Here's the criteria for this list: If all 12 starting quarterbacks were cut from their teams right now, and you could have your choice of any of them to lead you through these playoffs, who would you take?
This is not based just on past performance, or who had the best regular season. Just for the next month. Who would you take?
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It's not that easy because, not surprisingly, if you made the playoffs you probably have a pretty good quarterback. Unless you're the Arizona Cardinals.
So let's put the 12 playoff starting quarterbacks in order:
12. Ryan Lindley, Arizona Cardinals
OK, it's hard to rank the top 11
11. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
All right, the top 10 is tough.
10. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Now we're cooking with gas. Stafford has tremendous talent, but we're still waiting for a really big win. The Lions are 0-16 on the road against winning teams in games Stafford has started for them. You get the feeling he's capable of moving up this list in a hurry. Or capable of another disappointment.
9. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Newton is a good quarterback, though his passing numbers weren't phenomenal this year. Then again, he had little to work with. Newton finished the season by posting a 96.9 rating in December, which is fairly amazing because he has two transverse process fractures in his back after a scary car accident. The fact that Newton is No. 9 on this list says a lot about the top eight.
8. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
If we could specifically get the Flacco of the playoffs two years ago, he's way higher. It doesn't really work that way, and Flacco is what he is. He's good. He posted career highs in yards (3,986) and touchdowns (27) this season. He has a tremendous arm and a Super Bowl ring. But, who on this list do you pick him ahead of?
7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
The choice between him and the quarterback at No. 6 was really tough.
6. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Why Wilson over Romo, after Romo just posted a 113.2 rating? It's not because of the ridiculous quarterback wins stat. If you gave Romo the 2013 Seahawks defense and Marshawn Lynch at some point in his career, he'd have a bunch more playoff wins. I give Wilson a slight edge because Romo has had a lesser role on the Cowboys this season. Romo had just 435 attempts this season. He has done great in that role, but he's not the focal point of Dallas' offense right now. And I don't think he's more dangerous than Wilson, who also had 849 rushing yards this season.
5. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
You could make an argument for Wilson or Romo over Luck, because Luck has a tendency to turn the ball over too much and he didn't play great late in the season. Luck also has no running game to help him out and his offensive line isn't very good. If we're picking teams, I pick Luck ahead of anyone behind him on this list. And don't lose any sleep in doing so.
4. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
This isn't about the 2013 season or the Super Bowl he won with the Colts or anything else but where he is right now. And he didn't look like himself late in the season. Is he still capable of sustaining drives and hitting a few big plays because he understands the game so well? Absolutely. But I don't think he's playing at a level right now where you'd trust him to carry an offense. The Broncos don't, because they've put the offense on running back C.J. Anderson's shoulders. But it's a testament to his greatness that he can be in a slump and that he looked all of his 38 years at times late this season, and he's still in the top four.
3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roethlisberger has had a tremendous season, probably the best of his career. And that's saying something for a two-time Super Bowl champion. He was just 48 yards short of a 5,000-yard season, with a 32-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has been remarkable. I just can't bring myself to put him ahead of the top two guys on the list, but he's clearly in that same tier.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The calf injury that hasn't seemed to clear up for weeks is a bit of a concern. It is also a bit odd that his home-road splits are so wide (his rating is 39 points better at home, 133.2 vs. 94.2). He might win the NFL MVP award, and the difference between Rodgers and my top quarterback is razor thin. But he wouldn't be my top choice.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
If I'm taking one quarterback for the next month, this is my pick. He had a tremendous season after a tough September. I think he's getting Super Bowl ring No. 4 in a few weeks. I wouldn't trust anyone else more in the big spots he'll face these playoffs.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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