top pick in the NFL Draft. And we were publically and seriously wondering if the Giants would grab Trevor Lawrence had they backed into the top pick.
Now the Giants find themselves grappling for another top spot - the NFC East.
Follow Jason Keidel on Twitter: @JasonKeidel
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