RANKING THE 25 BACKUPS WHO'VE THROWN PASSES IN 2015

(Sorry, Ryan Mallett: If you miss the plane, you're off the list)

1 MATT HASSELBECK

COLTS

Salvaged a seemingly lost season. His 4--0 record and 64.7 completion percentage have Indy atop AFC South.

2 BROCK OSWEILER

BRONCOS

Two starts, two wins, including OT thriller over Pats. But 11 sacks in nine quarters show a lack of pocket presence.

3 RYAN FITZPATRICK

JETS

Jumped to QB1 because of a sucker punch. By no means a Pro Bowler, he still has 20 TDs and has N.Y. in playoff hunt.

4 JOHNNY MANZIEL

BROWNS

He's been electrifying at times but lacks support of his coaches. Needs to be consistent, keep out of trouble.

5 LUKE MCCOWN

SAINTS

Completed 81.6% of passes in only start, a close loss to now 11--0 Panthers. Jumps several spots for his Verizon ad.

6 T.J. YATES

TEXANS

Try to ignore the 46.7 completion percentage. Played in two games this season, and Houston won both.

7 KELLEN CLEMENS

RAMS

Six attempts, five completions, including 19-yard TD to Keenan Allen—highest TD percentage in NFL.

8 MATT MOORE

DOLPHINS

Tied for NFL's highest completion percentage—meaning, he hit on his only throw, for 14 yards. Can't knock it.

9 CHASE DANIEL

CHIEFS

Perfect (2 for 2), like Moore, but for only four total yards. Alex Smith has quieted any calls for Daniel's promotion.

10 AJ MCCARRON

BENGALS

Last member of the perfect completion percentage club. First (and only) NFL pass: three-yard completion Sunday.

11 SEAN MANNION

RAMS

Third-round pick went 6 of 7 for 31 yards in mop-up debut Sunday. Could get more looks soon as Rams' season dies.

12 BLAINE GABBERT

49ERS

QB rating of 91.0 in best three-game stretch of career. Alas, 49ers are 1--2 since he took over for Colin Kaepernick.

13 MIKE VICK

STEELERS

This isn't the Michael Vick Experience of old, but his two wins in three relief starts kept the Steelers in the playoff hunt.

14 LANDRY JONES

STEELERS

Led upset win over Cardinals—then, Sunday, became first QB since '03 to throw multiple INTs in four or fewer attempts.

15 EJ MANUEL

BILLS

So-so in two starts (vs. Bengals, Jags): three TDs, three INTs. But those losses dinged the Bills' playoff hopes.

16 CASE KEENUM

RAMS

Played through a Week 11 concussion, then lost a costly fumble. Little value in playing through pain these days.

17 DAN ORLOVSKY

LIONS

Absolutely meh in two relief outings. But, really, we still remember when he ran out of the back of the end zone in '08.

18 MATT MCGLOIN

RAIDERS

Only PT came against the Bengals' No. 1 defense: 74.2% completions, but only 142 yards in a blowout loss.

19 SHAUN HILL

VIKINGS

If not for Adrian Peterson, he'd have squandered a lead after being handed the reins late against the Rams.

20 MARK SANCHEZ

EAGLES

Same old problem: 4.4% INT rate is highest for any QB not named Peyton or Romo (minimum 56 attempts).

21 ZACH METTENBERGER

TITANS

Two starts, zero wins, 14.8 rating, nine sacks. No quarterback has this many passes (74) without a single 25-yard completion.

22 DREW STANTON

CARDINALS

Mopped up in a blowout win over the Lions and went 1 of 4—worst completion percentage in the league.

23 MATT CASSEL

COWBOYS

For the cost of a fifth-round pick (Bills), Dallas bought itself a guy who can't, for the life of him, find All-Pro WR Dez Bryant.

24 JIMMY CLAUSEN

BEARS, RAVENS

With just six first downs on 184 passing yards in seven quarters of relief, he had Bears crying for Cutler's return.

25 BRANDON WEEDEN

COWBOYS, TEXANS

More telling than the fact he couldn't win in three starts with loaded offense: He was benched for Matt Cassel.

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COURTESY OF VERIZON (MCCOWN)

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REINHOLD MATAY/USA TODAY SPORTS (MCCARRON)

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KEVIN HOFFMAN/USA TODAY SPORTS (MANUEL)