The NFC Divisional Playoffs will occur on January 14 and 15 and knowing which 2017 NFC playoff quarterbacks have an edge is important to sports bettors. In the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons will host the Seattle Seahawks on the 14th at 4:35 p.m. ET. The second game, which will be played on Sunday, January 15, will feature the Green Bay Packers at the Dallas Cowboys. That game will kick off at 4:40 p.m. ET.
Our criteria for evaluating quarterbacks includes:
- Pass Completion Percentage
- Touchdown to Interception Ratio
- Rushing
- Sack and Fumble Totals
- Clutch Play and Leadership
- Health & Experience
- Rating
Each category is worth 10 points and final grades are based on the sum of those points divided by the number of categories.
Russell Wilson vs. Matt Ryan
Russell Wilson
Pass Completion Percentage: 6- Touchdown to Interception Ratio: 5
- Rushing: 6
- Sack and Fumble Totals: 5
- Clutch Play and Leadership: 7
- Health & Experience: 8
- Rating: 7
Pass Completion Percentage: 6Total: = 44/7 = 6.3
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan- Pass Completion Percentage: 9
- Touchdown to Interception Ratio: 8
- Rushing: 5
- Sack and Fumble Totals: 6
- Clutch Play and Leadership: 9
- Health & Experience: 9
- Rating: 9
Total = 56/7 = 8.0
Matt Ryan receives an 8.0 while Russell Wilson earns a 6.3. From pass completion percentage, 69.6 (Ryan) to 64.7 (Wilson) to TD/interception ratio, 5.4/1 (Ryan) to 1.9/1 (Wilson), Atlanta’s Matt Ryan is outperforming Russell Wilson. Wilson has more big game experience, but Ryan has shown himself to be a consummate leader this season.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Dak Prescott
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers- Pass Completion Percentage: 7
- Touchdown to Interception Ratio: 8
- Rushing; 5
- Sack and Fumble Totals: 7
- Clutch Play and Leadership: 9
- Health & Experience: 8
- Rating: 8
Total = 52/7 = 7.4
Dak Prescott
- Pass Completion Percentage: 8
- Touchdown to Interception Ratio: 8
- Rushing: 7
- Sack and Fumble Totals: 8
- Clutch Play and Leadership: 8
- Health & Experience: 7
- Rating: 8
Total = 54/7 = 7.7
Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott are fairly evenly matched. The difference between the two, with Rodgers at 7.4 and Prescott at 7.7, is negligible. There’s one area where we think that Rodgers has the upper hand and that’s in experience. Rodgers is in his 12th NFL season. He’s been here before and he knows firsthand what it takes to win.
Final Word: 2017 NFC Playoff Quarterbacks
Our take on the 2017 NFC playoff quarterbacks is that the Falcons with Matt Ryan have a large advantage over Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. This certainly bodes well for the Falcons. Rodgers comes to Dallas with a whole lot of experience that could serve the Packers nicely. For information on the AFC, see our article on the AFC quarterbacks who will be playing in the divisional round.
