Who's hot and who's not? Where Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford and other QBs rank heading into playoffs

The NFL playoffs are set. Over the next month, the Super Bowl hopes of the 14 postseason teams will hinge on quarterback play. 

Entering the postseason, some QBs are faring better than others. With that in mind, let's rank them in inverse order.

14. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers 

2023 No. 1 pick Young deserves credit for making his first playoff appearance, but he has gone 2-3 over his past five starts and hasn't pushed the ball downfield much. During this stretch, he averaged 176 passing yards per game, well below the league average (209.7). 

Young's inability to produce explosive plays may prove costly in Carolina's (8-9) home wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). The Rams allowed 20.4 points per game during the regular season, the 10th-best mark in the league. 

13. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Houston's stingy defense has carried Stroud throughout the season. The Texans (12-5) surrendered 17.4 points per game during the regular season, the second fewest in the league. The QB, meanwhile, posted career lows in passing yards (3,041 in 14 starts) and TD passes (19).

The Texans hope Stroud and the offense click before their road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) on Monday (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC). Otherwise, the only NFL team to fail to make a conference title game may get shut down again. 

12. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Yes, Darnold joined future Hall of Famer Tom Brady as the only QBs in league history with consecutive 14-win seasons. But he has struggled with turnovers throughout the season.  

Darnold tossed 14 interceptions in 17 starts during the regular season, the third most in the NFL. Over his past three starts, he has thrown the same number of TD passes and interceptions (three). The bye week for Seattle (14-3) gives the QB plenty of time to work out the bugs, which he must do to win his first playoff game.  

11. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rodgers clearly remains clutch after throwing a 26-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Austin III late in the fourth quarter of a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. That's been one of the few thrilling moments from the 42-year-old QB this season. 

Rodgers averaged 207.6 passing yards per game in 17 regular-season starts, the fifth-lowest mark of his 21-year career. Over his past three games, he threw no interceptions but tossed just two TD passes. Despite that, don't count out one-time Super Bowl champion Rodgers in the postseason. 

10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Love hasn't thrived over his past three starts, throwing four TD passes and three interceptions and logging a below-average 89 passer rating. The struggles may be tied to a lingering left shoulder issue he has battled throughout the season.

It hasn't been a horrible season for Love, who tossed 23 TD passes in the regular season. If he rediscovers the groove that had the Packers (9-7-1) looking like an early Super Bowl favorite, that would help them upset the Chicago Bears (11-6) on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video).   

9. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Nix's play in 2025 could best be described as a roller coaster. The second-year QB tied for ninth in the league in TD passes (25)  but posted a below-average 87.8 passer rating. Over his past three starts, he threw the same number of TD passes and interceptions (two). 

Nix, however, guided Denver to a 14-3 record and had a league-leading seven game-winning drives. His clutch play should give the Broncos plenty of confidence as they prepare during their bye week. 

8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts threw 25 TD passes in 16 regular-season starts after tossing 18 in 16 in 2024. The sixth-year QB, though, has failed to throw for more than 185 yards over his past three starts. He has also averaged a career-low 7.1 yards per pass attempt. 

Hurts and Philadelphia (11-6) could remind fans why they're the reigning Super Bowl champions against the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). The QB — who has a 6-3 postseason record — is a proven playoff performer. 

7. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

In his first season under rookie head coach Ben Johnson, Williams is showing why the Bears took him with pick No. 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft. In 17 regular-season starts, the QB had a league-leading six fourth-quarter comebacks and threw 27 TD passes. 

But being more accurate in the postseason will be important for the QB. Williams completed 58.1 percent of his passes during the regular season, well below the league average (64.3 percent). He has completed 64-of-109 attempts over his past three games (58.7 percent).

6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert has cooled since suffering a fractured left hand in a 31-14 Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders (3-14). During this stretch, he tossed five TD passes and three interceptions. He still tied for seventh in the league in TD passes (26) during the regular season. 

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh rested Herbert in a 19-3 Week 18 loss to the Broncos. He hopes the QB looks fresh when the Chargers (11-6) face the New England Patriots (14-3) on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). 

5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Since returning from a turf toe injury in his left foot in Week 11, Purdy has played like an MVP candidate. Over his past seven starts, he has a stellar 105.6 passer rating and has tossed 16 TD passes and six interceptions (via StatMuse).

The Niners know they can trust Purdy in the playoffs, as he led them to the Super Bowl during the 2023 season. Note: He's listed as questionable after suffering a left shoulder injury in a 13-3 Week 18 loss to Seattle.  

4. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

2021 No. 1 pick Lawrence may be living up to the hype under new HC Liam Coen. During the regular season, the former Clemson Tigers star ranked sixth in the league in passing yards (4,007) and fifth in TD passes (29). 

Lawrence and Jacksonville (13-4) are rolling before their game against the Buffalo Bills (12-5) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The QB has won eight straight games, tossing 19 TD passes and five interceptions during this stretch (via StatMuse).  

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Don't expect Allen to win a second consecutive league MVP, but he remains super-productive. In 17 regular-season starts, he had 39 TDs (25 passing and 14 rushing). 

Despite another spectacular season, Allen may be cooling at the wrong time. Over his past three starts, he has thrown no TD passes and rushed for two TDs. But let's give the standout passer the benefit of the doubt. 

2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams 

At 37, Stafford is having a career year and is in the MVP conversation. In 17 regular-season starts, he threw a league-leading 46 TD passes and posted a career-high 109.2 passer rating. 

Stafford had some turnover issues late in the season, which is why he isn't No. 1 on the list. Over his past four starts, he tossed four interceptions after throwing four in his first 13. 

1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

The Patriots may have found the successor to former QB Brady in Maye. During the regular season, the second-year passer ranked fourth in the league in passing yards (4,394) and third in TD passes (31). 

Maye seems poised to play his best when it matters most, as seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady did through his 20 seasons in New England. Over his past five starts, he has tossed 10 TD passes and two interceptions.