The NFL has been making an effort in recent years to protect quarterbacks. They don’t want them hit high, they don’t want them hit low, and they don’t want to see helmet-to-helmet hits. They don’t want to see games with guys like Ryan Lindley, Drew Stanton and Scott Tolzien at quarterback.
Some complain that the game has been watered down (not me, I think the game is still plenty violent). But rules changes and emphasis by the officials have helped to keep quarterbacks on the field. In three of the last four years, a majority of teams went with one quarterbacking starting all of his teams games. That hadn’t happened in any of the previous 10 years.
| QBs starting all 16 games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | No | |
| 2002 | 15 | 47% |
| 2003 | 13 | 41% |
| 2004 | 12 | 38% |
| 2005 | 13 | 41% |
| 2006 | 16 | 50% |
| 2007 | 11 | 34% |
| 2008 | 16 | 50% |
| 2009 | 13 | 41% |
| 2010 | 11 | 34% |
| 2011 | 14 | 44% |
| 2012 | 20 | 63% |
| 2013 | 19 | 59% |
| 2014 | 16 | 50% |
| 2015 | 17 | 53% |
In the last four years, an average of 18 quarterbacks (out of 32) have started all 16 games. In the first 10 years of the 32-team era (2002-2011) the average was 13.4 quarterbacks per year.
So while violence and head-hunting is down, you are now more likely to at least see teams playing with their intended quarterback, and that’s a good thing.
For the above numbers, they don’t discriminate between injuries and benchings. For 2015, three teams switched quarterbacks not because of injuries but simply looking for better play – 49ers, Broncos and Rams. Houston also benched Brian Hoyer, but he later missed games with concussions anyway.
| STARTS BY OPENING DAY QUARTERBACKS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Player | G | Cause |
| Ariz. | Carson Palmer | 16 | |
| Atl. | Matt Ryan | 16 | |
| Balt. | Joe Flacco | 10 | knee |
| Buff. | Tyrod Taylor | 14 | knee |
| Car. | Cam Newton | 16 | |
| Chi. | Jay Cutler | 15 | hamstring |
| Cin. | Andy Dalton | 13 | thumb |
| Clev. | Josh McCown | 8 | 3 injuries |
| Dall. | Tony Romo | 4 | collarbone |
| Den. | Peyton Manning | 9 | benched |
| Det. | Matthew Stafford | 16 | |
| G.B. | Aaron Rodgers | 16 | |
| Hou. | Brian Hoyer | 10 | benched / conc |
| Ind. | Andrew Luck | 7 | shldr / kidney |
| Jac. | Blake Bortles | 16 | |
| K.C. | Alex Smith | 16 | |
| Mia. | Ryan Tannehill | 16 | |
| Minn. | Teddy Bridgewater | 16 | |
| N.E. | Tom Brady | 16 | |
| N.O. | Drew Brees | 15 | shoulder |
| NYG | Eli Manning | 16 | |
| NYJ | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 16 | |
| Oak. | Derek Carr | 16 | |
| Phil. | Sam Bradford | 14 | shldr / conc |
| Pitt. | Ben Roethlisberger | 11 | knee / foot |
| S.D. | Philip Rivers | 16 | |
| S.F. | Colin Kaepernick | 8 | benched |
| Sea. | Russell Wilson | 16 | |
| St.L. | Nick Foles | 11 | benched |
| T.B. | Jameis Winston | 16 | |
| Tenn. | Marcus Mariota | 12 | knee |
| Wash. | Kirk Cousins | 16 | |
—Ian Allan