The NFL Playoff Picture is coming into shape here as the regular season winds down in a very entertaining 2025 NFL Season. The postseason could bring some shocking results, and the NFL world might get to enjoy a different Super Bowl matchup than whaty we've been accustomed to seeing.
The one thing that can be a huge tell in how far a team can do is the quarterback play - most playoff teams do have franchise quarterbacks, but not all of them. It's also pretty obvious which teams will be best suited in the playoffs based on who their QB is.
Let's power rank the 14 playoff quarterbacks as Week 18 approaches.
Power ranking all 14 NFL playoff quarterbacks with Week 18 on the horizon
14. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young just isn't a good quarterback and isn't consistent enough to sustain success in this league and to win a playoff game. Young is, by far, the worst current playoff quarterback.
13. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud is a good quarterback, but we haven't seen him get close to his rookie season, so you have to wonder if Stroud would be able to lead this team into a playoff run if needed. The Texans have advanced to the Divisional Round in each of the last two seasons.
12. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers could have one last shot at the playoffs, but he and the Pittsburgh Steelers just do not have that 'it' factor overall. The roster doesn't really scare you, and Rodgers, while efficient this year, isn't close to who he once was. This entire operation is the definition of 'good' and nothing more.
11. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams' completion percentage is currently below 58%, which is simply not sustainable beyond this year. He consistently doesn't put the ball in harm's way, which is awesome, but the second-year quarterback is still clearly flawed.
10. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts has always had limitations as a passer, but he's the 10th-ranked QB in our power rankings. The wealth of playoff experience that Hurts has is useful here in the playoffs, but the Eagles don't really have a clear path to the Super Bowl, and Hurts isn't close to elite like some think.
9. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Over his last seven games, Sam Darnold's passer rating has been above an 85 just twice. He's already thrown 14 interceptions this year, and his performances in big games isn't always encouraging. Darnold has thrown eight touchdowns against eight interceptions over his past seven games. That simply isn't good enough.
8. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix seems to come through when his team needs him to the most, as the Denver Broncos are 13-3 for a reason. Nix isn't the best QB in the NFL, but he's been a winner ever since stepping into the NFL and could help the Broncos earn the AFC's top playoff seed.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has been sacked over 50 times this year and won't play in Week 18, which is the right move. Herbert is 0-2 in the playoffs in his career, and with how poorly built the LA Chargers are, an 0-3 start could be realistic.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars have been heating up as of late and could carry this momentum into the postseason. The addition of Jakobi Meyers has really thrown this offense into a new direction. Lawrence has also been on fire over the last month and a half.
5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers are locked into the no. 7 seed. Jordan Love has been playing some great football this year, but it feels like this is going to be another season where the Packers are an early exit.
4. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye has taken a lot of sacks and has fumbled eight times, but his season has been MVP-worthy to an extent. I do worry about how this team performs in the playoffs, but top QB play is something that can cut through a lot, so the Pats have a chance.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is the reigning MVP and is definitely having to carry more of the load this year, but he's one of a small handful of quarterbacks who can do that in this league. Allen's Bills will now have to go on the road in the playoffs this year.
2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy has been heating up in recent weeks. Already with six games of playoff experience and a start in the Super Bowl, Purdy has been there and (almost) done that with the San Francisco 49ers, who have already doubled their regular season win total from the 2024 NFL Season and are still in contention for the NFC's top seed.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
It's hard to find a notable flaw in Matthew Stafford's game right now, and you really can't let a shakt Week 17 performance take away from the big picture. For about 90% of the season, Stafford has been on another level and should still win the MVP this year. He also helped lead the LA Rams to the Super Bowl in 2021, so another run could be on the horizon.