It's A Passing League, Who Has the Best Receiving Corp?

The most solid part of the passing game is obviously the quarterbacks, but The Four Corners of Sports already ranked the remaining quarterbacks, and you can read that here. The passing game we are going to talk about is all about the routes, the hands, the speed, elusiveness that the receivers bring to the game. This ranking will include the complete passing game, the receivers, running backs and tight ends.

1. New York Jets

This might be surprising to people, but the Jets definitely have the best overall passing game. Now if Mark Sanchez was factored into this then there would be differences, both because of his rank amongst the remaining quarterbacks, and just their overall skills. The other passing games don't have the depth of talent that the Jets does though.

Just look at the receivers that the Jets have in Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. A few years ago Cotchery was the number one receiver in a decent passing game for the Jets, and since then they have added two Pro Bowl receivers to the mix. Holmes has won two Super Bowls, and was the MVP in the second of the two with his unforgettable late game-winning catch. Then when you look at Edwards he has had a touchdown in two of his last three playoff games, in addition to the huge catch on the game winning drive against the Colts in the Wild Card round this year. Edwards and Cotchery both rank in the top five in yards this postseason, both passing the 100 yard mark so far.

Not only do the Jets have those receivers, but also one of the best, if not the best, receiving running backs of the last decade in LaDanian Tomlinson, who was able to score the first touchdown of the game against the Patriots on Sunday with a very smooth over the should catch in the second quarter. On top of that Dustin Keller might not be the best overall tight end remaining, but he is arguably the most skilled tight end left in the passing game. Just another target for Sanchez to find on the field.

The Jets have the total package, tight end, running back, and three receivers that can get it done, and get it done when it matters. They are deserving of the number one passing game in terms of receivers.

2. Green Bay Packers

With the Packers passing game, due to injuries, they are receiver heavy. The receivers they have though is more than enough to put them into the number two slot in this ranking. Aaron Rodgers is amazing, but he doesn't lack any talent when it comes to his receivers.

Greg Jennings is on a short list when you are talking about the best receivers in the NFL right now. He is a superb at route running, and is very quick in his cuts, giving him opportunities to lose the defense before he even unleashes his great speed. During the regular season he had nearly 1,300 yards and found himself tied with Calvin Johnson for second in the league with 12 receiving touchdowns.

This postseason Donald Driver has stepped up his game, coming off a bit of a down year for him. In the playoffs though he has caught the third most yards, and has had four catches over 20 yards already. He is constantly a safety valve for Rodgers, and continues to maintain his speed and route running skills. He was surpassed this year, in terms of yards only, by James Jones. The young speedster gives the passing game another element on the outside, and might have given them a better chance of getting bumped up to the top spot if it weren't for his suspect hands at times.

The tight end position was strong to start the year for the Packers, but with injuries they are not getting the same production from there, and the running backs are only check downs for the most part, though Brandon Jackson was able to score a very important screen pass touchdown against the Eagles.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

This year was a breakout year for Mike Wallace, and he alone puts them in the third spot. Unfortunately in these rankings the rest of the cast was not enough to move them up further. Their lack of real diversity is what keeps them in this third spot.

Mike Wallace is that home run threat that teams are looking for, the DeSean Jackson type of receiver. Wallace was able to finish fifth in the league in yards, with over 1,250 of them, and came in second on yard per catch average only to Jackson, by those with over 20 catches. With his 10 touchdowns Wallace is Roethlisberger's biggest threat, and he will have to deal with that in these playoffs, as he will probably see Darrelle Revis across from him Sunday.

Hines Ward is still a very productive number two receiver, and he will do a lot in the blocking game, but he is losing some of that speed he once had. He will give them looks over the middle and screens, but not quite what he used to. The team will rely on the young guys to step up, the way that Emmanuel Sanders did last week against the Ravens when he had four receptions for 54 yards. Heath Miller is also an option for the Steelers, he had a touchdown reception against the Ravens, and though he is more of a blocking tight end Roethlisberger is able to trust Miller when he throws his way.

The Steelers have maybe the most explosive receiver left, though the Bears receivers might have something to say about that, in Wallace, and a plethora of possession receivers to go with the blossoming young guys.

4. Chicago Bears

The Bears have a group of receivers that could be among the most explosive and dangerous in the league, they just do not seem to make the progressions that a James Jones and Mike Wallace do, and seem to stick in their roles they have had over the years. Devin Hester and Johhny Knox could be two of the most feared receivers on the outside, but they just have not reached that level yet, and that is why they find themselves in the fourth spot of these rankings.

They have two of the best receiving running backs in Matt Forte and Chester Taylor. They are both wonderful options out of the backfield for Jay Cutler, and both have thrived in the offense. Forte had three receiving touchdowns on the year, including a game in which he caught over 150 yards. He also had seven games that he averaged double digit yards per catch. Taylor was not used nearly as much as he has been in the pass, but before the Bears was the third down back for the Vikings because of his ability to catch out of the backfield.

Greg Olsen at tight end is extremely talented and can take over a game. Last week against the Seattle Seahawks he had three catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, including a touchdown on Cutler's first pass attempt to give the Bears a quick 7-0 lead.

The Bears have talent on the outside, a good tight end and very capable running backs. If those two receivers on the outside were to develop, this time next year the Bears would be finding themselves higher up on a list like this.