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Which quarterbacks land in the top seven? Does Lamar Jackson rank number one heading into the playoffs? Joey Pollizze ranks the top 14 quarterbacks in the 2023-2024 NFLplayoffs.
The 2023-2024 NFL playoffs are finally here, and we have some big games on the horizon on Super Wild Card Weekend. The Detroit Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams in a game that features Matthew Stafford’s return to Detroit. The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers will also square off in a game that features two historic franchises.
The NFL playoffs always seem to come down to the end. Usually, the team with the better quarterback play comes out on top. That doesn’t always happen, but look at last year’s postseason. Two of the best quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes & Jalen Hurts) in 2022 carried their teams to the Super Bowl.
So, before the playoffs begin, now is the perfect time to rank all 14 starting quarterbacks who will be under center in the postseason. This list will be based on each quarterback’s play during the 2023-2024 season, not over their career. Let’s dive in and find out where each team’s signal-caller lands.
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14. Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph last on this list. He did get the Steelers to the playoffs after winning all three of his starts to end the year. However, those three starts are the only games he has started this season.
In his three starts, Rudolph has looked decent under center, throwing for 716 yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and the Baltimore Ravens (who rested starters in Week 18) to get to Super Wild Card Weekend. The 28-year-old quarterback enters the playoffs with little starting experience and will make his first career postseason start this weekend.
13. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has surely had a comeback season after many wrote him off this offseason. He earned the Buccaneers’ starting job in Week 1 and then went on to lead the team to the playoffs behind a strong year.
Mayfield threw for both a career-high 4,044 pass yards and 28 pass touchdowns. His 94.6 quarterback rating and 0.63 interceptions thrown per game were also the second-best of his career. It was tough not to put him higher on the list. But he’ll have a chance to prove everyone wrong even more against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round.
12. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is another player in the discussion for Comeback Player of the Year. Flacco was a free agent for most of the season before the Browns picked him up. Since getting signed and starting his first game in Week 13, the 38-year-old veteran has played extremely well.
Flacco led the Browns to a 4-1 record during his starts while throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. It is only a five-game sample size, however, it’s hard to ignore what the veteran has done. The interceptions are something he has to limit in the playoffs. But throwing for 300-plus yards in four of five starts and tossing at least two pass touchdowns in all five games is truly impressive.
11. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has played well in his third season with the team. In 2023, Goff is surely having his best year in a Detroit uniform. He led the Lions to an NFC North title while throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Both his 4,575 pass yards and 30 pass touchdowns are better than what he posted in 2022. Goff posted very similar stats last season, throwing for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns. The biggest thing for the Lions in the playoffs will be if the 29-year-old quarterback can play consistently over the next month.
10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
In his first year as a full-time starter, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has exceeded all expectations. Love led the fifth-youngest team to the playoffs behind an incredible season. He threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with an impressive 96.1 rating.
Love continued to improve over the course of the season, and that showed in the team’s final record. The Packers won five of their last seven games to secure the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs. During that span, the Packers quarterback finished with over a 109 rating in six of those contests. His 32 pass touchdowns were also the second-most in the NFL this season.
9. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
It’s crazy to see what Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has done in his rookie season. Stroud came in and made a name for himself immediately. The rookie finished with 4,108 pass yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He didn’t quite reach Andrew Luck’s record for most passing yards by a rookie in a season (4,374). However, he did become just the fifth quarterback to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark as a rookie.
Stroud, though, did break other records along the way, which included throwing for 470 yards in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was the most by a rookie in NFL history. The former Ohio State quarterback did not look like a rookie in his first season, and if not for missing two games with a concussion, he likely would have broken more rookie records.
8. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who made his first Pro Bowl since 2014, comes in eighth on this list. Stafford has been great for the Rams this season after struggling with injuries in 2022.
Stafford threw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 2023. The veteran did miss two games this season, which included resting for the playoffs in Week 18. However, before resting in the final week, he was one of the hottest quarterbacks. He helped his team win six of his past seven starts dating back to Week 11. During that span, he threw for 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions with a rating of 107.7.
7. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been consistent in recent weeks. But he still deserves to be in the top half of these rankings. Tagovailoa threw for career-highs in both 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing 14 interceptions.
It was nice to see Tagovailoa stay healthy for the first time in his career. He played all 17 games in 2023, and as a result, was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection. His 4,624 pass yards also led the league this season. However, the past seven weeks haven’t been the best for him. He has thrown just eight touchdowns to six interceptions since Week 12.
6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
It’s certainly been a down year for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. After finishing as the runner-up in the MVP voting, Hurts has taken a step back during the 2023-2024 campaign. Despite throwing for both a career-high 3,858 pass yards and 23 pass touchdowns, turnovers remained costly for the Eagles quarterback this season.
He turned over the ball a career-high 20 times in 2023. His 15 interceptions and five fumbles lost are also both individual career-highs. Unfortunately, Hurts will enter the postseason with a turnover in five straight games. Still, he’s one of the best signal-callers remaining in the playoffs.
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Like Hurts, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has had a down year following his second MVP win in 2022. Mahomes threw for just 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns with 14 interceptions in 2023. Both his passing yards and touchdowns are the second-fewest in his career, while his 14 interceptions are a career-high.
It’s been tough sledding for Mahomes in year seven. But a large reason for that has been the Chiefs’ lack of offensive weapons. The emergence of wide receiver Rashee Rice is a positive, though others will need to step up in the playoffs, including tight end Travis Kelce. Even with the season he is having, don’t count out Mahomes in big games.
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Interceptions will always be at the forefront of any Josh Allen debate. However, there’s no denying that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He has had a better season than Hurts and Mahomes, both of whom finished above him in the MVP voting in 2022.
The turnovers do remain a problem for Allen, who threw two interceptions and lost one fumble in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. As a matter of fact, the Bills’ quarterback threw an interception in 15 of 17 regular season games this season. But he also threw for 4,306 yards and 29 passing touchdowns with 15 rushing touchdowns. His 44 total touchdowns led the league in 2023.
3. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Many still don’t believe that San Francisco 49ers quarterback is the real deal. Well, it’s safe to say after the 2023 regular season that he belongs with the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Purdy threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns with an impressive 113 rating in 16 games. He also led the league with a 72.8 QBR.
It’s hard to ignore what Purdy did in his second NFL season. Of course, Kyle Shanahan’s scheme has helped so far throughout his career. But the young quarterback still does his job and limits mistakes, which helped the 49ers land the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott silenced all the doubters this year after his struggles last season. Prescott threw a wild 15 interceptions in 12 games in 2022, and many people wrote him off, even some Cowboys fans.
However, one year later, it’s safe to say that Prescott balled out in 2023 and will likely finish top three in MVP voting. The 30-year-old quarterback threw for 4,516 yards with a league-leading 36 pass touchdowns. He also only threw nine interceptions this season, his lowest in a full year since 2018. It was a fantastic bounce-back year for the Cowboys’ signal-caller, who led Dallas to another NFC East title.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
There’s no doubt who comes in atop the QB rankings. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the best this season and deserves to be number one on this list. Jackson is likely on his way to his second MVP win after posting career-bests in several categories.
With a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken, Jackson threw for a career-high 3,678 yards while totaling his most passing touchdowns (24) since 2020. His rating of 102.7 was also the second-highest over his six-year career. The 27-year-old capped off a truly remarkable season by rushing for 821 yards and leading the Ravens to the top seed in the AFC playoffs. The MVP-favorite will enter the playoffs as the best quarterback from the 2023-2024 season.
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