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5 best backup quarterbacks

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

One of the most important positions in football rarely sets foot on the field.

As the Cowboys, among other teams, learned last season, a subpar backup quarterback can single-handedly kill a team's playoff hopes. Conversely, a good one can keep a team afloat while it weathers the storm of an injury to its starter.

Below, in no particular order, are the five Plan-B passers deserving of recognition as the NFL's best backups.

For the purposes of this list, teams with rookie quarterbacks in waiting (like the Eagles and Broncos) and teams with uncertain starters (like the 49ers and Jets) will not be considered.

AJ McCarron, Bengals

In many ways, McCarron is precisely what teams look for in a backup. His physical skill set will always be limited, but he's a steadying presence who avoids committing turnovers, and puts his teammates in position to make plays.

Though McCarron's sample size as a pro is small, the early returns are promising. In four extended appearances in relief of the injured Andy Dalton last season, McCarron completed 66 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He was unspectacular in his lone playoff appearance, throwing for 212 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but did enough to give the Bengals a chance to win the game late.

Derek Anderson, Panthers

Cam Newton's backup hasn't played much since joining the Panthers in 2011, but there are no question marks about what he's capable of. Anderson was a Pro Bowler for the Browns earlier in his career and even managed to take that woebegone franchise to the brink of a playoff appearance.

Anderson's last significant action for the Panthers came in 2014, when he appeared in six games and started two (both wins). Over that stretch, Anderson was good on 67 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

No one can replicate the production of Newton, but if the reigning MVP goes down to injury the Panthers will be in good hands.

Brian Hoyer, Bears

The last time we saw Hoyer on the field, he turned in what could have been the worst quarterbacking performance in playoff history. Hoyer completed less than half his passes, threw four interceptions, and fumbled twice as his Texans crashed out of the 2015 wild-card round in disgrace with a 30-0 home loss to the Chiefs.

Nonetheless, Hoyer has proven to be a competent regular-season player over his journeyman career. He gets much of the blame for the Texans' playoff loss, but it was Hoyer who helped guide them to the playoffs in the first place.

Hoyer's days as a starter are surely over, but he's excellent insurance for the Bears in case of a Jay Cutler injury.

Mike Glennon, Buccaneers

Glennon has been linked to a trade since the moment the Buccaneers used the first overall pick in the 2015 draft on Jameis Winston, but the team seems intent on holding onto the former third-rounder as a high-end insurance policy for its franchise player.

Prior to Winston's arrival, Glennon had appeared in 19 games (18 starts) for the Buccaneers and passed for 4,025 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions over that span. Still only 26 years old, Glennon should probably be starting somewhere. Perhaps the Buccaneers will eventually get a trade offer they can't refuse.

Drew Stanton, Cardinals

The Cardinals can rest easy knowing they're in good hands should Carson Palmer go down. It's hard to imagine any backup quarterback winning a Super Bowl, including the ones on this list, but Stanton gives the Cardinals as good a chance as any.

The 32-year-old has plenty of experience and always plays well in a pinch. In 2014, Stanton helped guide the Cardinals to the playoffs by going 5-3 as a starter in relief of the injured Palmer, before an injury of his own derailed the team's Super Bowl aspirations.

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