Ranking all 12 QBs in NFL playoffs (Mr. Brady's spot may surprise you)

1. Russell Wilson, Seahawks

What he does best: Throw deep

The Seahawks are a run-heavy offense and love to use play action, leading to one-on-one matchups deep down field for Tyler Lockett (1,057 yards, 8 TDs) and rookie DK Metcalf  (900 yards, 7 TDs). Wilson exploits those situations.

What he doesn't: Sight lines

While the 5-foot-11 Wilson has been a massive success in the NFL, his lack of height can be a problem for him. Searching for an open target, he sometimes holds the ball too long in the pocket behind a questionable line. Wilson was sacked 48 times this season, second most of his career.

Key number: 11

That's the number of Seahawks wins. If Wilson were an average QB, Seattle wouldn't have won more than seven games. 

How to stop him: Keep Seattle running

Wilson only passed 516 times this season, in the same neighborhood as the Raiders' Derek Carr and Bears' Mitchell Trubisky and about the middle of the NFL pack. The last thing a defense should want is for Seattle to abandon its running game and let Wilson sling it all over the yard.

2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs 

What he does best: Extreme playmaking

Mahomes has unreal talent, and he knows it. So does Andy Reid, and the Chiefs have surrounded their franchise quarterback with fantastic individual playmakers. He is the most dangerous passer in the NFL.

What he doesn't: Sometimes takes too many risks.

Mahomes' risk taking is also a great strength. He makes plays, and attempts throws, that other just can’t … or won’t. But while it hasn’t come back to bite him yet (only 18 interceptions on 1,099 career passing attempts), Mahomes does put the football in harm’s way more than most realize.

Key Number: 8.3

Mahomes’ yards per attempt, good for third among the playoff quarterbacks. The Titans' Ryan Tannehill (9.6) and 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo (8.4) are 1-2. 

How to stop him: Hit him

Mahomes has dealt with injuries throughout this season, and the Chiefs' offensive line is questionable. Stopping Mahomes is a nightmare, so punishing his body early and often is a good strategy. 

3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

What he does best: Run

Jackson does a lot of things well, but his running skills are what make him so difficult to handle. His speed is startling, but so is his change of direction, start/stop ability and vision with the ball in his hands.

What he doesn't: Handle the weather

In Week 13, Jackson struggled passing against the 49ers in heavy rain (14-for-23, 105 yards). He also didn’t adjust to an NFL ball as quickly as other QBs have. How well will he throw when the weather is dicey?

Key number: 80.4

Yards Jackson averaged rushing per game this season. Let that sink in.

How to stop him: Hit him ... a lot.

Every defense must have a pass-rush plan against Jackson to keep him from getting loose. It's especially important to have a defender smash into him at the mesh point in Baltimore’s read-option plays. That could persuade the Ravens to choose another option.

4. Drew Brees, Saints

What he does best: Throw accurately

Brees has no peer in this critical category. He completes a lot of easy throws, of course, but his ball location is incredible.

What he doesn't: Handle poor weather

If New Orleans beats Minnesota, it will play in the divisional round in Green Bay, where it could be quite cold. As you would expect, Brees’ numbers at home indoors at the Superdome are better than on the road. Brees could struggle to drive the ball through the elements, especially deep downfield.

Key number: 74.3

Brees’ completion percentage, the best in the NFL. Second? Derek Carr at 70.5%.

How to stop him: Take away Thomas

Oh, it's soooo easy. Double-team wideout Michael Thomas, who only had an NFL-record 149 receptions in 2019, the entire game and let the other guys beat you. 

5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

What he does best: Inspires confidence

When the going gets tough in the playoffs, Green Bay’s young skill-position talent can look into Rodgers’ eyes in the huddle. That must be a settling feeling, one that inspires great confidence. He’s an all-time great who could erupt at any time.

What he doesn't: He's no longer Superman

For the majority of his amazing career, Rodgers was the rarest of passers and playmakers. He could do it all, make all the throws. The recent tape reveals that he is no longer that superhero as a passer. He threw for more than 300 yards only four times this season.

Key number: 4

Rodgers' 2019 interception total. His career 364/84 career TD/INT ratio is one of the more remarkable numbers of all time. He has thrown only six picks the past two seasons on 725 throws. 

How to stop him: Take away Davante Adams

No playoff passing game is focused more on one receiver than Green Bay's. Adams, who had 83 catches for 892 yards in 2019, is a great player, but if the defense forces Rodgers to go elsewhere, the Packers could be in trouble. The rest of Green Bay's receiving corps is ho-hum.

6. Deshaun Watson Texans

What he does best: Improv

Watson is good within the structure of the designed play. But he can be lethal as a runner or passer when everything goes off script.

What he doesn't: Playing without Will Fuller

DeAndre Hopkins is the Texans' best wide receiver and one of the very best of this generation. But it is startling how Houston’s offense and Watson’s numbers decline when Fuller isn’t in the lineup. Fuller (49 catches for 670 yards), who's battling a groin injury, is a game-time decision against Buffalo. Uh-oh. 

Key number: 44

The Texans significantly upgraded their offensive line by trading for tackle Laremy Tunsil, but Watson still was sacked 44 times in the regular season. He often holds the ball too long, leading to sacks. 

How to stop him: Get a lead

Watson sometimes tries to do too much when the Texans fall behind. The home crowd can get down on the Texans quickly. If Buffalo gets an early lead Saturday, watch out.

7. Tom Brady, Patriots

What he does best: Think

He's outstanding at the line of scrimmage, before and after the snap. And he might be the most mentally tough QB of all time. Brady is the least likely of any QB on this list to make a critical mental error in a big moment.  

What he doesn't: Age

Brady’s body is beginning to let him down. His arm strength and mobility have declined. The ball doesn't come out as quickly or crisply as it has in the past. Hey, the guy's 42! 

Key number: 6

Super Bowl rings Mr. Brady has. Enough said.

How to stop him: Hit him

Brady has struggled against pressure and the blitz this season, and his protection isn't great, Advice for Titans: Get quick interior pressure and put Brady on his back. Think Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel, a former Patriot, is scheming this up? In the Titans' 34-10 win in Nashville last season, Brady was 21-for-41 for 254 yards and no touchdowns. His receiving corps is much worse this season.

8. Carson Wentz, Eagles

What he does best: Throw

Few seem to realize that he is among the NFL's best passers --  in the pocket, outside the pocket, on the run. He's adept at squeezing the ball into small windows and unafraid to pull the trigger anytime. 

What he doesn't: Get help

It's not his fault, of course, but Wentz was victimized by 19 drops by his receivers this season, near the top of the list in that dubious category. (Miami led the league with 28.) Plus, there's no consistent chain mover among his banged-up receiving corps.

Key number: 500

Although he threw for 4,039 yards, Wentz didn't have a wide receiver top 500 yards. Tight end Zach Ertz, who's questionable for Sunday's game against Seattle with kidney and rib injuries, leads the Eagles with 916 yards receiving. 

How a defense can stop him: Make him do it all

Wentz has loads of ability and is playing very well. But he can certainly “do too much” at times, and we know that his wide receivers aren’t going to carry him. Wentz was second in the league with 16 fumbles this season, two behind Giants rookie Daniel Jones. 

9. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

What he does best: Passing touch

While he doesn’t have a huge arm, Garoppolo has a quick release and throws the ball with excellent touch -- especially on the move. 

What he doesn't: Take over

In six seasons, Garoppolo has only appeared in 42 games. With the exception of 2019,  he has not played more than six games in a season. The book is still unwritten on Garoppolo, and we don’t know if he can take over in a big game and put the team on his back.

Key number: 2.7

Garoppolo’s interception percentage, the worst mark of any QB in the playoffs. He's mistake-prone.

How to stop him: Make him win it

Well schemed by head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers' offense is difficult to play against. Stop the run, put the ball in the Garoppolo's hands, and take your chances. 

10. Ryan Tannehill, Titans

What he does best: Big plays

Since Tannehill took over for the ineffective Marcus Mariota in Week 7, the offense went from mundane to explosive. Tannehill has developed an excellent rapport with rookie receiver A.J. Brown, often hitting him in stride and watching him run away from a defense. Brown has 778 receiving yards (20.5-yard average) in games with Tannehill, who a great athlete and can break big runs on his own.

What he doesn't: Consistency

Will he play well against top-flight competition? (Tennessee defeated only two teams that finished the regular season with winning records.) Tannehill was highly inconsistent in six seasons in Miami. He is talented and perhaps has turned the corner, but his pocket presence is still questionable.

Key number: 70.3

Only New Orleans' Drew Brees (74.3) and Oakland's Derek Carr (70.4) had a higher completion percentage in 2019. 

How to stop him: Key on Derrick Henry

Can he lead the Titans to victory if running room for bulldozer Derrick Henry (303 carries for 1,540 yards) is sparse? Surely Bill Belichick is scheming to take away Henry. Will Tannehill make him pay? Much of the Titans' passing production comes off play action. 

11. Kirk Cousins, Vikings

What he does best: Executes the system

Cousins is somewhat of a paint-by-numbers quarterback. He executes Minnesota’s friendly system quite well.

What he doesn't: Ad-lib

Cousins can make plays outside of structure, but he also can really get into trouble. Early in his career, Cousins turned the ball over at an alarming rate. He has clearly improved (only 6 picks in 2019), but it is still a concern when the lights are brightest, the offense doesn’t go by design, and he is under pressure.

Key number: 11.7

Cousins’ average yards per completion. Many don’t think of the Vikings as having a great downfield passing game. But only four of the playoff quarterbacks are better than Cousins in this category.

How to stop him: Don’t bite

Don't play hero ball on defense and bite on play action. Make Cousins make plays without help from the scheme.

12. Josh Allen, Bills

What he does best: Physicality

Allen's physicality, whether as a passer or as a runner, stands out. When he is rolling -- and Allen always plays with passion -- he can be tough to slow. The coaching staff realizes he isn’t consistent, but when he makes a few “wow!" plays a game, Buffalo is tough to beat.

What he doesn't: Deep ball

Allen has a monster arm, but he isn't accurate (58.8 completion percentage; league average 63.5). This really becomes a problem on deep passes.

Key number: 461

Of the quarterbacks on this list who appeared in all 16 games, Allen’s 461 passing attempts are the fewest. The Bills clearly want to run the ball.  

How to stop him: Crowd line of scrimmage

Beg Allen to take deep shots downfield. Put a lot of bodies near the line of scrimmage to stop the run and shallow crossing routes.