Ranking the 14 QBs in the NFL Playoffs

     This NFL season has been nothing short of thrills and excitement, but now the playoffs begin. Win or go home for each game, every team relies heavily on the play of their leader: the quarterback. Teams have had to play numerous backups this season with injuries all over the place, but these 14 teams have gone above and beyond to prove they deserve a shot at the Super Bowl. 

    Today I take a look at all 14 QBs that will be starting for their teams this postseason, breakdown what makes them different, and why they have a shot at one of the most coveted trophies in all of sports. 

14. Mason Rudolph

  

    Mason Rudolph has had quite the NFL career thus far from being Big Ben’s backup, to being the third string behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, but he has a chance to rewrite his story. Over the last three weeks, Rudolph has shown the fans of Pittsburg that he knows what it takes to win. After going 3-0 and throwing for 716 yards, he’s given fans hope. 

    Now the reason he’s at 14 is simply because I don’t think we have a large enough sample size to truly compare him to the other QBs in this year's playoffs. Also, I’ve seen what he’s done in the past and it’s simply not impressing. Winning a few games here and there gets you only so far. His one season where he had an opportunity to shine he was benched for Duck Hodges who isn’t in the NFL anymore. 

13. Baker Mayfield 

    Baker Mayfield has looked like a new version of himself in Tampa Bay. If it weren’t for the miracle that is Damar Hamlin, I think Mayfield would run away with the comeback player of the year award. Ninth in passing yards and seventh in passing touchdowns, Mayfield has shown he can be a difference maker. 

    With all of the praise there is some downfall, the Buccaneers only won nine games this season in the absolute worst division in football. It was a very rough two weeks to end the season for Mayfield, losing to the Saints in a near must win game, then not throwing for over 150 yards against the Panthers in what was essentially a playoff game for the Bucs. I still think he can manage to beat what has been a very poor Eagles team as of late, but I don’t have much hope that he will pull through. 

12. Joe Flacco 

  

    In the year of backup quarterbacks, Joe Flacco was blessed by the Browns. Going to a complete team who already had a good record helps him be as good as he’s been. Winning four out of five games, and throwing for over 300 yards in those four wins, Flacco has proven he can still play in the league. He has truly taken the league by storm, and surely everyone will have their eyes glued to the TV when he plays against the Texans. 

    

    Like every QB on this list, he does have his flaws. In five games Flacco has thrown eight interceptions. In the regular season he’s proven that the Browns can win with that, but playoff football is different. Teams will capitalize off of those turnovers and Myles Garrett and the Browns defense will get worn down. If Flacco can stop turning the ball over, I think the Browns have a legit shot at the Super Bowl, but he hasn’t shown that he can’t. For that reason I have Flacco at 12. 

11. Jordan Love 

    I really, really wanted to put Love higher on this list because I have greatly enjoyed watching him play this year. In his first year starting he has shown a lot of people who he really is. Throwing the second most touchdowns in the NFL with 32, he’s proved that he can play, and play at a very high level. Leading his team to an unlikely 9-8 season, it looks like the Packers are back. 

    Similar to Flacco, Love has turned the ball over quite a bit this year. Eleven interceptions have hurt. Even though he only has one since week 10 of the season, the other QBs on this list are just too good, with much better weapons. Give Love one more year with a fully healthy Christian Watson and a more developed Jayden Reed, and this offense will be one to be reckoned with. 

10. Matthew Stafford 

 

    Stafford has looked like his old self again after his poor and injury ridden 2022 season. With emerging weapons like Puka Nacua and weapons we know and love Cooper Kupp, it’s hard to root against this Rams team. Finishing 9-7 on the year, Stafford finished slightly above the middle of the pack in yards and touchdown passes, being ranked eleventh in both categories. Stafford did not play in week 18 against the 49ers. 

    His ball security is something to worry about. He had eleven interceptions on the year with two coming against a not good Giants team in his last start of the season. Going up against a now healthy Lions defense with Brian Branch, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Aidan Hutchinson, Stafford may have a tough time getting the ball to his elite weapons. 

9. Jared Goff 

    Jared Goff and the brand new Lions have roared onto the scene this year. With weapons galore on this offense it will be hard for them to be slowed down. Finishing second in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns, Goff has reinvented himself as a Detroit Lion. Having three of the five losses come from playoff teams is certainly something to be proud of. Look for Goff to have another electric outing in his return to the playoffs. 

    With all the praise I have given Goff, I think it’s fair to say that he is helped out a lot by the weapons he has had this year. He has probably the best running back duo in the NFL and to Amon-Ra St. Brown is arguably a top 5 wide receiver this year. Rookie standout Sam LaPorta was hurt in the last game of the season, and is now questionable to play on Sunday. 

8. Tua Tagavailoa 

    Without a doubt Tua is coming off of his best regular season of football. Throwing for 4,624 yards, which led the NFL, it’s hard to doubt what he can do. With help from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, this offense is one that no one wants to go against.  

    However, the Dolphins have failed to prove that they can beat playoff teams. Two losses against the Bills, and a loss against the Eagles, Chiefs, and Ravens, makes me doubt Tua’s ability to win in big games. In each of those five losses, Tua has yet to throw more touchdowns than interceptions. This team clearly relies on him, and he hasn’t delivered. If I were a betting man, I’d take the Chiefs in a cold, cold Arrowhead playoff game. 

7. CJ Stroud 

    Rookie phenom CJ Stroud has been nothing short of brilliant this season. Early on in the season he was even getting MVP talk. Stroud has proven that he has what it takes to win. His lack of interceptions and his ability to carry his team to the finish line are key reasons why he is at number 7. 

    Finding something wrong with Stroud is truly a struggle, he has been one of the leagues top QBs when healthy and has been able to make WR1s out of anyone in his wide receiver room. However, his lack of experience brings him down, especially when going up against one of the best defenses in the league. 

6. Jalen Hurts 

 

    Cool, calm, and collected is certainly a way to describe Hurts this season. Hurts was a favorite to win MVP going into the season and during the first half he was definitely playing like it. Going 10-1 to start the season, people were wondering what could go wrong for the Eagles. Hurts and his weapons had looked dominant and they were atop all power rankings, but something changed. 

    The Eagles had five losses in the last six weeks and Hurts only eclipsed 200 passing yards twice. Now the losses don’t all fall on him as the Eagles game plan hasn’t been the greatest and their defense has definitely let them down, but 15 interceptions is hard to argue with. Hurts can’t seem to keep the ball safe, and with what looked like a nasty dislocated middle finger on his throwing hand, you’re left to wonder if he can get the job done. 

5. Patrick Mahomes 

    It has not been a great year for Patrick Mahomes, from bad looks postgame, to losing winnable games for whatever reason, his team has struggled. Even though it may not have been the best regular season, Mahomes still finished top 10 in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. He has been able to get his team out of tight spots in the past and I do think Mahomes will get his team into the divisional round. 

    The knock here isn’t necessarily on Mahomes, but on his lack of weapons. The Chiefs still have Travis Kelce, and now they have an emerging star in Rashee Rice, but I’m not sure that’ll be enough. The Chiefs defense and the weather in the wild card round is their biggest advantage and I’m sure they’ll make the best use of that. 

4. Brock Purdy 

    Former Mr. Irrelevant has proved quite literally everyone wrong. Leading the 49ers to an 12-4 record before sitting out the last regular season game, Purdy had been a solid MVP candidate all year. Finishing top 5 in passing yards and passing touchdown, and he also had the best QBR in the NFL at 72.8. The 49ers dominant offense has shown that even if you’re a system QB, you can still be the best in the business. 

    Purdy was outstanding all year long except for the games he lost. Losing against the Browns, Vikings, Bengals, and Ravens hurt a lot. I feel Purdy was the main reason for those losses. Throwing only three touchdown passes and a whopping nine interceptions in those losses, it will be hard when he goes up against legit defenses again. 

3. Josh Allen 

    

    Josh Allen is arguably the best QB in the NFL at any given moment. Similar to Purdy, Allen finished top 5 in passing yards and touchdown passes, and had the third best QBR at 69.3. Allen has a game changing arm that can easily light up a defense. Pair that with his mobility and it’s a sight to behold. 

    Even though Allen has been able to run around defenses and launch balls 70 yards downfield, he is always turning the ball over. Allen went only three games all season without throwing an interception. This isn’t a good look for the playoffs. Teams will capitalize off of these turnovers, and the Bills will be back on their couch, watching another team win it all. 

2. Dak Prescott 

    I am very conflicted between these top two quarterbacks, but my gut tells me Dak is number two. Leader of the most explosive offense in the NFL, Dak threw for 36 touchdown passes which was most in the NFL. He also finished third in passing yards and second in QBR. In 12 wins on the season, the Cowboys offense has scored more than 30 points in 10 of them. Becoming a dynamic duo, Dak and Ceedee Lamb have seemed to take the next step in both of their development. 

    I can’t really criticize anything Dak has done this year except for one. He can’t beat playoff teams. Losing horribly to the 49ers, along with losses to the Eagles, Bills and Dolphins, I am willing to bet he’s happy to be playing the Packers. Maybe it’s his time to shine in the playoffs, but I truly do not know. 

1. Lamar Jackson 

    Lamar Jackson will most likely be this year’s MVP and I feel for the most part it is deserved. He is the best player on the best team and it does not look like anyone can stop them. Jackson only lost three games all year, and his mobility has been a huge part of that. Finishing with hist first 800 yard season since 2020, Jackson is a runner and passer, which makes everything so much harder. 

    Jackson’s biggest thing against him is his playoff performance. Realistically, the Ravens are the best team in the NFL and should have a cakewalk to the Super Bowl. But this is the playoffs, not the regular season. Jackson is 1-3 in playoff games and has thrown only three touchdowns and five interceptions. 

    14 teams go in. Only 1 comes out victorious, and every team has what they need to get it done. However a lot lies on the shoulders of the team’s QB. Without a QB who can handle the pressure on the league’s biggest stage, it will be hard to be victorious at all. 

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