Young Quarterbacks on the Rise

Mark Sanchez

Young quarterbacks around the league are making their opponents take notice.

One year after JOE FLACCO of the Baltimore Ravens raised the bar by becoming the first rookie quarterback ever to start and win two playoff games in 2008, New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ matched that feat last season.

Sanchez led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game after postseason road victories in Cincinnati and San Diego. Sanchez was only the ninth rookie quarterback to start a playoff game in the Super Bowl era (since 1966), and just the fourth to lead his team to the Conference Championship Game.

In 2008, Flacco and Atlanta Falcons quarterback MATT RYAN each started all 16 of their team's games, the first time that has been done by rookies in a season during the Super Bowl era.

Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 record en route to being named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Flacco guided the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game following an 11-5 regular season mark. They became the only rookie quarterback duo to lead their clubs to the playoffs in the same season since the 16-game schedule was instituted in 1978. Combined, the two QBs posted a 22-10 (.688) record, the best mark by two rookie quarterbacks in a single season during the Super Bowl era (minimum eight starts each).

"You haven't seen, maybe ever in the league, two rookie quarterbacks like that," says NFL Network analyst MIKE MAYOCK of Ryan and Flacco.

Matthew Stafford

Sanchez, Flacco and Ryan are only three of the many young quarterbacks that are taking the NFL by storm.

Second-year quarterbacks MATTHEW STAFFORD (10 starts) and JOSH FREEMAN (nine starts), third-year signal caller CHAD HENNE (7-6 record as starter) and fourth-year QB KEVIN KOLB (741 passing yards in two career starts) are poised to start and hope to build on their experience going into 2010.

Rising stars at quarterback who were drafted since 2007:

Joe Flacco, Baltimore

"Anyone who knows Flacco knows that he's smart, poised and he doesn't let things get to him." -- Washington linebacker H.B. Blades

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay

"For some young quarterbacks, when they get into a game, the game starts, the pass rush starts, things speed up on them. They get a little nervous and don't see things clearly. For Josh Freeman, things slow down. He doesn't panic. He has great poise." -- Miami defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni

Chad Henne, Miami

In his second-ever start, led three fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including the game-winner with six seconds remaining to defeat the New York Jets in one of 2009's most thrilling games.

Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia

Became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 300 yards in each of his first two career starts. Will enter 2010 as the Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta

2008 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has compiled a 20-10 career record as a starter and led the Falcons to the first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history.

Mark Sanchez, NY Jets

"It's incredible what this guy has accomplished already in winning playoff games on the road in Cincinnati and in San Diego. He's a leader with a great deal of toughness. He has a very bright future." -- Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon

Matthew Stafford, Detroit

Set the NFL single-game rookie record with 422 passing yards and became the youngest player in NFL history to throw five touchdown passes in one game vs. Cleveland in Week 11

Rookie quarterbacks to start a playoff game (since 1966)

 

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