Five of the NFC’s six playoff teams are set. The NFC East champion, which will get the fourth seed, will be Philadelphia (8-7) or Dallas (7-8). Let’s rank the trust factor of these seven quarterbacks on a scale of 1 to 10 with no ties allowed.
Drew Brees, Saints
Trust factor: 9
He breaks his thumb, has surgery, misses five games and comes back even better. Go figure. The Super Bowl XLIV MVP is 8-7 in the postseason, including 5-1 in home playoff games as a Saint.
Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Trust factor: 8.5
As Vikings fans can attest, he’s a double-whammy: an elite passer and a master escape artist when things break down. He’s won a Super Bowl, played in two and is 8-5 in the postseason.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Trust factor: 8
The Super Bowl XLV MVP is 9-7 with 36 TDs and 10 interceptions as a starter in the postseason. Another first-ballot Hall of Famer, but he’s been missing some throws he never used to miss.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Trust factor: 4.5
He has the talent and team to win big. And his nine turnovers are a career low. But, sorry, we have to see it to believe it. He’s played in two playoff games, going 0-1 as a starter.
Jimmy Garoppolo 49,ers
Trust factor: 4
Even if he gets the top seed, Garoppolo could experience the normal growing pains associated with a postseason debut. He’s a winner, no doubt, but he also has 18 turnovers this year.
Carson Wentz, Eagles
Trust factor: 3
He’s won three straight to set up Sunday’s win-and-they’re-in situation. But he has no playoff experience and lives under the pressure of a title that backup Nick Foles won two years ago.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Trust factor: 2.5
Whatever “it” factor he’s had before, it’s gone this year. He has a postseason win (1-2) but has no signature victory this year. And his team is in a 1-4 tailspin heading into Week 17.
