The difference, though, has to do with the amount of big-money players on the mend. That list includes Peyton Manning, Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, Jay Cutler, Matt Cassel and Kevin Kolb. Manning is presumed to be out for the season, while Schaub and Cassel have been placed on injured reserve.
Plus, Sam Bradford missed time this season with an injury, while Jason Campbell and Chad Henne had their years derailed with their own ailments. Manning's fill-in starter, Kerry Collins, only lasted three games, and Schaub's replacement, Matt Leinart, didn't survive a half. Tarvaris Jackson also went down in Seattle, for whatever that's worth.
There's also been the benchings. Donovan McNabb, Kyle Orton, Kyle Boller and Luke McCown have all lost their jobs for various reasons, most of which involve subpar play. And Rex Grossman briefly lost his starting job in Washington before John Beck failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Then there's Curtis Painter — the replacement for Manning's replacement — who was benched Tuesday in favor of Dan Orlovsky.
As a result, there are only 18 quarterbacks who have started all 11 of their team's games to this point in the season. If history is any indication, that number will continue to dwindle over the next five weeks, as injuries undoubtedly mount and playoff races shake up depth charts. Of those 18 quarterbacks, Matt Hasselbeck figures to be the most likely candidate to give way when the Titans opt in favor of first-round pick Jake Locker.
Since the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002, the most quarterbacks to start all 16 games were 16 (in 2006 and 2008). The lowest was 11 in 2007. The average amount of quarterbacks to start all 16 games in that span is about 14.
It might be the era of the quarterback, but success is often restricted to health. This season has been an example of that.
