Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, so it’s no surprise that of the four teams remaining in the playoffs in 2020, not one has a lack of signal caller. The Chiefs have the reigning Super Bowl MVP in Patrick Mahomes. The Bills have a current MVP candidate in Josh Allen. The Packers have the current MVP favorite in Aaron Rodgers. And the Buccaneers have the most successful Super Bowl QB in NFL history in Tom Brady.
But injuries could turn a QB situation into a heartbeat, as only this post-season shows many times: Alex Smith’s absence from the Washington wildcard game paved the way for an emergency by Taylor Heinicke, the hard landing of Lamar Jackson against the Bills Ravens ‘return changed in the division round, and Mahomes’ early retirement against the Browns forced Kansas City to win without its best superstar.
With that in mind, here is an overview of each backup QB that will fit on the sidelines of the conference championship. If they are forced to serve, we can follow their ability to step in and help their team to the Super Bowl:
1. Chad Henne (Chiefs)
Age: 35
College: Michigan
NFL experience: 13th season
Career start: 54
Hens are easily the most experienced of the number 2 QBs still alive, and he is also the most reliable. He has not started a meaningful game since 2014, when he opened the year as the Jaguars’ QB, but he has now spent three full years under Andy Reid’s supervision and filled in for Mahomes on four occasions. Originally a second round by the Dolphins in 2008, and Henne has never been a particularly “safe” QB as a full-time player and has thrown at least ten interceptions in each season as an appetizer, but he knows how to be conservative playing at this stage of his career. Within the confines of Reid’s charged offense, his experience enables him to drive a game. He also showed a struggle after replacing Mahomes against Cleveland, especially with potential contact en route to a late first.
2. Matt Barkley (Bills)
Age: 30
College: USC
NFL experience: 8th season
Career start: 7
What Barkley does not have in the starting experience, he compensates with the recent action for the Bills, which has appeared in relief in Josh Allen’s eight games since the end of 2018 – and five games this year alone. Stylistically, he is very different from Allen, and prefers a more traditional pocket fit. He is also not particularly accurate and places a career percentage of less than 59 years. And yet, his time in the Bills system, coupled with some promising pieces of start-up experience, makes him relatively reliable. Originally a second round by the Eagles in 2013, Barkley’s best performances took place in 2016, as a scrappy starter for the Bears; and 2018, when he replaced Nathan Peterman and an injured Allen to lead Buffalo to a 41-10 victory and end a four-game losing streak.
Blaine Gabbert (Buccaneers)
Age: 31
College: Missouri
NFL experience: 10th season
Career start: 48
Technically, he is very experienced as Barkley when it comes to starting career. But its production is also mediocre at every turn. Less accurate than both Barkley and Henne over the course of his NFL term, the former 10th overall pick of the Jaguars in 2015 flashed along with the 49ers as a replacement for Colin Kaepernick, who threw 10 touchdowns and started in eight 185 -chase. But he was otherwise hit or missed. He just looked good with the score as the savior of Tom Brady in 2020, but given anything that is close to full action, he will have a serious turnover risk, with 47 interceptions and 33 gimmicks in 60 career games.
4. Tim Boyle (packers)
Age: 26
College: Eastern Kentucky
NFL experience: 3rd season
Career start: 0
The good thing for Boyle is that no one has a movie on him. The man has appeared in just three career games and has given just four careers, mostly at the end of Rodgers’ victories as the kneeling specialist. But let’s not spoil ourselves here: If A-Rod were to go down, Green Bay would be in trouble. A UConn transfer that has struggled heavily at the university and thrown 12 touchdowns after 26 distinctions, Boyle can at least say he has looked at Rodgers for three years. The real X-factor with the Packers’ backing spot, of course, probably lies behind him on the depth map, where the big-arm first-round rookie Jordan Love the no. 3 bly.
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