QB trust factor in the NFC playoff race

December 29, 2019 at 7:30AM
A wide eyed Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) greeted Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) after Monday night's loss.
Aaron Rodgers met with Kirk Cousins on Monday night. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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.

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