Ranking the 8 starting quarterbacks left in the NFL Playoffs
Eight are good enough
The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs means four games over two days. That leaves eight quarterbacks and their teams still alive and with hopes of making it to the Super Bowl next month in Las Vegas. Which team has the top QB? Here’s how all eight stack up…
8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are playing with house money. Mayfield has them in the second round after clocking an Eagles team that has lost its way. Putting on a similar show against the Lions won’t be easy. It will be difficult. Not sure Mayfield is up to back-to-back such efforts.
7. Brock Purdy., San Francisco 49ers
Yes, he is the quarterback of the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That said, Purdy went from MVP favorite to just another name on the list after the loss to the Ravens. The Packers are not the Ravens so it will be up to them to unsettle the Niners’ quarterback. He isn’t Irrelevant anymore. He just has room to grow to be better than most of the QBs in this round.
6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
The Packers appear to have struck gold with their third straight starting quarterback. Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and now Love. This will be the largest of tests, facing the top-seed 49ers at Levi’s. Love’s connection with his receivers will be severely tested.
5. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has done the impossible. He has led the Lions to the playoffs and a victory in them, no less. He was 22-of-22 when not pressured against the Rams. Expect him to see plenty of heat from the Bucs and it will be critical for Goff to stand in and deliver.
4. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
This is a rather lofty slotting for a rookie quarterback. Stroud has turned the league on its collective head by leading the Texans to the Divisional Round. They probably won’t win in Baltimore but one can be sure John Harbaugh and his defensive troops will take notice of this superstar on the rise.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Everyone knows the Chiefs have flipped the script and become a better defensive team than an offensive outlet in 2023. Mahomes is still capable of the impossible and carrying the team. Will be fascinating to see how he delivers in his first road playoff game.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen is on a roll. He is beating teams with his arm and legs. The flaw is he is capable of making a mistake or more than one. That said he has been making big plays on the Buffalo winning streak and earns the slimmest of nods over Mahomes.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finally gave Jackson the receiving corps he needed. Blend that with the magic Jackson can work in and out of the pocket and it puts him above the rest of the QBs that are remaining.
