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Former NFL MVP QB Matt Ryan talks position evolution in light of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson playoff fight



The NFL’s divisional round of this year’s postseason highlights something of a changing of the guard at the quarterback position, at least stylistically.

From the inception of the National Football League in 1920 until 2010, there were only two seasons in league history with quarterbacks throwing for more than 3,500 passing yards and rushing for more than 500 yards: the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles Randall Cunningham in 1988 and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. in 2002.

Today, there are 21 instances of quarterbacks reaching both benchmarks in a single season. Twelve of those seasons have come since 2020 and four of those campaigns have come this season. The players who will do so in the current season are 2024 first-team Baltimore Ravens All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson, 2024 second-team Buffalo Bills All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen, 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Arizona. Cardinals Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray.

“It’s a prerequisite right now to be able to run, and that wasn’t the case when I first came into the league, right?” CBS Sports NFL analyst Matt Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowl QB with the Atlanta Falcons, said by phone Wednesday. “There were guys who could do it, but the league was really based on throwing out of the pocket. That’s always going to be part of it, but the ability of these guys to run, throw on the run, extend plays, make plays off the schedule. .. that’s really becoming what’s needed from the quarterback position in the league now, and that evolution has happened quickly, right? There’s always been guys that could do it, but the depth and the number of guys? that they could do it, I can do it now is, it’s more than “The position is changing and it’s fun to watch.”

Jackson, Allen and Daniels are still alive in the playoffs, as is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has two seasons with those metrics in 2022 and 2023. That’s half the eight-team field, but Ryan He feels like they are only two of those in the NFL. The remaining starting quarterbacks in the current postseason field play almost exclusively from the pocket as they did in their 15-season career from 2008 to 2022: Los Angeles. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

“If you look at the playoffs, I would say maybe the only player left who is in that old mold of pocket passers: Matthew Stafford, and yes, probably [Jared Goff] there too,” Ryan said. “I’d say those two guys are probably the only ones left.” [in the playoffs] in what [pocket passer] mold, and I think that’s telling because I think it’s very different even from 2016 or 2008, like when I came into the league. I think that part is very different, so the position is evolving. “It’s fun to watch and these guys are incredibly talented.”

Matt Ryan’s Game of the Week: Jackson vs. Allen

While Ryan enjoys all the NFL action, the game he’s most excited about this weekend is Jackson’s third-seeded Ravens visiting Allen’s second-seeded Bills. It makes sense considering their matchup on Sunday will likely end up being only the second playoff matchup between the top two finishers in NFL MVP voting before the Super Bowl since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, according to CBS Sports Research. The first such matchup was the 2013 AFC title game, in which eventual MVP winner Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos beat runner-up Tom Brady’s New England Patriots 26-16.

“I think when the seeding started to falter, maybe three or four weeks ago, and the picture became clearer of what the AFC was going to be like, like this was a collision course, at least that’s what it seemed like, and now I got it. He’s the best, right? Ryan said. “Quarterbacks drive the narrative in our league, and these are the two that had the best seasons this year, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Sunday night also features the first playoff game between two starting quarterbacks who had at least 40 total touchdowns and fewer than 10 turnovers in the regular season with Jackson (45 total touchdowns, nine turnovers) facing Allen (40 total touchdowns, eight turnovers).

WL record

12-5

13-4

total TDs

45

40

Total Yards

5,087

4,269

turnovers

9

8

*First playoff matchup between QBs with 40+ total TDs and less than 10 TOs

The numbers of these two quarterbacks don’t do their seasons justice because watching them play is a combination of pure athleticism mixed with precision passing. Allen has taken the next step in his progression due to his ability to erase his turnover problem. He led the entire NFL in turnovers (102) in his first six seasons from 2018 to 2023, but in 2024 he only had eight. Why the decline? Allen was more decisive than ever: his average time from snap to pass release (2.93 seconds) was the fastest of his career. That was a big reason why Allen had the lowest percentage of plays (4.17%) with a sack, fumble or interception by any quarterback in a single season since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, minimum 500 plays, according to CBS Sports Research. However, he can still be effective when holding the ball as he was on his 24-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to running back Ty Johnson in Buffalo’s 31-7 first-round win against the Denver Broncos.

“You start with Josh. I think the big play has always been there from the beginning with him,” Ryan said. “The ability to expand [the play]arm strength. That’s what jumps off the charts when you look at it. Just the kind of power he can throw the ball with, the ability to access all parts of the field with his arm strength, but also the ability to extend plays, create, all of that. What has taken it to the next level for him is the ability to do all of that and protect the football, which is a rare combination. “He’s been incredible in terms of decision-making.”

As for Jackson, no other quarterback in the league can combine precision and dynamic passing ability with the electricity his speed brings in the running game.

“Lamar, it’s speed. That’s the only thing in the open field that is absolutely decisive in the game,” Ryan said.

Jackson’s speed, or threat of it, drew three or four defenders toward him on running back Derrick Henry’s read option, 44-yard touchdown run, which is a key component of what makes Baltimore’s offense be so hard to stop. That same speed also makes him, one could argue, in some ways, Baltimore’s best run blocker.

“You could see it all over Pittsburgh’s tape last week in the run game, whether it was him running the ball or the threat of him running the ball,” Ryan said. “He was drawing three or four defenders even when he didn’t have the ball and opening up space for other guys. That’s his way of making the guys around him that much better.”

Jackson was also the most efficient passer in the NFL, leading the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio (41-4), passing yards per attempt (8.8), passer rating (119.6, fourth highest in a season in history of the NFL) and expectations. points added (EPA) for dropback (0.31). His improvisational skills as a passer were on full display on his 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely in the Ravens’ 41-38 overtime victory in Week 5.

“I think his year throwing the ball is really incredible,” Ryan said. “The efficiency with which he threw the ball, the explosiveness and the big plays that came from that. A lot of that happens from the pocket, but also at any given moment, you don’t know what snap he’s going to make.” being able to stretch out to play. “I think back, I think it was in Cincinnati where he stiff-armed a guy twice and went out of bounds, and [he] He throws it and Likely catches the touchdown. “That was one of the most notable plays I saw all year.”

Prepare your popcorn for Sunday night.





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