Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota? The NFL Stat Breakdown

Few NFL comparisons generate more debate than Andy Dalton vs Marcus Mariota. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Marcus Mariota takes 4 categories while Andy Dalton claims 3, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the QB position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Marcus Mariota's Interceptions of 62 compared to Andy Dalton's 152 represents a 145.2% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Marcus Mariota's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Completion %, where Andy Dalton posts 62.6% against Marcus Mariota's 62.8% — virtually identical figures. Andy Dalton can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Completion % is the statistical ammunition for the Andy Dalton side.

Quarterback evaluation in the modern NFL weighs passing efficiency heavily alongside raw yardage totals. Passer rating, completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio paint a more complete picture than any single statistic alone.

The verdict favors Marcus Mariota — 4 categories to 3 — but Andy Dalton makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Andy Dalton has real statistical ammunition particularly in Completion % where the gap narrows to just 0.3%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.