2024 NFL Playoffs: What’s at Stake for These Black QBs in the Postseason

It’s the most wonderful time of year: Playoff football season.

Legacies are on the line. Hearts will be broken. And dreams will become reality.

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The rookie sensation. C.J. Stroud has done nothing but impress during the regular season. He’s one of the few QBs to lead his team to the playoffs in his first year. Stroud not only proved to be the best signal caller from the 2023 Draft, but he has also shown to be one of the best players in the entire NFL.

He’s made history this season and has led a team (with head coach DeMeco Ryans) to the playoffs when they were previously considered to be one of the worst and most dysfunctional franchises in the league.

Not to mention, the Houston Texans also won their division.

Now that the postseason is here, he and the rest of his squad are playing with house money. There won’t be any criticism if they lose in the Wild Card to the Cleveland Browns. It’s an accomplishment that they made it here. But if Stroud leads his team to the AFC Championship, the hype surrounding him next season will be significant.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys fans already know what it is. Dak Prescott has to at least make the Conference title game or this season is a failure. Coming off of an MVP-caliber season, Prescott has no excuses. He’s cut down on the picks, increased the explosive plays, and is controlling everything at the line of scrimmage.

He needs to continue that level of play in the postseason. If he does, he’ll get a massive contract that will make him the highest-paid player in the league and will have claimed “elite” QB status. If he doesn’t, there will be questions (again) on if he’s the guy to lead this Cowboys team into the future.

Ready for the bright lights, Dak?

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Things can change fast. Despite losing in the 2023 Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts was the star of that game. Earlier this season, he was the favorite to win league MVP after leading his team to a 10-1 start and since then they’ve only won one game and ended the season with a 11-6 record. Not good.

In that span, Hurts has not played well and has as many turnovers this season as he’s had in the previous two seasons combined.

Now questions are being asked. Was last season a fluke? Is Hurts a one-year wonder? Was he worth the massive contract the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to last off-season?

Yes I know he’s banged up, but if he loses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round, his coach might get fired and people will start to wonder if he is truly an elite QB. He has to prove them wrong.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love took advantage of his first year as a starter after sitting for the previous two seasons. After a shaky early part of the season, Love has been on an absolute tear for the past 8 weeks, putting up excellent numbers against quality teams.

Only two other QBs in NFL history have had better yardage and passing touchdown totals in the first season as a full-time starter. Patrick Mahomes and Kurt Warner (both all-time greats).

Similarly to Stroud and the Texans, Love and the Packers are playing with house money. They’re glad they were invited to the dance. But, if they beat the Cowboys in the Wild Card, questions will be asked. Is Jordan Love a top 10 QB in the league?

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

No quarterback has more pressure on him going into the 2024 NFL Playoffs.

Lamar Jackson has had a dream eight-month stretch. In May, he served as his own agent and negotiated a contract that instantly made him the highest-paid player in league history. Then, he led the Baltimore Ravens to the best record and is the favorite to win his second league MVP.

Assuming he wins his second MVP, he’ll be the 11th QB to do so. But he’ll also be the only one without a Super Bowl ring. Then 10 others, have all won at least one Championship.

Fail to do so this season and people will still question if Jackson can win in the postseason, whether it’s his fault or not. The AFC is wide open for the taking. The Kansas City Chiefs are having a down year (by their standards). His divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals is out of the playoffs, and starting quarterbacks league-wide have been sidelined due to injury.

Just win Lamar, and you will cement yourself as a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players ever to grace the field.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes winning another Super Bowl would be like stat padding at this point. He’s cemented himself as the greatest Black quarterback in NFL history and one of the most talented players ever.

But winning a ring this year may be his most impressive feat, considering the offensive talent he’s had to work with has not been up to snuff. He’ll have to carry this offense for them to make a deep run.

If he does, the legend of Mahomes will only grow and more people will consider putting him up there with T*M B****y as the GOAT.

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