NFL First Quarter Grades For Top 15 QBs In 2014

Record: 3-1. 6 TDs and 4 INTs. 1,173 passing yards. Rating: 81.7. QBR: 62.3. In his third season in the NFL, Foles and the Eagles offense have averaged 30.5 PPG in year two of head coach Chip Kelly’s offense. Foles’ rating and QBR may not make you want to jump up and down, but he has command of this Eagles offense and there is a feeling they can win with him under center.

Record: 2-2. 6 TDs and 4 INTs. 912 passing yards. Rating: 91.2. QBR: 58.2. The 49ers have been missing players due to injuries and suspensions, yet somehow they are still 2-2. Kap still needs to improve as a pocket passer (and make better decisions with the football at times), but his combination of athleticism, speed and strength is rarely seen at the QB position.

Record: 3-1. 7 TDs and 4 INTs. 936 passing yards. Rating: 98.7. QBR: 80.8. This is the best start by the Cowboys under head coach Jason Garrett, and they are tied for the lead in the NFC East with the Eagles. More importantly Romo hasn’t thrown a soul-crushing fourth-quarter interception yet. He can only be ranked No. 13 because the Boys’ wins have come against the Titans, Rams and a home win against the Saints who are awful on the road.

Record: 3-0 (bye in Week 4). 2 TDs and 1 INT. 722 passing yards. Rating: 95.4. QBR: 56.6. Dalton signed a huge contract extension this offseason (which does protect the Bengals should they choose to move on for whatever reason), and he’s playing like he wants to earn that money. While he hasn’t lit up the end zone, he’s protected the football and he (and the Bengals' defense too) has the team atop the AFC North.

Record: 2-2. 4 TDs and 2 INTs. 791 passing yards. Rating: 79.1. QBR: 46.5. Brady is having a tough season, especially by his standards, and it didn’t get any better Monday night against the Chiefs. Even though Brady is not playing well, it is not all his fault. The offensive line is not protecting him, and other than Julian Edelman no WRs are getting separation. Look for Brady to improve; he’s too good not to.

Record: 3-1. 7 TDs and 2 INTs. 1,055 passing yards. Rating: 93.4. QBR: 76.2. The Ravens sit at second in the AFC North, and they already have two division wins and a quality win over the Panthers where they put up 38 against a really good defense. In that game Flacco threw for 327 yards and three TDs, but he also threw an interception in two of the division games.

Record: 2-2. 6 TDs and 2 INTs. 1,092 yards. Rating: 99.4. QBR: 63.4. Big Ben has his team at 2-2 with a division win and a quality win over the Panthers on the road. They lost a heart-breaker to the Bucs where he threw for 314 yards and 3 TDs. He’s had some help from this RBs, but the defense is not a typical Steelers defense this season. Big Ben is a big reason the Steelers sit at 2-2 (could easily be 3-1), with a good shot at a division title.

Record: 2-2. 10 TDs and 4 INTs. 1,006 passing yards. Rating: 94.7. QBR: 66.0. Cutler didn’t have a great game against the Packers, but no one on the Bears really did. Cutler has already thrown 10 TDs this season, and although he had two INTs against Green Bay he’s largely protected the football. The NFC North is a winnable division, and Cutler slinging it to his vertically gifted receivers will help the Bears stay in that race until the end.

Record: 1-3. 7 TDs and 3 INTs. 1,203 passing yards. Rating: 99.5. QBR: 74.4. Normally Brees would be higher on any QB list, but with the Saints at 1-3, he can’t be any higher than No. 7. Brees is clearly a great QB, but the Saints have lost all three road games they have played this season. This is not all Brees’ fault since he’s already thrown for over 1,200 yards, and when the Saints start to improve their record, he’ll be a big part of it.

Record: 2-1 (Seahawks had a bye in Week 4). 651 passing yards. 6 TDs and 1 INT. Rating: 108.9. QBR: 54.2. Wilson makes very intelligent decisions and he takes care of the football. He rarely forces throws that aren’t there, and he’s thrown only one INT this season. Of course it helps when your defense is one of the best in the NFL, but Wilson is capable of throwing the football and beating you with his legs.

Record: 2-2. 10 TDs and 5 INTs. 1,263 passing yards. Rating: 100.3. QBR: 79.9. The Falcons are averaging over 32 PPG, even after putting up only 10 points in Week 2 against the Bengals, thanks in large part to Matty Ice. He does have some very talented receivers to throw the ball to, but not all QBs could utilize them like Ryan does. With Ryan at QB, the Falcons offense could be scary good as the season continues.

Record: 2-2. 13 TDs and 4 INTs. 1,305 passing yards. Rating: 108.0. QBR: 80.7. Luck and the Colts sit at 2-2, and they are one game behind the division leading Texans, even with the injuries they have experienced on defense. Peyton’s successor is a true competitor, and he knows how to win. He’s already amassed over 1,300 yards through the air this season. Look for Luck and the Colts to continue to put up points (averaging 34 PPG).

Record: 2-1 (had a bye in Week 4). 8 TDs and 1 INT. 814 passing yards. Rating: 108.5. QBR: 85.7. Manning led a great drive to tie the game against Seattle in Week 3, but he never got a chance in OT because Seattle scored a TD on their first possession. He has weapons around him that he's not letting go to waste, and he’s protecting the football. The Broncos are still one of the best teams in the AFC, and Manning is a big reason why.

Record: 2-2. 9 TDs and 1 INT. 999 passing yards. Rating: 109.1 QBR: 82.1. R-E-L-A-X is what Rodgers told Packers fans after a 1-2 start, and then the Packers throttled the Bears, their division rival, on the road. Rodgers put on a clinic, throwing for 302 yards and four TDs. Rodgers is one of the best QBs in football, and he’s improving each week. If Rodgers continues to do what he’s been doing, the Packers' offense will be just fine this season.

Record: 3-1. 9 TDs and 1 INT 1,155 passing yards. Rating: 114.5. QBR: 82.5. Rivers is playing superbly this season, and he has the Chargers sitting atop the AFC West. Rivers has led the Chargers to wins over the Seahawks and the previously unbeaten Bills (on the road). It’s too early to declare Rivers the 2014 MVP, but so far he’s making a great case.