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NFL Power Rankings, Week 9: Ranking the best QB/HC duos thus far in 2026

Which QB/HC duos have stuck out thus far?
ByLou Scataglia
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and head coach Joe Brady
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and head coach Joe Brady | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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2. Trevor Lawrence/Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

It's hard to overstate how good Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen have been since the final six weeks of the 2025 NFL Season. Not only did Lawrence play well enough to finish the 2025 season as an MVP candidate, he has kept up that level of play this year. The 6-2 Jacksonville Jaguars will likely runaway with the NFC South title this year and might have what it takes to win the Super Bowl.

Over the previous 14 regular season games, the Jaguars are 12-2, and Lawrence has 33 touchdowns against five interceptions. He also has four rushing touchdowns during that stretch and has been on a 40-passing touchdown pace across a 17-game season during this stretch.

The Jaguars are blowing out opponents with ease and feel like every bit of a juggernaut. Lawrence has 43 total touchdowns over his previous 17 regular season games as well. The veteran QB has had a 100+ passer rating in six of eight games this year, and it's also abundantly clear that Coen is a top-tier head coach who is on pace for another double-digit win season.

There isn't a clear weakness with the Lawrence/Coen duo at the moment. They land at No. 2 in our power rankings.

1. Brock Purdy/Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are tied for the best record in football. QB Brock Purdy is also playing some insane football this year, and the 49ers being 6-1 despite all the injuries they have gone through is a testament to how good of a coach Kyle Shanahan is. The 49ers have been injured like this for much of his tenure, but since the start of last year, the 49ers are 18-6, as they went 12-5 last year.

Purdy has 15 touchdown passes in seven games. He leads QBs in success rate and QBR as well. The veteran QB also leads QBs in sack rate, so he's not turning the ball over much and also isn't taking sacks, which has created top-tier efficiency for the 49ers, a team that ranks 5th in points scored per game.

The 49ers starting QB has produced despite a bare-bones group of playmakers at times, and Shanahan's ability to stack wins despite the injuries make this duo stick out as the best in the league.

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