Ranking the final NFL playoff QBs – Jets bust, Heisman Trophy winner and farmer with $330m contract

It is time for Bo Nix to prove himself.

It’s also time for Josh Allen to take advantage of Patrick Mahomes‘ absence.

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With Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff forced to watch the NFL Divisional Round on TV, the eight remaining quarterbacks in the playoffs hail from diverse football backgrounds.

One team leader saw ghosts with the New York Jets.

Another franchise face worked on a 3,000-acre farm in his youth and is now married to a famous actress while playing on a $330 million contract.

With Super Bowl LX only weeks away, talkSPORT ranks the final eight QBs in the NFL playoffs.

8. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

This is currently the problem for the Broncos.

They are one of the best teams in the NFL.

But their QB ranked near the bottom of the league in passer rating (87.8) and was 15th in QBR (58.4).

The flip side is that Nix ranked 13th in yards per game (231.2), while Denver was 14th in average scoring (23.6 points).

If Sean Payton‘s crew plays high-level complementary football, the Broncos will be fine.

If it comes down to Nix in the final minutes vs the Buffalo Bills, the second-year QB will be staring at a career breakthrough moment.

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7. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud threw an interception and lost two fumbles in the Wild Card round.

The Texans still won 30-6 and ended Mike Tomlin‘s career in Pittsburgh.

Go figure.

It’s been back-to-back years of uneven play from the former No. 2 overall pick, following his stunning rookie campaign.

But Stroud is backed by the best defense in the league and a clean game from the Texans’ QB in New England could have Houston playing in its first AFC Championship.

6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

You have to feel a little for Purdy, who can’t play a game without hearing about his $265m contract and just lost tight end George Kittle before the Divisional Round.

He’s 30-15 in the regular season, 5-2 in the playoffs and should’ve been a first-round pick.

If Mr. Relevant finds a way to win in Seattle, 49ers fans will have their best QB since Steve Young‘s peak.

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5. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

What a long, strange trip it’s been for a kid from Capistrano Beach, California.

There was a time when only a few people still believed in Darnold as an NFL starting QB.

Now he’s a two-time Pro Bowler coming off a bye week with homefield advantage until the Super Bowl.

The playoffs did not go well for Darnold last time.

It’s time for the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft to finally have a postseason worth remembering.

4. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

He threw for 3,942 yards during the regular season, then led all QBs with 361 yards in the Wild Card round.

Sure, Williams threw a couple picks and the Bears trailed 21-3.

But Chicago also unleashed 25 fourth-quarter points and Williams celebrated with rookie head coach Ben Johnson again.

The ex-Trojan (and ex-Sooner) has never been better as a pro.

A year ago, this was Jayden Daniels‘ spotlight.

Williams owns it now and might not give it back.

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3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

You don’t want to win the MVP but lose to the Texans at home in the playoffs.

That’s the next big test for Maye, who was human in his playoff debut and now faces DeMeco Ryans’ wrecking crew.

Maye must be Tom Brady-like in the Divisional Round — precise, efficient and deadly.

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford dented his finger and kept running into issues vs the Panthers but the 37-year-old wonder still threw for 304 yards and three TDs in a tough road win.

It’s remarkable what the longtime Lion is doing in his fifth season with the Rams.

Stafford’s status was a question mark before Week 1.

If he beats the Bears in Chicago, he’ll be dreaming of another Super Bowl in California.

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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Quarterback is the most important position in pro sports.

Allen is, by far, the most important player on the Bills.

He was a football hero against Jacksonville, taking hit after hit and making throw after throw.

Toss in two rushing TDs in a comeback victory and everyone insisting Allen wrongly won the NFL MVP last year looked silly again.

He might not make it to the AFC Championship but the kid who was barely recruited out of high school is definitely the best QB in the NFL playoffs right now.

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