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Considering all the COVID-19 related issues NFL teams have faced up to this year -- namely: the lack of practice, no pre-season, star linesmen sitting out the year, receivers missing games, et al -- there have been some fantastic performances from quarterbacks right across the league.
There's still more than a week to go until the NFL's end-of-season-finale, the Super Bowl, so, to fill the void let's cast an eye over:
5 best Quarterbacks in the NFL (2020/21)
#5 Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Many expected Tom Brady to have a positive impact down in Tampa, but few expected he'd steer the Buccs all the way to the Super Bowl final on home turf against the Chiefs -- perhaps we should have, though because that's exactly what he's done!
The man they call 'the GOAT' finished the regular season with 40 touchdown passes and an incredible 4,633-yards. Stats like these ensured the Buccaneers finished second in the NFC South (Saints 1st) and hauled themselves into the playoffs via the Wildcard round. Since then, Brady and co. have defeated Washington, New Orleans, and Green Bay to set up a titanic contest against the Kansas City Chiefs back home at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium at this season's curtain call, the Super Bowl on Feb 7, 2021.
You cannot underestimate Brady's influence in all this -- if he can win his seventh Super Bowl during his first year at only his second team, the 'GOAT argument' is over.
#4 Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans)
The Texans had a season to forget: a 4-12 record in the AFC South after coming so close to the conference championship in 2019-20 has to be considered a huge disappointment.
One man who can not be blamed for the team's failings is QB, Deshaun Watson. The Clemson university product maintained a high level of performance throughout. Even with a suspect offensive line and without his favored receiver, DeAndre Hopkins (traded to Cardinals). Watson led the NFL in passing yards, chalking up an impressive 4,823 yards on the year.
Besides his unquestionable ability to launch the pigskin downfield, Watson is just an incredible talent to witness behind the line. His footwork is excellent, he evades the pass rush unlike anyone else and is capable of big yards on the ground, too.
The Texans may have bombed in 2020 but DeShaun Watson is hot property. If he gets his wish granted and can jump ship to a franchise on the up, the sky is the limit in 2021-22 for this young QB.
#3 Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
The Chiefs may have disposed of the Bills in last week's AFC Conference championship game, but don't let that detract from the fact that Buffalo QB, Josh Allen had a career year in 2020-21.
The big man threw for 4,522-yards this past season (5th in NFL) and can be equally dangerous when running the dingus, too (421-yards; 8 touchdowns).
Such has been Allen's meteoric rise this year that he has to be considered a lead contender for the Most Improved Player award to be handed out at the NFL's 10th annual award ceremony on Feb 6.
#2 Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
Despite losing in last week's NFC Conference Championship game, Green Bay QB, Aaron Rodgers enjoyed one of his best-ever years with the Packers this season.
The famed 'number 12' chalked up 4,299-yards (7th NFL) and had the best pass accuracy among all QBs in the league (70.7%).
In the divisional round against the NFL's best defense, the LA Rams, Rodgers, and co. managed to score on their first 5 drives downfield for Green Bay, proving that when in sync, the Packers offense, led by Rodgers and star-wideout, Davante Adams is almost unstoppable.
It's just a shame for Packers' fans that their offense couldn't get it going early enough last week vs the Buccaneers.
#1 Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)
Few outside of Wisconsin will be surprised to see Kansas City Chiefs QB, Patrick Mahomes atop this year's list.
After finishing up the regular season with 4,740-yards to his name (2nd in NFL) and a YPG average of 316.0 (1st in NFL), the Chiefs' star man then returned from a concussion injury sustained against the Cleveland Browns to lead his side to victory in last week's AFC Conference finals against the Buffalo Bills -- heroic stuff!
In the 30-years that I've been watching the NFL, there hasn't been another player like Mahomes: his footwork is incredible; his accuracy with the pass on both short and downfield plays is unquestionable, and he takes better care of the football than any other QB in the history of the league, rarely throwing interceptions (and even when he does, they are usually tipped off the hands of receivers).
Mahomes is - put simply - the best QB in the league right now and developing into a real leader, too: Kansas players respond well to him; he seemingly manages to get an extra gear out of every player in the locker room, so it's hard to bet against last season's Super Bowl MVP getting his hands back on the esteemed Lombardi trophy at the Raymond James Stadium versus Tampa on Feb 7.
...That is unless that man mentioned earlier at number 5 has anything to say about it...
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