There are four teams left in the NFL playoffs, but unfortunately, one of them will not have their starting QB. Despite the amazing games that we saw in the Divisional Round, the main storyline has been Bo Nix, as he broke his ankle in overtime in the team's win against the Buffalo Bills.
All eyes will now be on Jarrett Stidham, who is one of the more capable backups in the NFL. We also have seen backup passers win the Super Bowl. Nick Foles did this back in 2017 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Anyway, the conference championship games are this weekend, and there's only three games left here in 2025.
Let's power rank the four remaining quarterbacks ahead of the AFC and NFC title games.
Power ranking the four remaining quarterbacks approaching the conference title games
4. Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos
This isn't Jarrett Stidham's fault, but his no. 4 in our QB power rankings and is now the starting QB of the Denver Broncos. Stidham is a capable backup, and his head coach, Sean Payton, will know how to have him ready. Stidham was actually the first free agent that Sean Payton signed when he arrived in Denver.
The veteran QB spent time with the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, and he's in his third year in the Broncos offense. He's got some similarities to Bo Nix and should be able to play on time, but he doesn't have the athleticism that Nix has, so the gameplan might be a lot different.
However, Stidham has played well before. Back in 2022 with the Raiders, against a top-notch defense in San Francisco, Stidham actually went 23/34 for 365 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 108 passer rating that game. Despite the Raiders having lost in overtime, Stidham was simply surgical.
He's definitely not going to be asked to dropback 34 times, but we can't pretend like the Denver Broncos don't stand a chance.
3. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold has been good this year, but he had 20 total turnovers in the regular season, and that type of thing just cannot happen in the NFC title game. We have seen Darnold play well in high-stakes situations this year, but there is still an element of unknown with Darnold in the playoffs. You'd also be silly to take him over Matthew Stafford approaching the third matchup between LA and Seattle this year.
The Seahawks still have a high-flying defense, so that could help mask, somewhat, a rough outing from Darnold. In his final eight games of the regular season, the Seahawks starting QB threw eight touchdowns against eight picks and had an 83.2 passer rating. That type of performance cannot happen on Sunday.
2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye has been very good this year and will likely come in second place in the NFL MVP voting. Maye has been sacked 10 times and fumble six times in two playoff games, so some of the inexperience is showing, but Maye has made a ton of big-time throws this year and is going to do that on Sunday. The one thing that could derail this game for the Patriots is Maye putting the ball on the ground and getting sacked a ton.
Unfortunately for him, the Denver Broncos defense leads the league in sacks and just forced five turnovers in the Divisional Round.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Very likely the MVP this year, Matthew Stafford has been the best QB in the NFL and is no. 1 in our power rankings, unsurprisingly. Stafford could be on the cusp of cementing a Hall of Fame career, and if the Rams were to win it all this year, the veteran QB could enter some top-10 or even top-5 all-time debates.
He's played the best ball of his career at age-37 and is clearly the best remaining passer in the playoffs.