But I'll insert the relevant update here:
First off, there's one playoff team not represented on this list: Pittsburgh Steelers. They made the playoffs without having a top-24 qb. Impressive in its own fucked up way.
So you can look at this when analyzing the upcoming playoffs. Like, we really shouldn't be taking the Browns, Bucs or Packers seriously as contenders. And that's coming from someone who thinks the Browns could beat the Ravens. Let me come back to this a moment....
But we can also look at this in terms of how does your team do if you have a top 10 qb. 8 of 10 made the playoffs. Burrow got injured, so we can put an asterisk on the Bengals. The other real exception is the Chargers. I mean Herbert also got injured, but they weren't on track to make the playoffs anyways. But it was a poorly-run roster and a poorly-coached team. The Chargers GM and Head Coach got fired. So that's what happens if you miss the playoffs with a top-ten QB. It shouldn't happen.
The 9 best QBs that were healthy all made the playoffs. The reason I focus on QBs so much is because it's that simple. If you have a QB in the top four tiers and they didn't get injured, you're in the playoffs. It's that easy.
And the Browns are trotting out a QB in the bottom of tier 7.
Really, the dividing line for Super Bowl contenders should be top three tiers.
49ers, Eagles in the NFC. Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Dolphins in the AFC.
Just another reason to put your faith in the 49ers this year.
