The NFL is back to business as usual with week one in the books. The League quarterbacks set an NFL record for any single week by throwing a combined 7,842 yards. Defenses have some catching up to do though. This week they will set another NFL record. Week two will not have a single divisional game for the first time in history.

Five games this week feature unbeaten teams going head to head. Teams who won are looking to stay on track, while the teams who lost are trying to get back on schedule. This is the set up for a great week two.

Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills: Darren McFadden and the Raiders travel across country to face the Buffalo Bills. The Bills put a number on the Chiefs at Arrowhead. Bills should contain McFadden and win at home. Bills 28-24

Green Bay Packers @ Carolina Panthers: Green Bay looked unstoppable in the opener. Cam Newton opened people’s eyes with his 422 yard passing performance. Aaron Rodgers and company have had 10 days to prepare. Packers 31-13

Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins: Arizona escaped with a seven point win in week one. Rex Grossman said the Redskins will win the division and he backed that up with a win against the Giants. Washington looks strong. Redskins 27-21

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans: Ravens forced seven turnovers and made the Steelers look bad. Fantasy owners might want to sit CJ2K after his 24 yard rush performance and playing a stingy Ravens defense. Ravens 24-14

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers: Both teams lost week one. Seahawks let one get away with a couple of special teams touchdowns late. Coach Mike Tomlin is expected to have his Steelers ready after an embarrassing performance. Steelers 28-10

Jacksonville Jaguars @ N.Y. Jets: One of the five games of unbeaten teams. The Jags won their first game of the season with Luke McCown behind center. Jets look to get the running game going. Jets 24-13

Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints: Bears LB Brian Urlacher’s mother unexpectedly passed away. “He is the heart and soul of the team” says QB Jay Cutler. If he doesn’t play it’s going to be trouble for that defense. Saints will take advantage.  Saints 30-20

Kansas City Chiefs @ Detroit Lions: Kansas City looked down right awful after a 41-7 blowout home loss to the Bills. It doesn’t get any easier after they lost S Eric Berry for the season. That’s bad news when going up against Matthew Stafford and Megatron for Detroit. Lions 27-19

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts: Browns couldn’t get out of their own last week — literally. Kerry Collins and the Colts can’t be as bad as they looked. One way or another a “Colt” will win. Browns 23-20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings: Both teams who hung around in their own respective games but didn’t look too good. Buccs came back in the 4th quarter to make it a game against Detroit but fell short. Vikings quick start was halted by McNabb’s play. Buccaneers 24-21

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers: Tony Romo helped the Jets win last week with a couple turnovers late. Rob Ryan’s defensive schemes looks to be too much for Alex Smith. Cowboys 27-20

Cincinnati Bengals @ Denver Broncos: Andy Dalton is off to a good start for the Bengals after winning his first start — a divisional road game. Broncos gave up 170 yards on the ground and 150 to one player. Bengals feed Cedric Benson and the Tim Tebow chants get louder. Bengals 20-16

San Diego @ New England: This game features the NFL leader in passing yards last season, Phillip Rivers, and this year’s leader Tom Brady. Yes it’s only been one week but after 517 yards in the opener it’s worth mentioning. Chargers haven’t won in New England since Drew Brees was QB. Patriots 30-28

Houston Texans @ Miami Dolphins: Texans and defense coordinator Wade Phillips looked improved on defense after causing two fumbles and holding the Colts to one touchdown. They’ll have to do it again to make believers. Dolphins’ offense looked good also but the defense couldn’t stop a bus. Texans 28-21

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons: Game of the week! Highlight this game and mark it down as a can’t miss. Eagles QB Michael Vick makes his first in Atlanta since his incarceration. Sunday night football and the crowd will be rocking. Let’s see what kind of ovation he gets. Vick will amaze again. Eagles 35-28

St. Louis Rams @ N.Y. Giants: Monday Night Football is a game riddled with injuries for both teams. The Rams had a league high eight injuries last week. QB Sam Bradford was one of the injuries but it looks like he’ll make the start.  Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola are more than likely out.

Giants add to the injury list with Hakeem Nicks (knee). He looks probable. Giants injuries hurt them last week. It could be more of the same this week.  St. Louis 21-17

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens QB Joe Flacco, including the playoffs, has a record of 2-6 against the Steelers and both of those wins came without Ben Roethlisberger out. It will be a “knock ‘em down, drag ‘em out”-kind of game which comes as no surprise. Steelers 17-13

Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears: Both teams lost to the Packers last year in the playoffs. After an ugly beating by the Packers, Atlanta bounced back with a good offseason. They drafted the outstanding 6’3 wideout out of Alabama Julio Jones and signed Free Agent DE Ray Edwards. Meanwhile, Bears have OL problems after losing C Olin Kreutz. Atlanta 27-21

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: Rookie Andy Dalton plus Rookie A.J. Green equals a promising future. Right now, this isn’t the future. Now the Bengals start on the road in the “Dawg Pound”. The Browns beat up New England at home last year and almost came up with a win against the Jets. Browns 24-10

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans: With Peyton Manning declared out for week one and maybe longer, it’s time for the Texans to win the division and finally get into the playoffs. Houston has an injury concern of their own. Last year’s rushing leader, Arian Foster, didn’t practice Friday (hamstring) and his status is up in the air for Sunday. Even if he’s out, Houston still has enough to beat a Manning-less Colts. Houston 28-17

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Johnson gets his 4 year $53 million deal with $30 million of it guaranteed. Jaguars cut QB David Garrard only days before the season opener. That’s too quick of a turnaround for the team to overcome. Titans 21-17

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Buffalo might be a better defensive team than people expect coming into the year. And understandably so after being a horrible run defense. They took Marcell Darius with the third overall pick and have a healthy pass rusher in Shawne Merriman. Chiefs may have been exposed after the blowout home loss to the Ravens in the playoffs. Upset alert. Bills 20-16

Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams: The “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles finally get to see how good they really are. They will be tested on the road against an upstart Rams team. One free agent the Eagles didn’t sign was WR Mike Sims-Walker who went to the Rams. Rams hope he can help stretch the field in the passing game. Eagles should pass their first test. Eagles 35-21

Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This game could mean a lot to both these teams by the season’s end. The winner gets an advantage in the head to head battle as both teams most likely will be battling for a wildcard playoff spot. Stafford is healthy –for now. Raheem Morris will have his guys ready. Toss up. Lions 28-27

Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Panthers rookie Cam Newton starts week one after winning the preseason QB battle. New team, new offense, new weapons for Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb.  A home start against the league’s worst team last year should be enough for Kolb to get his first win for Arizona. Cardinals 24-17

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers: Everybody is healthy for the Chargers and Phillip Rivers and company are looking for a fast start to the season. Did McNabb get enough time to learn the offense with the shortened offseason? Chargers 30-20

Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers: Is the marquee matchup in this game really between the coaches? The same coaches who last played against each other when they were coaching for USC and Stanford? Jim Harbaugh won last time so we will take him again. 49ers 19-10

NY Giants vs. Washington Redskins: These two division rivals battle in remembrance of 9/11. Giants seem to always get hit with the injury bug. Osi Umenyiora may be out. With that said, they always compete and that defense is good enough to shut down Rex Grossman. Giants 24-20

Dallas Cowboys vs. NY Jets: Tony Romo is back but CB Terrance Newman is out for the Cowboys. A banged up secondary could open the door for Sanchez, Burress and the Jets. Rex looks to take this battle of the Ryan’s’. Jets 26-17

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins: The Patriots usually have their trouble when they come down to Miami. Dolphins get to show off their free agent signed RB Reggie Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas. Pats defense seems to be improved. Patriots 31-14

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos: The last two teams to play week one in the Monday night double header. All the talk in the offseason was about Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow and you guessed it, Tim TebowKyle Orton is the starting QB. Along with John Fox, Brandon Llyod and what maybe an improved defense with Elvis Dumervil leading the way, watch out. Surprise team? Broncos 23-20

 
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At this point last year Jets fans were on pins and needles wondering what was going to happen with All-Universe corner Darrelle Revis and his holdout. As we know now he ended up holding out all summer and it took him a while to get back to full form injuring his hamstring shortly after his return.

The injury was due to a lack of off-season, but this year there’s no lockout and Revis is up to his usual tricks of wreaking havoc on quarterbacks and wide receivers.

With this news the rest of the league should begin preparing to face arguably the most complete corner in the game when they face the New York Jets this year. This year Revis is having probably his best training camp as a pro and is on a daily basis causing trouble for QB Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez likes to ignore the “Revis Rule” and is constantly challenging him in practice, usually to no avail. Sanchez says that it makes him a better quarterback being humbled by such an outstanding corner.

“They keep saying, ‘The Revis Rule, the Revis Rule,’ but that’s my chance to get after it in practice,” Sanchez said Thursday. “I can see what you can fit in and what you can get by with.

He keeps you sharp, he keeps you accurate…You try to take short vacations on Revis Island and try to get out of there as quick as you can.”

This is great news for Jets fans as having their best player at top form is good news for the defense and having their quarterback square off against him daily can only help Sanchez in his progress.

Rex Ryan said, “He’s the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of defensive backs in this league. He’s the best I’ve ever been around.”

The Jets will need Revis to shutdown half the field as the question mark that remains from last year is the Jets pass rush. Having Revis do his thing forces quarterbacks to hold the ball for longer giving the line more chance to get to the opposing quarterback.

It’s looking like another Pro-Bowl year for the young DB.

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Shonn Greene is now the feature back of the New York Jets. After a somewhat disapointing preseason and a rough couple of first games last year the Jets made the decision to split the carries between Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson with LT getting more of the carries.

This season the Jets are ready to make the switch to Greene being the feature back. However, if he never makes it to the field the Jets will have to look to the veteran Tomlinson, 2^nd year RB Joe McKnight and rookie Bilal Powell.

Greene missed the afternoon practice today with a low-grade skin infection on his right foot. He took part in this mornings walk-through, but was limping toward the end of the session.

Tomlinson took most of the practice carries and Powell worked as the No.2 back, as Joe McKnight missed practice due to a concussion he suffered in the Monday night game against Houston.

The problem for Greene has always been durability and whether or not he can make it through a full season taking the majority of the carries. The Jets are looking for about 250 carries from Greene this season, but he can’t do that from the sidelines.

This means that Tomlinson will get the start at RB this Sunday against the Bengals with Joe McKnight, if he plays, and Bilal Powell taking a lot of carries as well.

This could be a big oppurtunity for 2^nd year back McKnight and the rookie Powell to make an impression on this coaching staff. Tomlinson will take more carries, but the Jets want to be conservative with him to keep him fresh later in the season if possible.

McKnight after a terrible training camp and preseason last year has been showing promise this year and this could be his chance to show the Jets brass why drafting him was a good choice.

Powell who’s been having a quiet camp could also benefit from added carries as well.

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This time around its time to break down the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2010 Record: 12-4 Divisional Finish: 1^st Playoff Finish: Lost in Super Bowl to Green Bay Packers

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

WR Jerricho Cotchery (Free Agency)
RB Mewelde Moore (Resign)
K Shaun Suisham (Resign)
CB Ike Taylor (Resign)

Key Off-season Losses:

Antwaan Randle El (Released)
The Steelers didn’t do much in way of big off-season acquisitions, but then again they made it to the Super Bowl last year. What they did do was resign some key pieces such as RB Mewelde Moore and CB Ike Taylor which will be vital to them making another run at winning it all.

They did lose third string receiver WR Antwaan Randle El, choosing to part ways with the veteran receiver, but they were able to pick up WR Jerricho Cotchery who was released by the New York Jets and they have high expectations for young WR Mike Wallace who really came into his own at the end of last season into the playoffs.

Having no real major roster changes the Steelers are coming back with virtually the same team from last year which should bode well for them. It should be another solid season for Pittsburgh with a very good chance to get back to and win the Super Bowl

Record Prediction: 13-3

Baltimore Ravens: 2010 Record: 12-4 Divisional Finish: 2^nd Playoff Finish: Lost in Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

CB Chris Carr (Resign)
FB Vonta Leach (Free Agency)
SS Benard Pollard (Free Agency)
RB Ricky Williams (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

DT Kelly Gregg (Kansas City)
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Free Agency)
WR Derrick Mason (New York Jets)
DB Dawan Landry (Jacksonville)
FB Le’Ron McClain (Free Agency)
RB Willis McGahee (Released)

The Baltimore Ravens coming into this off-season had a lot of questions facing them with a lot of players becoming free agents. The Ravens had a solid season last year and where looking to take that next step toward winning it all. This off-season they were able to sign people to fill the voids left by losing some key people.

The losses of FB Le’Ron McClain and RB Willis McGahee were countered by the signings of FB Vonta Leach and RB Ricky Williams. Losing DT Kelly Gregg, WR Derrick Mason, and DB Dawan Landry are big loses for this team and they are looking within the team for some help filling those slots.

With their staunch defense, the Ravens should have another good year fighting for not only the AFC North title, but also for a high playoff seed and championship. The Ravens have all the pieces to make a run at the Super Bowl, but much of their chances rest with QB Joe Flacco and his performance this season.

Record Prediction: 12-4

Cleveland Browns: 2010 Record: 5-11 Divisional Finish: 3^rd Playoff Finish: Did not make playoffs

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

K Phil Dawson (Franchise)
RB Brandon Jackson (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

RB Mike Bell (Detroit)
QB Jake Delhomme (Released)
WR Chansi Stuckey (Arizona)

The Browns have a tough road ahead of them. With no big name signings they’re still in the rebuilding process and trying to develop young QB Colt McCoy. When a team uses there franchise tag on the kicker you know that they aren’t in the greatest of situations. Being in the same division as the Steelers and Ravens also doesn’t help being they have to play them both twice.

They haven’t lost much, but really haven’t upgraded either. It’s going to be another long season for the Browns as there division along with a lack of play making pieces will not make them contenders this year. They will again miss the playoffs and will be well short of .500.

Record Prediction: 4-12

Cincinnati Bengals: 2010 Record: 4-12 Divisional Finish: 4^th Playoff Finish: Did Not Make Playoffs

Key Off-season Acquisitions:

RB Cedric Benson (Resign)
CB Nate Clements (Free Agency)
C Kyle Cook (Resign)
QB Bruce Gradkowski (Free Agency)
TE Bo Scaife (Free Agency)
FS Gibril Wilson (Resign)

Key Off-season Losses:

MLB Dhani Jones (Free Agency)
QB Carson Palmer (Retirement)
WR Terrell Owens (Free Agency)
CB Jonathan Joseph (Houston)
TE Reggie Kelly (Atlanta)

The Bengals went from being a solid playoff team two years ago to dead last in the division last year. The team has some great pieces, but with QB Carson Palmer requesting a trade and then retiring when he wasn’t is going to resonate throughout this season. They did sign some good players, and resign a few key players, but lost some good players as well.

Resigning Cedric Benson was their biggest move and a move that needed to be made as they will have to rely heavily on the running game with either Bruce Gradkowski who they signed from the Raiders or TCU’s Andy Dalton who they drafted this year. The lack of receivers will hurt this team in the long run as they parted ways with Terrell Owens and traded Chad Ochocinco.

They also lost CB Jonathan Joseph who is one of the most talented in the league at his position, but were able to sign Nate Clements from the 49ers who also has the potential to be one of the tops in the league at his position. With the lack of a passing attack and a middle of the pack defense, combined with being in a tough division will spell a long season culminating in a few wins and no playoffs.

Record Prediction: 4-12

AFC North Prediction: The Steelers won the division last year due to a tie breaker, but they should win the division again this year outright. With the Ravens changing many key pieces and the Steelers not changing any the Steelers will defend their AFC North title and be on their way to a potential top seed in the playoffs.

Like the AFC East look for the Steelers and Ravens to have a rematch of their divisional round playoff game from last year.

For my next preview I will be looking at the AFC South.

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With the football season right around the corner and training camps starting to get into full swing I’m going to be taking a look at every team division by division over the next few weeks, breaking down off-season moves, making predictions about final records, and predicting who will be coming out of each division. I’m going to start with the AFC East.

New England Patriots: 2010 Record: 14-2 Divisional Finish: 1^st Playoff finish: Lost in Divisional Round to New York Jets

Key Off-season acquisitions:

WR Chad Ochocinco (Trade with Bengals)

DT Albert Haynesworth (Trade with Redskins)

G Logan Mankins (Franchise)

T Matt Light (Resign)

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis(Resign)

DE Shaun Ellis (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

DE Ty Warren (Denver)

K Shayne Graham (Washington)

The Pats didn’t sign any top notch free agents this off-season, but leave it up to Bill Belichick and company to make a splash anyways. Trading for pro-bowlers WR Chad Ochocinco and DT Albert Haynesworth the Patriots were able to improve their roster.

Ochocinco represents a significant upgrade at WR and gives Tom Brady the big (much taller at 6’1” than Welker and Branch at 5’9”) number 1 target the Patriots have been missing since Randy Moss’s departure at the beginning of last season. Haynesworth, though unproductive recently is a pro-bowl caliber tackle that with Vince Wilfork will provide significant size in the middle of the D-line.

Add these to the resigning of key lineman Logan Mankins and Matt Light along with stealing Shaun Ellis from the Jets and the Patriots have had quite the off-season. The Patriots look well equipped to make another run at a Super Bowl.

Record Prediction: 12-4

New York Jets: 2010 Record: 11-5 Divisional Finish: 2^nd Playoff Finish: Lost in AFC Championship to Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Off-season acquisitions:

WR Santonio Holmes (Resign)

CB Antonio Cromartie (Resign)

WR Plaxico Burress (Free Agency)

S Eric Smith (Resign)

S Brodney Pool (Resign)

WR Derek Mason (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

WR Jerricho Cotchery (Released)

WR Braylon Edwards (San Francisco)

WR Brad Smith (Buffalo)

DE Shaun Ellis (New England)

CD Drew Coleman (Jacksonville)

The Jets started this off-season by resigning the best WR available Santonio Holmes. After the Nnamdi snub the Jets went to work resigning CB Antonio Cromartie, and Safeties Eric Smith and Brodney Pool to sure up there secondary behind ‘All-Universe’ corner Darrelle Revis.

The big question for the Jets is how big of a step will QB Mark Sanchez take and they’re taking a risk getting rid of WR’s Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery whom Sanchez has developed with over the past two years in favor of fresh out of prison Plaxico Burress who hasn’t played in two years and veteran Derek Mason from Baltimore. By not resigning Shaun Ellis they’re also putting a lot of pressure on 1^st round draft pick Muhammad Wilkerson to step up into a starting role instead of learning and developing behind a solid veteran.

The Jets are definitely taking a ‘win now’ approach and with most of the team that made it to the AFC Championship last year still in place they should be poised for another Super Bowl run. The question becomes whether newly named captain Mark Sanchez will step up and propel this team to the next level.

Record Prediction: 12-4

Miami Dolphins: 2010 Record: 7-9 Divisional Finish: 3^rd Playoff Finish: Did not make playoffs

Key Off-season acquisitions:

QB Matt Moore (Free Agency)

RB Reggie Bush (Trade)

T Marc Colombo (Free Agency)

OLB Jason Taylor (Free Agency)

Key Off-season Losses:

RB Ronnie Brown (Philadelphia)

ILB Channing Crowder (Released)

CB Al Harris (St.Louis)

RB Ricky Williams (Baltimore)

Miami hasn’t had the greatest off-season. With many key pieces leaving in free agency Miami let go of their RB’s Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams as well as ILB Channing Crowder.

Looking to upgrade at QB Miami struck out on the bigger name free agents, but were able to sign Matt Moore from Carolina which should represent an upgrade from Chad Henne. Miami was able to trade New Orleans for explosive yet injury prone RB Reggie Bush which should help fill the void left by Brown and Williams, but doesn’t offer a number one option at RB should they not sign anyone else.

Jason Taylor resigned with Miami after his one year hiatus with the nemesis New York Jets which should help Miami’s D and pass rush. There have been rumors about a possible Brett Farve return to the Dolphins but is simply speculation for now.

Overall the Dolphins have taken a step back this off-season, though a little one, but being in same division as the Patriots and Jets who always seem to be contending for a Super Bowl doesn’t help either. The Dolphins will more than likely miss the playoffs as there are just too many strong teams right now in the AFC.

Record Prediction: 8-8

Buffalo Bills: 2010 Record: 4-12 Divisional Finish: 4^th Playoff Finish: Did not make playoffs

Key Off-season acquisitions:

ILB Nick Barnett (Free Agency)

WR Brad Smith (Free Agency)

QB Tyler Thigpen (Free Agency)

ILB Sean Merrimen (Resign)

Key Off-season Losses:

DL Marcus Stroud (Released)

ILB Paul Posluszny (Jacksonville)

FS Donte Whitner (San Francisco)

The Bills have had a so-so off-season losing some pieces, but filling the voids with decent replacements. The signings of Nick Barnett and Sean Merrimen should help to fill Paul Posluszny’s spot, as he was lost a lot to injuries and now to free agency.

The big signing for the Bills comes with being able to pull away multifaceted WR Brad Smith from divisional rivals the New York Jets. The Bills haven’t really upgraded or lost anything from a team that was dead last in the AFC East and one of the worse teams in the league.

It’s already looking like another long season for Bills fans as being in one of the toughest if not the toughest division in football is not helping anything. The bills will again miss the playoffs and struggle to win games all season due to a tough schedule.

Record Prediction: 4-12

AFC East Prediction: The Patriots will defend their divisional title again this year slightly edging out the Jets again. With the Dolphins and the Bills being non factors the Patriots with their off-season moves as well as still having Belichick and Tom Brady should be able to beat out Mark Sanchez and the Jets.

Even if Sanchez improves greatly Brady should still be able to lead his team to another divisional title and potentially a 1 or 2 seed in the playoffs. Look for the Jets and the Patriots to potentially meet again in the playoffs for a repeat of last years divisional round showdown.

Stay tuned for my next preview as I will take a look at the AFC North.

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It’s never been easy to evaluate a quarterback and the impact a quarterback has on whether a team wins or loses.  We have had the Quarterback rating which has been used over the years to put a value on signal callers after each game.

Now ESPN has unveiled a new way to evaluate arguably the most important position on the football field; it is called the Total Quarterback Rating.

ESPN describes this new system as a way of “understanding what each play means to the team, then gives credit to the quarterback for what happened on a play based on what he contributed”

In this new approach to the position, a quarterback will be graded from a scale of 0-100, of course 100 being the highest, 50 being average or middle of the pact and 0 being the lowest; I doubt we will see any one ranked that low, unless Jimmy Clausen starts for Carolina.

The probability of winning becomes important in rewarding points to a player, in this new system every play in which a particular quarterback is involved will affect his overall rating.

A player like Michael Vick will benefit in this new system because last year, the 600 plus yards he gains on the ground did not affect his rating as  signal caller; he will be rewarded for those yards in the  system but at the same time, so will fumbles and yardage lost.

Every aspect of playing the position will be accounted for- interestingly enough, players will be penalized for overthrowing or under throwing receivers, an aspect of this that seemed to be a little hard to compute.  If a quarterback places the ball in a great spot that allows the receiver to gain more yards after the catch that will bode well for his total rating.

There are those who believe this will answer the question of who is the best quarterback in a season yet meaningless numbers won’t be rewarded like they have been in the past. In fact, you will be rewarded as a quarterback for making the right play when it means the most to the outcome of the game.

The clutch factor which we have seen in many quarterbacks and that which many other quarterbacks lack will play a large role in how their season will be judged.

“A clutch play is defined before the play by how close the game appears to be. Down four points with three seconds to go and facing third-and-goal from the 3-yard line — that is a high-pressure and high-clutch index situation because the play can realistically raise the odds of winning to almost 100 percent or bring them down from about 40 percent to almost zero percent.”

As described by the ESPN article, a play of this nature at midfield is relatively less meaningful therefore the clutch index is lowered.  The outcome of that same play at midfield will mean less to the overall outcome of the game.

The whole premise of this new approach is that, football is played by a team and the offense functions as a team.  In order to evaluate one position (the Quarterback), it is important to understand how he contributes to the team winning.  It becomes less about the totality of the yards or touchdowns scored by the team and more about the individual plays, when they were made and how they were made.

There is more to examine about this new approach to evaluating quarterbacks in the NFL.  The Total Quarterback Rating will take some getting used to, but sports fans and NFL fans will have to learn and adapt quickly.

Many former signal callers appreciate the way this has been done because it tries to incorporate everything involved in running a play in the National Football League.  As Cosell was quoted saying in the article, “Football is not complex, but it is very detailed.”  That is clearly evident in the Total Quarterback Rating.

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