The NFL Playoffs are upon us. Here are all 14 quarterbacks set to start in the playoffs ranked worst to first.
Getty Image / Josh Allen
The NFL regular season has finally come and gone. As always, the quarterbacks were oftentimes the focal point of the league’s biggest stories.
Out of the best quarterbacks of the 2024 NFL season, only Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is not in the postseason. So, this is a pretty loaded list.
This list is based on how these quarterbacks played this year, and recent playoff history.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Russell Wilson
None of these quarterbacks are bad, and Wilson is a Super Bowl champion. But, he and the Steelers have really struggled down the stretch. At best, he’s a game manager at this stage of his career, and you’re looking for much more than that out of a quarterback in the playoffs.
13. Denver Broncos Quarterback Bo Nix
Bo Nix has exceeded everyone’s expectations as a rookie this season, and finished the season strong against Kansas City’s backups in Week 18. At this stage in his career, it’s only fair to rank him low on this list. But, he could prove us all wrong against the Bills this weekend.
12. Houston Texans Quarterback CJ Stroud
CJ Stroud has been in a bit of a sophomore slump this year as the leader of a disappointing Houston offense. He does have a playoff win as a rookie last year, and that has to count for something. Sadly, it seems like it will be tough for him to get another this year.
11. Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love
There’s no doubt that Jordan Love could catch fire and lead the Packers deep into the playoffs. That level of play is in him. But, he’s so inconsistent, and turns the ball over far too much, to make that anywhere close to a likely scenario. His turnovers cost Green Bay in last year’s Divisional Round loss to the 49ers.
10. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold was not good at all against the Lions in Week 18, playing his worst game of the season by a wide margin. But, he’s been an outstanding quarterback all year. He’s played at a level that could lead the 14-3 Vikings deep into the playoffs.
9. Washington Commanders Quarterback Jayden Daniels
Daniels got off to a really hot start this season, slowed down a bit in the middle of the year, and closed with a flourish. We know that he has the talent to take over games. Like CJ Stroud last year, no one would be surprised if this rookie won a playoff game.
8. Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts
Hurts played a tremendous game, costly turnover aside, in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss two seasons ago, so we know that he can rise to the occasion. This ranking is nothing against Jalen Hurts, but the fact that he hasn’t played in a few weeks due to a concussion gives me pause. That being said, this is a quarterback definitely good enough to win a Super Bowl.
7. Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford
The future Hall of Famer has been a fantastic playoff quarterback, and was tremendous in Los Angeles’s loss to the Lions last year. The passing offense has been up-and-down for the Rams this year, but we all know that Stafford and company can get it going quickly.
6. Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert
It speaks to the quality of quarterbacks above him on this list that Justin Herbert is ranked sixth. Herbert has been tremendous this year. Early in the year, the passing offense wasn’t prolific by any means, but he took care of the ball. Lately, he’s been torching defenses through the air. Herbert might be the most under-appreciated quarterback in football
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield was absolutely tremendous this season, his best season in the NFL so far. And, he’s played well in the playoffs in the past. You know that his teammates will rally behind him, too, and his emotional play style could lend itself to a deep run through the playoffs.
4. Detroit Lions Quarterback Jared Goff
Goff, who had the highest completion percentage among quarterbacks with over 400 attempts this year, is playing the best football of his career and is dicing teams up from the pocket, especially off of play-action. Outside of the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots as a member of the rams six years ago, He’s been a fantastic quarterback in the playoffs. Right now, for many, he’s the favorite to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
3. Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson is an otherworldly football player, and it’s a toss-up between him and Josh Allen for the 2024 NFL MVP. If Jackson wins it will be his third MVP at the age of 28. We know he can be the best player in the NFL, but he hasn’t shown that in the playoffs thus far in his career. He needs to change the narrative starting this weekend against Pittsburgh.
2. Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen
This era of the Buffalo Bills (like other eras) has routinely come up short in the postseason. That’s in spite of Josh Allen, who has been an incredible postseason quarterback. The slight favorite to win NFL MVP just needs his head coach to make sound decisions and not lose games for the Bills, as he has in the past. If that happens, Josh Allen can absolutely bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Buffalo.
1. Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes was not the best quarterback in the NFL this year, that much is certain. But, is there any other quarterback you’d rather bet on in the playoffs. Mahomes has played 18 career playoff games, essentially a full season’s worth. In those games, he’s thrown for over 5100 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions, while adding 524 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. To recap, those numbers would win the MVP almost every single year, and he’s doing against playoff defenses.
Oh yeah, he wins, too. The three-time Super Bowl Champion has only ever lost to Tom Brady (2x) and Joe Burrow in the postseason. He’s 15-3 in the playoffs, has won 7 straight postseason games, and is three wins away from cementing himself as one of the greatest two quarterbacks to ever play. Yeah, that’s the guy I want more than anyone else.