The NFL has had a multitude of exceptional quarterbacks this season. Each of them has specific skill sets that make each player different from the other. However, there have been some quarterbacks who have performed much better than others. In fact, the drop off from MVP candidate Tom Brady to another quarterback such as rookie Jared Goff is tremendous. Here are the top 10 quarterbacks of the 2016 NFL regular season.

10. Kirk Cousins – Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins had a career year for the inconsistent Washington Redskins this season. He had 4,917 yards, 25 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 67%. With weapons all over his offense, Cousins was able to put up some gaudy stats, but his ranking is so low due to his lack of winning meaningful games. They only beat two playoff teams this season despite going 8-8, and lost a game to the Giants who had no reason to play hard to have a spot in the postseason. If Cousins had put up these numbers in meaningful games against tougher competition, his ranking would be much higher.

9. Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts

Luck was quietly one of the best quarterbacks in the league this year. His state line this year  was 4,240 yards, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 63.5%. His play elevated T.Y. Hilton to become the league leader in reception yards. Like Cousins, Luck’s rank took a hit as his team only beat one playoff team and went 8-8. Luck’s offense is not as good as Cousin’s, yet he put up stats that are comparable despite missing a game this season.

8. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints                                                                                                                                                                            

The leader in passing yards this season was Drew Brees, who had 5208 yards, 37 touchdowns,, 15 interceptions, and a 70 percent completion rate. These numbers are extremely strong, but they should be taken with a grain of salt. Bress had at least 60 or more completions than the other quarterbacks on this list. He also has a great supporting cast in his receivers. Brees has very high stats due to his extremely pass happy offensive scheme and only going 7-9. Despite being 39 years old and not the same MVP candidate that he once was, Brees is still a great quarterback in the NFL

7. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers

Roethlisberger is the quarterback of one of the most explosive offenses in the league with arguably the best receiver and running back in the league. He had a strong season as he had 3,819 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 64.4 completion percentage. This is all despite having missed two games. When Roethlisberger played, it was with consistency as the team hasn’t lost a game since November 20th. Roethlisberger would have put up better stats had he not been injured for some games during the middle of the season. Big Ben can match up against any quarterback in the league at this stage in his career.

6. Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys

The last time the NFL saw a prolific rookie quarterback own the league was when Ben Roethlisberger started his career in 2004. The Cowboys were arguably the best team in football this season, and that was due to the play of Prescott. His stats were 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 67.8 completion percentage. This was in a run heavy offense scheme, but when the Cowboys needed Dak to move the ball, he was very effective.

5. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers

Rodgers, a two time MVP, had a mediocre first half of the season, but his second half was scorching. He ended the season with 4,428 yards, a league best 40 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 65.7 completion percentage. At one point the Packers had a record of 4-6, and Rodgers is coming off a down year where he was missing Jordy Nelson. Rodgers is ranked this low due to the fact that his supporting cast makes him better than he is and the season is 16 games long, not eight.

4. Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders

Carr was arguably the best quarterback this season. He took a Raiders team that hadn’t made the playoffs in many years and made them a Super Bowl contender. Carr had 3,937 yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 63.8 completion percentage. He also hurt his finger on his throwing hand in the latter half of the season. He was having a great season until he broke his leg in Week 15, which put a close to his season and the Raiders Super Bowl aspirations. Carr is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, and will be even better next season.

3. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

Stafford was supposed to have a bad year after losing all time great wide receiver Calvin Johnson to retirement. Stafford ignored his haters and put together an outstanding season. He had 4,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and a 65.3 completion percentage. Like Carr, Stafford had a finger injury on his throwing hand that he played through, and still put up great stats. Stafford was the most feared player in the fourth quarter as he had the most come from behind wins in the league this season with eight wins. Stafford was a clutch player this season and quieted many journalists who listed him as overrated.

2. Tom Brady – New England Patriots

Despite being suspended four games due to the Deflategate scandal, Tom Brady finished the season with stats among his peers and with a chip on his shoulder. He had in 12 games 3,554 yards, 28 touchdowns, just two interceptions, and a 67.4 completion percentage. With his stats adjusted to see what he could have gotten in 16 games based on his season averages, he could have ended with 4,739 yards and 37 touchdowns. Eric Miller, a Junior, commented, “Brady is a great quarterback, and it’s amazing how he keeps on getting better and better as he gets older. His stats could have been better if he played a full season, but he was arguably the best per game quarterback this year.” Brady truly embraces the role as the villain and plays exceptional, turnover free football for the Patriots every single game.

1. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is a great quarterback who has the luxury of playing with a 6’3, 220 pound beast that can run a 40 yard dash in a measly 4.39 seconds named Julio Jones. However, Julio was out for a lot of the year, and Ryan still put up insane stats despite his number one receiver during some games being Taylor Gabriel, who is 5’8. Ryan had 4,944 yards, 38 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 69% completion rate. With a two-headed monster running attack featuring Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Ryan wasn’t leaned on as much as he was in recent years, but he still put up great passing stats. Ryan was the best quarterback this season, and his stats and team success show it.