Statistical breakdown of NFL's starting QBs

When Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston -- the top two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft -- squared off against each other in Week 1 -- a showdown that resulted in a 42-14 hammering of Winston's Bucs by Mariota's Titans -- it marked the eighth consecutive season that at least one rookie quarterback started in Week 1. That, boys and girls, is the longest streak in the NFL since at least 1950.

Keeping with that theme, this is a look at the 37 starting (or, to-be starting) quarterbacks in the NFL this season. That's the 32 Week 1 starters, plus two new starters in Week 2 (Ryan Mallett and Johnny Manziel), two new starters for Week 3 (Jimmy Clausen and Brandon Weeden) and presumed Week 3 starter in Drew Brees' place (Luke McCown).

QBs: Marcus Mariota, Titans; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Mariota and Winston are two weeks into their respective NFL careers and each has already collected his first win as a starter. Mariota's dazzling debut included a perfect passer rating (first time that's happened since 1960), and four touchdown passes (second time that's happened since 1960; Fran Tarkenton, 1961). Winston, it should be noted, became the second active QB to record his first career NFL win in a head-to-head start against a quarterback with at least 100 starts in the NFL (Drew Brees). The other? Matt Cassel, who beat the Brett Favre-led Jets while with the Patriots in 2008.

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2 -- Rookies

QBs: Marcus Mariota, Titans; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Mariota and Winston are two weeks into their respective NFL careers and each has already collected his first win as a starter. Mariota's dazzling debut included a perfect passer rating (first time that's happened since 1960), and four touchdown passes (second time that's happened since 1960; Fran Tarkenton, 1961). Winston, it should be noted, became the second active QB to record his first career NFL win in a head-to-head start against a quarterback with at least 100 starts in the NFL (Drew Brees). The other? Matt Cassel, who beat the Brett Favre-led Jets while with the Patriots in 2008.

Associated Press

QBs: Carson Palmer, Cardinals; Cam Newton, Panthers; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Andrew Luck, Colts; Eli Manning, Giants; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Four of those aforementioned nine quarterbacks are playing for teams other than the one that originally drafted them: Palmer (Bengals), Peyton (Colts) and Eli Manning (Chargers), and Bradford (Rams).

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9 -- No. 1 overall draft picks

QBs: Carson Palmer, Cardinals; Cam Newton, Panthers; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Andrew Luck, Colts; Eli Manning, Giants; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Four of those aforementioned nine quarterbacks are playing for teams other than the one that originally drafted them: Palmer (Bengals), Peyton (Colts) and Eli Manning (Chargers), and Bradford (Rams).

Associated Press

QBs: Carson Palmer, Cardinals; Matt Ryan, Falcons; Joe Flacco, Ravens; Cam Newton, Panthers; Jay Cutler, Bears; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Aaron Rodgers, Packers; Andrew Luck, Colts; Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Alex Smith, Chiefs; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Eli Manning, Giants; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers; Marcus Mariota, Titans; Johnny Manziel, Browns; Brandon Weeden, Cowboys

Rodgers famously fell in the 2005 draft, only to become arguably the greatest QB in all the land. Roethlisberger also experienced a draft-day dive, but things turned out OK for him, too.

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21 -- First-round draft picks

QBs: Carson Palmer, Cardinals; Matt Ryan, Falcons; Joe Flacco, Ravens; Cam Newton, Panthers; Jay Cutler, Bears; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Aaron Rodgers, Packers; Andrew Luck, Colts; Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Alex Smith, Chiefs; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Eli Manning, Giants; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers; Marcus Mariota, Titans; Johnny Manziel, Browns; Brandon Weeden, Cowboys

Rodgers famously fell in the 2005 draft, only to become arguably the greatest QB in all the land. Roethlisberger also experienced a draft-day dive, but things turned out OK for him, too.

Associated Press/USA TODAY Sports

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills (Round 6); Tom Brady, Patriots (Round 6); Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (Round 7); Tony Romo, Cowboys (undrafted); Brian Hoyer, Texans (undrafted)

Brady's slide to the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft is the stuff of legend. In comparison to Romo, Brady was lucky to even get picked. Romo was undrafted, and it took him three years to finally get a foothold on a roster spot, much less earn the starting nod.

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5 -- Sixth-round draft picks or later

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills (Round 6); Tom Brady, Patriots (Round 6); Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets (Round 7); Tony Romo, Cowboys (undrafted); Brian Hoyer, Texans (undrafted)

Brady's slide to the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft is the stuff of legend. In comparison to Romo, Brady was lucky to even get picked. Romo was undrafted, and it took him three years to finally get a foothold on a roster spot, much less earn the starting nod.

Associated Press

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills; Josh McCown, Browns; Tony Romo, Cowboys; Brian Hoyer, Texans; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets; Nick Foles, Rams; Russell Wilson, Seahawks; Kirk Cousins, Redskins; Luke McCown, Saints; Tom Brady, Patriots

Wilson was knocked for his height before the 2011 NFL Draft and dropped to the third round to the Seahawks, who he has guided to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, including the franchise's first championship. Foles was also a third-rounder in the 2011 draft, while Cousins was a fourth-rounder in the 2012 draft.

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10 -- Draft No. 75 overall or later, or undrafted

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills; Josh McCown, Browns; Tony Romo, Cowboys; Brian Hoyer, Texans; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets; Nick Foles, Rams; Russell Wilson, Seahawks; Kirk Cousins, Redskins; Luke McCown, Saints; Tom Brady, Patriots

Wilson was knocked for his height before the 2011 NFL Draft and dropped to the third round to the Seahawks, who he has guided to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, including the franchise's first championship. Foles was also a third-rounder in the 2011 draft, while Cousins was a fourth-rounder in the 2012 draft.

Associated Press

QBs: Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Derek Carr, Raiders; Johnny Manziel, Browns

The top four quarterbacks selected in the 2014 NFL Draft started in Week 2 and all four emerged victorious. How often can you say that the Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Vikings all won during the same week?

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4 -- Second-year QBs

QBs: Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Derek Carr, Raiders; Johnny Manziel, Browns

The top four quarterbacks selected in the 2014 NFL Draft started in Week 2 and all four emerged victorious. How often can you say that the Browns, Jaguars, Raiders and Vikings all won during the same week?

Associated Press

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills; Cam Newton, Panthers; Andy Dalton, Bengals; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Brian Hoyer, Texans; Andrew Luck, Colts; Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Derek Carr, Raiders; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Nick Foles, Rams; Colin Kaepernick, 49ers; Russell Wilson, Seahawks; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers; Marcus Mariota, Titans; Kirk Cousins, Redskins; Ryan Mallett, Texans; Jimmy Clausen, Bears

Nine of these 19 quarterbacks were first-round picks; only one (Hoyer) went undrafted. Six of these 30-and-under passers have been selected to a Pro Bowl: Luck (3), Dalton (2), Newton (2), Wilson (2), Foles (1) and Stafford (1).

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19 -- Younger than 30 years old

QBs: Tyrod Taylor, Bills; Cam Newton, Panthers; Andy Dalton, Bengals; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Brian Hoyer, Texans; Andrew Luck, Colts; Blake Bortles, Jaguars; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings; Derek Carr, Raiders; Sam Bradford, Eagles; Nick Foles, Rams; Colin Kaepernick, 49ers; Russell Wilson, Seahawks; Jameis Winston, Buccaneers; Marcus Mariota, Titans; Kirk Cousins, Redskins; Ryan Mallett, Texans; Jimmy Clausen, Bears

Nine of these 19 quarterbacks were first-round picks; only one (Hoyer) went undrafted. Six of these 30-and-under passers have been selected to a Pro Bowl: Luck (3), Dalton (2), Newton (2), Wilson (2), Foles (1) and Stafford (1).

Associated Press

QBs: Josh McCown, Browns; Andy Dalton, Bengals; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Andrew Luck, Colts; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Drew Brees, Saints; Nick Foles, Rams; Johnny Manziel, Browns; Ryan Mallett, Texans; Luke McCown, Saints

Only four of those 10, however, actually played college football in Texas: Josh McCown (Sam Houston State), Dalton (TCU), Tannehill (Texas A&M) and Manziel (Texas A&M). That ratio seems low.

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10 -- Played high school ball in Texas, most of any state

QBs: Josh McCown, Browns; Andy Dalton, Bengals; Matthew Stafford, Lions; Andrew Luck, Colts; Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins; Drew Brees, Saints; Nick Foles, Rams; Johnny Manziel, Browns; Ryan Mallett, Texans; Luke McCown, Saints

Only four of those 10, however, actually played college football in Texas: Josh McCown (Sam Houston State), Dalton (TCU), Tannehill (Texas A&M) and Manziel (Texas A&M). That ratio seems low.

Associated Press

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