1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)

Starting QB: Peyton Manning (98.0 rating in 2007, 94.7 lifetime)

Backup QB: Jim Sorgi

Why: Many may think that the Patriots should be here after Brady’s record breaking season, but I think otherwise. Peyton Manning has been solid his entire career. Out of his 11 years of being pro, 7 of those 11 have been seasons with ratings above 90.0, and 3 of those 7 have been over 100.0. Even despite losing his right hand man Marvin Harrison for almost all of 2007, he was able to throw 31 touchdowns, the same amount that he threw in 2006. Even though if Brady threw 50 TDs for one season, it’s all about consistency. In the (short) time that Jim Sorgi has played, he has proven solid with 6 TDs and 1 pick in 3 years of being pro.

2. New England Patriots (16-0)*

Starting QB: Tom Brady (117.2 rating in 2007, 92.9 lifetime)

Backup QB: Matt Cassel

Why: Now many may think that the Patriots deserve this top spot, but I really don’t think so. Despite Tom Brady’s record setting season, he lacks the career consistency that Peyton Manning so expertly possesses. Out of the 9 years he has been pro, only 3 years have been above 90.0, and only one over 100 compared to Peyton’s 3. Tom Brady is still an elite QB, but he just doesn’t have the type of skill to compare to Peyton Manning career-wise. Matt Cassel has just been average in the 39 passes he’s thrown in his career, completing 22 for 2 TDs and 2 picks. Of the two backups to the two most elite QBs in the league today, I think Jim Sorgi is the better of the two.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)

Starting QB: Carson Palmer (86.7 rating in 2007, 90.1 lifetime)

Backup QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Why: Despite a mediocre year in 2007, Carson Palmer remains the 3^rd best QB in the league. At the age of 28, he still has many years left in his prime. On the other hand, Carson Palmer has been the only #1 chosen QB this decade that has lived to expectations. Helped with some excellent targets in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, he produces every year. He has been consistent throughout his career, with his best year coming in 2005: 32 TDs, 12 interceptions, and a 101.1 rating. With their second round pick Jerome Simpson, expect a great year out of Palmer in 2008.

4. Dallas Cowboys (13-3)

Starting QB: Tony Romo (97.4 rating in 2007, 96.5 lifetime)

Backup QB: Brad Johnson

Why: Tony Romo was spectacular last year, breaking almost all Cowboys franchise records in just his second year of starting. Despite losing Terry Glenn for the entire year, Patrick Crayton and Jason Witten stepped up to fill the gaps. T.O. produced like he does every year, and this time without any distractions. However, just like in 2006, Romo couldn’t do it in the playoffs. All was going well in the Divisional Playoff game; the Cowboys were around the 20 yard line. Romo bullets the pass into the end zone to Jason Witten, only to be intercepted by Corey Webster, ending the game and their season. With Terry Glenn back in 2008, the Cowboys’ passing game can only get better, and hopefully this time around he’ll learn to focus during the playoffs. Brad Johnson is a seasoned veteran who has started in the past; he can step up and play if Romo ever falls.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

Starting QB: Ben Roethlisberger (104.1 rating in 2007, 92.5 lifetime)

Backup QB: Charlie Batch

Why: Roethlisberger’s excellent performance in 2007 was greatly overshadowed by many factors, most of it the Patriots’ record-breaking season. After a disappointing season in 2006, he bounced back to throw 32 TDs and 11 interceptions. He had a lot of consistent targets, from Hines Ward to Nate Washington. He surprised most people, especially since his targets were nothing spectacular. Nonetheless, we should expect a good year out of Big Ben in 2008.

6. New Orleans Saints (7-9)

Starting QB: Drew Brees (89.4 rating in 2007, 87.9 lifetime)

Backup QB: Mark Brunell

Why: 2007 wasn’t too disappointing of a year for Drew Brees, but it was for the Saints. He threw for 28 TDs and 18 interceptions, which is great, but the team around him couldn’t produce at the level Brees was. The defense couldn’t stop any team, which resulted in many attempts at acquiring players through Free Agency. Either way, with an explosive offense with a sick RB duo (when healthy) and the athletic beast Marques Colston, expect an excellent year from Brees, like always. He has remained consistent throughout his career, even if his team as a whole has not.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)

Starting QB: David Garrard (102.2 rating in 2007, 87.7 lifetime)

Backup QB: Cleo Lemon

Why: Even without the best receivers, David Garrard did excellently. He just didn’t throw the ball to the other team. Even if he threw only 18 TDs, his lone 3 INTs overshadowed that. Having an excellent QB at the helm of a run-heavy team puts a great backup plan if MJD and Taylor can’t get it done. The Jaguars made a lot of attempts to get WRs from Free Agency, and got a couple of decent WRs. The only problem is, #1 receiver Matt Jones recently got arrested for possession, and we don’t know what will happen of him come the news to the Commish. How this will affect Garrard’s play, we do not know. To me, I think Garrard will play just like he did. The Jags had a pretty tough schedule in 2007, so with an easier one in 2008 they can only get better.

8. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)

Starting QB: Matt Hasselbeck (91.4 rating in 2007, 86.2 lifetime)

Backup QB: Seneca Wallace

Why: With an anemic running game in 2007, Mike Holmgren just gave up and handed the reins to Matt Hasselbeck. Most expected the worst, but instead Hasselbeck hit a career high in almost every statistic, throwing 28 TDs and only 12 INTs. He also threw 3,966 yards, a career high. You may think, “Where did baldy throw all those passes to, they have no targets.” What people are forgetting, is that small time receiver Nate Burleson caught 9 TDs. Also, 35 year-old Bobby Engram caught 96 passes (a career high), a super consistent target that helped Hasselbeck when no one else could catch the ball. Nonetheless, expect a good year out of him, especially with Deion Branch returning, since he wasn’t there for a long time in 2007.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)

Starting QB: Donovan McNabb (89.8 rating in 2007, 85.8 lifetime)

Backup QB: Kevin Kolb

Why: Despite McNabb being injured for a lot of 2007, he produced in the time he was there. Despite not having a lot of quality receivers, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown were able to handle the load. Curtis has blazing speed, and even if half of his 7 TDs came from one game, he still caught 77 passes for 1,110 yards. Many rumors surrounded McNabb leaving Philly for places like Chicago, but none actually came through. If McNabb can stay healthy in 2008, then expect the Eagles to finish above .500.

10. Denver Broncos (7-9)

Starting QB: Jay Cutler (88.1 rating in 2007, 88.2 lifetime)

Backup QB: Patrick Ramsey

Why: I had a heavy debate whether to put the Chargers or Broncos here, but in the end I chose the Broncos. Even if the overall team success of the Broncos does not match the Chargers’, Cutler’s statistics are better compared to Rivers’. In 2007, Rivers’ rating was 82.4, while Cutler’s was 88.1. Also, Rivers’ lifetime is 85.2, while Cutler’s is 88.2 after 2 years. Cutler doesn’t have the targets that Rivers has, depending on mainly Brandon Marshall (102 rec, 7 TDs) and Tony Scheffler (49 rec, 5 TDs). Even in the face of being diagnosed with diabetes, expect a 90+ year out of Jay Cutler in 2008.