Peyton Manning set an NFL record for the most game-winning drives (48) in the 4th quarter or overtime since the merger in Denver’s 31-23 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.Peyton Manning had a Total QBR of 94.7 in Sunday’s 31-23 win over the Bengals. It was the fourth time in the last five games that Manning posted a Total QBR better than 90 and the fifth time this season. No other player in the NFL has more than three such games.

Highest 4th-Quarter Total QBR
When Trailing (min. 20 Action Plays)

When trailing in the fourth quarter Sunday, Manning completed all four of his passes, including a touchdown. Manning led the Denver Broncos on their third game-winning drive of the season en route to setting the NFL record for the most game-winning drives (48) in the fourth quarter or overtime since the merger.

LUCK OFF TO BEST ROOKIE START IN FIVE YEARS

Andrew Luck posted an 89.1 Total QBR on Sunday as he passed for a rookie-record 433 yards and two touchdowns against the Dolphins. In the past five seasons, no rookie had a higher Total QBR (76.1) through nine games than Luck, who already has led the Indianapolis Colts to three more wins than they had all of last season.

Rookie Seasons Passing
Thru 9 Weeks

Matt Ryan had the most successful rookie campaign over the last five seasons, finishing the 2008 season with the second-best Total QBR (72.4) in the league and leading the Atlanta Falcons to an 11-5 record and playoff appearance. Through nine games, Luck has put up similar, if not better, numbers than Ryan while leading his team to a 5-3 record.

QUICK HITTERS

• Eli Manning posted a season-low 14.2 Total QBR in the New York Giants' loss to the Steelers. It was his second-consecutive week with a QBR less than 50 after having topped 50 for eight consecutive weeks dating to last year’s Super Bowl.

• Aaron Rodgers had an 81.7 Total QBR despite completing less than 50 percent of his passes. Rodgers’ QBR was so high because when the Green Bay Packers were within seven points of the Cardinals he completed 60 percent of his passes, including all four touchdowns (2-of-10 when up by more than seven points). Rodgers has a 73.1 Total QBR this season, fifth in the NFL, and has increased his Total QBR in five of his last seven weeks.

TOP 5 OF THE WEEK - 3rd DOWN QBR

• Matthew Stafford had a season-high 92.4 Total QBR in the Detroit Lions' 31-14 victory against the Jaguars. Stafford was 9-for-12 on third down, including 7-for-9 in the first half, with all seven completions going for first downs.

Highest QBR On 3rd Down
2012 Season

• Luck completed 13-of-16 passes for 12 first downs and a touchdown on third down against the Dolphins. His 12 passing first downs on third down are the most by any player in a game this season. Luck raised his Total QBR on third down to 88.8, second in the NFL behind Ben Roethlisberger.

TOTAL QBR AND WINNING

Total QBR can be used to quantify just how important the quarterback position has become to winning in the NFL. Looking back to previous years, the team with the higher Total QBR has won 86 percent of regular season games since the start of the 2008 season (as far back as Total QBR goes). That is higher than the comparable mark for teams with the advantage in total yardage, turnover differential, and NFL passer rating.

Keep in mind that just because a team wins a game with a lower QBR than its opponent does NOT mean that Total QBR was “wrong” or not as good for that game. That just means that the winning team was able to overcome its QB being outperformed by the opposing QB (on a rate basis), usually by playing better in other aspects of the game (rushing game, special teams, etc.).

Complete QBR statistics for all quarterbacks can be found here.