Rating 8 NFL Playoffs QBs remaining, from one of the best to Baker Mayfield

This yr’s group of eight quarterbacks left within the divisional spherical of the playoffs is a seize bag of skepticism and doubt.

Just like the doubt that comes with altering groups thrice in a yr and taking the one crew that wished you to begin into the second spherical of the playoffs. Or folks saying that rookie quarterbacks can’t be thought-about for MVP or win playoff video games. Or groups rejecting the chance to signal and even negotiate with a quarterback who truly did win MVP and was free to speak to different franchises final yr.

One other QB was solely a “throw-in” for a commerce designed to maneuver a much bigger title on the place, whereas one other was the final choose of the draft, and one other sat three years behind the starter ready for his flip.

Even Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen had folks questioning if this yr was “their yr”.

Irrespective of the extent of doubt you had going into the playoffs, they’re right here now. These are the eight quarterbacks left within the playoffs, ranked from finest to least-best.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

Of the 2 Tremendous Bowls gained by quarterbacks remaining within the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes has two. So till additional discover, I’m going to go along with that.

Does Mahomes have the worst supporting forged remaining within the playoffs? Travis Kelce had his worst season since changing into “Travis Kelce”, the offensive line has been ranked center of the league, rookie Rashee Rice had almost twice as many targets because the next-closest receiver on the Chiefs, and Kansas Metropolis had the best fee of drops (6.9%) within the NFL.

This might assist clarify why Mahomes numbers have been down and why he gained’t be profitable his third MVP, however even a “unhealthy yr” for Mahomes has his crew within the divisional playoffs.

Kansas Metropolis’s offense has needed to adapt with Tyreek Hill or a professional primary receiving menace and due to that Mahomes ranked thirtieth in supposed air yards per try (6.5) and thirty first in accomplished air yards per cross try (4.1), however Chiefs receivers have been first in yards after catch (2.552) by virtually 400 yards over second place. Mahomes had the best completion proportion of his profession (67.2%), ranked third in on-target proportion (80.7%) and had the third-lowest unhealthy throw proportion (13.3%) amongst quarterbacks with at the least 9 begins.

The 2023 season gained’t stand out on Mahomes’ resume like 2018 or 2022, his two MVP campaigns, however in some methods it’s extra spectacular.

2. Josh Allen, Payments

To let you know the way the AFC playoffs are going, the “preeminent quarterback rivalry of the last decade” is going on earlier than we even get to the convention championships.

Mahomes vs. Allen is what we’ve been dwelling for and although the Chiefs gained the postseason conferences in 2020 and 2021, this time Josh Allen is at residence. No, not solely due to this, however largely due to this:

Possibly the one play extra thrilling than a Josh Allen landing proper now could be a Josh Allen interception. Criticize his choice making if you would like, Allen’s “go large or go residence” mentality will inevitably finish in a Tremendous Bowl ultimately, if not a number of, and he’s the one cause Buffalo’s even within the dialog. Allen’s four-straight appearances within the divisional spherical is probably the most by a Payments quarterback since Jim Kelly and Buffalo had by no means posted 5 seasons in a row with double-digit wins…till now.

The Payments have gained seven of their final eight and Allen has scored 22 touchdowns in that run. It’ll be disappointing if Allen doesn’t have at the least two touchdowns on this recreation, however perhaps much more disappointing if he doesn’t add in a choose. Each throw is a journey.

3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

The stress is on for Jackson to beat the Texans this weekend as a result of he’s dangerously near profitable his second MVP earlier than he wins his second profession playoff recreation. Fortunate for Lamar, that is additionally one of the best crew he’s been surrounded by and one of the best he’s performed in a profession that runneth over in highlights.

With a brand new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and a pair of receiver additions in Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham, Jr., Jackson posted career-highs in completion proportion (67.2), passing yards (3,678), Y/A (8.0), and cross makes an attempt (457). For the primary time in his profession, Lamar was above the league common in Y/A, Comp%, TD%, INT%, Passer Score, and Internet Y/A, and he did so whereas nonetheless dashing for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns.

A Lamar Jackson run remains to be one of the crucial harmful dashing performs within the NFL, however you possibly can’t sleep on his capacity to throw downfield. Jackson had probably the most scrambles (65) and RPO runs (25) within the NFL, and by a superb margin.

4. C.J. Stroud, Texans

When measuring high quality of play at this second, expertise is of no consequence, and C.J. Stroud is taking part in properly past his years as a rookie. He was pretty much as good as any quarterback within the first spherical of the playoffs, if not one of the best, competing 76% of his passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to a Browns protection considered one of the best within the league.

Earlier than the draft we have been speaking about his S2 rating, now we’re speaking about his PFF grade. The one quantity that issues to the Texans is “1”. As in, the Texans gained 1 playoff recreation they usually suppose C.J. Stroud can win at the least 1 extra.

It isn’t a stretch to say that Stroud would begin over any quarterback left within the NFC playoffs. It’s not {that a} crew wouldn’t be very pleased with Jordan Love or Brock Purdy, but when they’re being sincere then each crew would quite have C.J. Stroud. Not as a result of he’s on a rookie contract. As a result of he’s taking part in like a top-10 quarterback week in and week out, which I don’t suppose you possibly can say concerning the quarterbacks left within the NFC.

If not, all of the quarterbacks within the NFC no matter present state of affairs.

Since getting back from damage, Stroud has thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions in his final three video games, has accomplished over 75% of his passes in every recreation, and he simply will get a little bit bit higher each week. Stroud is a giant recreation hunter too: His 9.0 supposed air yards per try ranked first amongst all QBs with at the least 10 begins.

With Nico Collins rising as a verifiable primary receiver this season, perhaps the one factor that would maintain the Texans again from an upset is the midseason lack of Tank Dell. Houston would have had that rather more firepower on offense, however even with out Dell the Texans are going to be a troublesome out as a result of they’ve Stroud.

5. Jordan Love, Packers

If Jordan Love isn’t already thought-about a consensus top-10 quarterback, having thrown 21 touchdowns and one interception in his final 9 video games, there gained’t be any skeptics left ought to he upset the 49ers and take Inexperienced Bay to the NFC Championship. If that occurs, overlook every thing I stated about him being behind Stroud.

If by some likelihood, the Packers can take a primary half lead in opposition to the 49ers and carry it to halftime, that’s the place Love has excelled this season. He has thrown 15 touchdowns and no interceptions when Inexperienced Bay has the lead, in comparison with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions when the Packers are trailing. We all know that Kyle Shanahan is normally the one terrified of blowing a fourth quarter lead, however on this case it actually would behoove the 49ers to drag forward and draw back.

In his first season as a starter, Love has an opportunity to do one thing that Brett Favre didn’t do till his fourth season on the helm and Aaron Rodgers didn’t do till his third: Attain the convention championship recreation.

We’ll be having a really totally different dialog about Jordan Love within the offseason if that occurs.

6. Brock Purdy, 49ers

Although he is likely to be sixth on this checklist, Purdy could as properly embrace skepticism and let the video games do the speaking for him. It’s working for him to date.

After main the NFL in passer ranking (113), QBR (72.7), Y/A (9.6), and TD% (7%), whereas rating fourth in completion fee (69.4%) and third in touchdowns (31), for a crew that earned the primary seed, Purdy has reached the utmost stage of what he can do to show himself whereas not being critically thought-about for MVP.

Individuals will say that Purdy is right here as a result of he has Kyle Shanahan as a head coach, Christian McCaffrey within the backfield, Trent Williams defending his blindside, and Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk catching passes from him. Okay. Isn’t it higher to be the quarterback on one of the best crew and thriving than to be one any crew that doesn’t have a superb help system in place?

I’m certain Purdy will take the benefits he has in San Francisco with much less credit score than going to a nasty crew and getting extra credit score.

Win the subsequent three video games and the one factor they’ll be saying about Brock Purdy at that time is, “He’s a Tremendous Bowl winner”.

7. Jared Goff, Lions

Who’s within the top-six of this dialog is quite straightforward, there’s a transparent drop-off in between Purdy and the opposite two, even when that could be a little bit unfair. Purdy has solely been a starter for barely greater than a yr, however not like Goff he’s at the least somebody everyone knows was within the MVP dialog this season.

Nonetheless, both Jared Goff or Baker Mayfield goes to be beginning within the NFC Championship recreation this yr.

The 2023 season has been Goff’s finest since he helped the Rams attain the Tremendous Bowl in 2018. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has one thing to say about that—he is likely to be the primary Sean McVay since Sean McVay—and it is going to be fascinating to see how Detroit’s season goes in 2024 when Johnson leaves for a head teaching job.

For proper now, Goff has Johnson, a top-5 offensive line, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and two actually good top-10 operating backs.

Is that this one of the best model of Jared Goff we’ve ever seen? Most likely. However even when he’s higher, the “Why did you try this?” or “How may you miss that?” Jared Goff has continued to indicate up this yr and is more likely to be seen once more.

8. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Each playoffs has at the least one quarterback who’s crashing the social gathering and this time it’s a former primary general choose who switched groups thrice in lower than a yr. However Baker Mayfield didn’t simply fall backwards into the divisional spherical of the playoffs, he earned it.

Going to maybe the one crew that might give him a good likelihood to begin, Mayfield turned a gradual begin into being sizzling on the proper time: In his final 12 video games, Mayfield has 23 touchdowns, six interceptions, a little bit over 3,000 yards, and a passer ranking just below 100. Now he’s coming off arguably his finest begin in a Bucs uniform, tossing three touchdowns in a blowout win over the Eagles.

It’s honest to say that each quarterback left within the playoffs will nonetheless be with the identical crew subsequent season, together with Mayfield although he solely signed a one-year deal in free company. The Bucs will doubtless prolong him after the season as a result of they now have proof that profitable the division and advancing within the playoffs is feasible with Mayfield at quarterback. Have they got sufficient expertise on the roster to raise Mayfield into profitable a Tremendous Bowl this yr?

If we’ve realized something, it’s that we at all times depend out Baker Mayfield a little bit too quickly.