NFL 2020 Quarterback Power Rankings heading into Week 11

This week’s NFL Quarterback Power Rankings feature Patrick Mahomes at No. 1 for the second consecutive week. However, Russell Wilson has fallen outside of the top three for the first time this season. Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Alex Smith were a few of the high risers from a chaotic weekend. Tom Brady also rebounded after one of the worst games of his career.

For now, Mahomes holds the top spot with an iron grip. We’ve already seen plenty of MVP caliber quarterbacks struggle this season. So, a change could come at any time.

Check out last week’s power rankings for a better perspective on this week’s article.

1. Patrick Mahomes BYE WEEK

Last week’s ranking: 1

Mahomes usurped Russell Wilson for the No. 1 spot on the Quarterback Power Rankings last week. The former MVP is having another phenomenal season, completing 66.9% of his passes and posting a 115.9 passer rating. He’s also on pace to throw for 4,776 yards, 44 touchdowns, and only one interception. The Kansas City Chiefs are 8-1, and four of their final seven games come against teams with winning records.

2. Aaron Rodgers 24/34 325 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 3

The Green Bay Packers had an uncharacteristically slow day against the Jacksonville Jaguars, only winning 24-20. Rodgers threw his third interception of the year but still posted a 108.1 passer rating. Aside from Green Bay’s humiliating Week 6 loss to Tampa Bay, Rodgers hasn’t posted a game with a passer rating below 107.0 this season.

3. Tom Brady 28/39 341 yards, three touchdowns, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 9

After an embarrassing loss last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rebounded against the Carolina Panthers. Brady was almost perfect, completing 71.79% of his pass attempts for a 124.0 passer rating. The future Hall of Famer connected with Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin at least six times each.

4. Russell Wilson 22/37 248 yards, two interceptions, 60 rushing yards, one fumble lost

Last week’s ranking: 2

The Seattle Seahawks need to find a way to stop the bleeding. For the second week in a row, Wilson had more turnovers than touchdowns. A similar issue occurred around this time last season that torpedoed Wilson’s 2019 MVP candidacy. Now, it’s happening all over again. The superstar quarterback finished Sunday with a 57.0 passer rating.

At 6-3, the Seattle Seahawks have the same record as the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. However, because of tiebreakers, the Seahawks rank third in the ultra-competitive NFC West. Seattle needs to protect Wilson better, establish the running game, and somehow try to fix the defense.

Wilson only clings to his spot in the top four because this past weekend was a bad outing for several of the NFL’s other dominant quarterbacks.

5. Drew Brees 8/13 76 yards, one touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 4

Brees suffered an injury late in the second quarter, and Jameis Winston took over in the second half. Brees played efficient football during the first half, even if he didn’t produce the most awe-inspiring numbers. Winston went 6/10 for 63 yards during his time in the spotlight as the New Orleans Saints topped the San Francisco 49ers 27-13. Brees maintains a high spot on this list because I don’t feel right moving him down for an incomplete performance.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later reported that Brees suffered a rib contusion and is expected to miss several weeks.

6. Ben Roethlisberger 27/46 333 yards, four touchdowns

Last week’s ranking: 11

Despite only putting up 44 rushing yards, the Pittsburgh Steelers easily dismantled the Cincinnati Bengals. Roethlisberger hadn’t practiced during the week because of COVID-19, but he looked sharp against Cincinnati, posting a 110.1 passer rating. Sunday marked Big Ben’s second game with at least four passing touchdowns in the past two and a half years. The last instance was a five-touchdown game against Carolina on Nov. 8, 2018.

7. Kyler Murray 22/32 245 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 61 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns

Last week’s ranking: 10

The only blemish on Murray’s day was an interception that Larry Fitzgerald popped up into the air. Otherwise, the second-year quarterback was nearly perfect. Under intense pressure from Buffalo’s defensive front, Murray delivered the Cardinals a 32-30 win on a Hail Mary to DeAndre Hopkins.

8. Josh Allen 32/49 284 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, 38 rushing yards, one receiving touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 6

Turnovers struck Allen again on Sunday. While the third-year quarterback still had a good game, the Buffalo Bills lost on a game-winning heave by Murray. If Allen hadn’t turned the ball over twice, Buffalo might’ve had a larger lead in the final minutes. However, Allen did get each of his top-three receivers over 70 yards, and he led the Bills in rushing. It was a Russell Wilson-esque performance.

9. Deshaun Watson 20/30 163 yards, one touchdown, 36 rushing yards

Last week’s ranking: 5

The Houston Texans had a winnable game against the Cleveland Browns, but Houston’s offense looked off all day. The Browns put consistent pressure on Watson, forcing the Pro Bowler into uncomfortable situations. Watson tossed Houston’s only touchdown of the day and finished the game with a 91.4 passer rating.

10. Joe Burrow 21/40 213 yards, one touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 7

Burrow took a beating against Pittsburgh’s dominant defensive front. The Bengals quickly fell behind against the Steelers and never recovered. In the one-sided affair, Burrow only completed 52.5% of his passes for a 76.4 passer rating. Before Sunday’s game, Burrow had completed over 70.0% of his passes for passer ratings over 100.0 in two consecutive games. The lopsided loss to Pittsburgh also marked Burrow’s first career game with a completion percentage below 60.0%.

11. Derek Carr 16/25 154 yards

Last week’s ranking: 13

Carr isn’t putting up big numbers this season, but he doesn’t have to. The Las Vegas Raiders are 4-1 in their last five games, and Carr hasn’t thrown for over 200 yards since Week 7. Against the Denver Broncos, the Raiders ran for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Carr is playing safe, efficient, winning football.

12. Ryan Tannehill 15/27 147 yards, one touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 8

For the second week in a row, Tannehill turned in an uncharacteristically mediocre performance. He completed 55.56% of his passes as the Tennessee Titans lost 34-17 to the Indianapolis Colts. Over the past two games, Tannehill has completed 52.08% of his throws for 305 yards and three touchdowns. The once 5-0 Titans have lost three of their last four games.

13. Teddy Bridgewater 18/24 136 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 12

If the Panthers had Christian McCaffrey, they could’ve given Tampa Bay a lot of trouble. As it was, Bridgewater kept the score even at halftime, but Tampa Bay pulled away in the game’s final 30 minutes. Unfortunately, Bridgewater limped into the locker room with an apparent knee injury late in the fourth quarter. P.J. Walker finished Carolina’s final two drives.

14. Tua Tagovailoa 15/25 169 yards, two touchdowns

Last week’s ranking: 16

Tagovailoa didn’t match his outstanding performance from Week 9, completing 60.0% of his passes and finishing the day with a 106.9 passer rating. The Miami Dolphins are 6-3, and Tagovailoa is undefeated as a starter. His best trait so far has been his ball security and ability to avoid making foolish decisions.

15. Matthew Stafford 24/33 276 yards, three touchdowns

Last week’s ranking: 19

Say what you want about Stafford’s week-to-week consistency, he’s continuously performed in the clutch during his career. With under 20 seconds left in the game against Washington, Stafford got the Detroit Lions in position for a Matt Prater game-winning field goal. Stafford’s 127.8 passer rating was his highest this season.

16. Justin Herbert 20/32 187 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 14

Herbert arguably had the worst game of his young career against the Dolphins. The Oregon product completed 62.5% of his passes and posted an 86.3 passer rating. He and Tagovailoa finished with similar stat lines. The only differences are Herbert’s interception and his rushing touchdown. Herbert still only has one win as a starter.

17. Matt Ryan BYE WEEK

Last week’s ranking: 15

Ryan entered Week 10 leading the NFL in pass attempts, completions, and yards. He’s had an up and down season, but the Atlanta Falcons are slowly finding their rhythm. They’ve won three of their last four games, and Ryan hasn’t completed fewer than 70.0% of his passes in a game since Week 5. The former MVP is on pace for 4,881 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

18. Philip Rivers 29/39 308 yards, one touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 27

The Colts surprised the Titans on Thursday night and captured the top spot in the AFC South. Rivers had one of his best games this season, completing 74.36% of his pass attempts and posting a 105.5 passer rating. After throwing four touchdowns and five interceptions in his first five games, Rivers has seven touchdowns and only two turnovers in his last four outings.

19. Lamar Jackson 24/34 249 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, 55 rushing yards

Last week’s ranking: 18

For the first time since Week 1, Jackson threw for over 210 yards. However, his performance came during a night where the Baltimore Ravens arguably should’ve run the ball more. While the New England Patriots ran 39 times and picked up the win, Baltimore only ran 28 times. Jackson completed 70.59% of his pass attempts during the loss.

20. Kirk Cousins 25/36 292 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

Last week’s ranking: 17

Outside of Adam Thielen gifting Khalil Mack an interception, Cousins didn’t suffer many setbacks on Monday night. He recorded his third consecutive game with a passer rating over 100.0, and the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears. At 4-5, the once 1-5 Vikings are only a game behind the Bears for second place in the NFC North.

21. Jared Goff 27/37 302 yards, one fumble lost

Last week’s ranking: 20

Goff calmly piloted the Rams to a win over their division rivals. The former Pro Bowler completed 72.97% of his pass attempts and finished the game with a 96.9 passer rating. The performance marks a significant rebound for Goff, who posted a season-low 65.9 passer rating in his last start. The Rams jumped ahead of Seattle into second place in the NFC West.

22. Alex Smith 38/55 390 yards

Last week’s ranking: 32

On Sunday, Smith made his first start since suffering a horrific leg injury in 2018. The veteran set career-highs with 38 completions and 390 passing yards. The week also marked the first time in Smith’s career that he’s thrown for over 300 yards in back-to-back games. Washington came close to forcing overtime against Detroit, but the defense couldn’t hold up.

23. Baker Mayfield 12/20 132 yards

Last week’s ranking: 22

With Nick Chubb back in the fold, Cleveland turned to its ground game against Houston, rushing for 231 yards. For his part, Mayfield completed 60.0% of his pass attempts and posted a 79.6 passer rating. Despite piling up over 360 yards, the Browns only scored ten points. Cleveland’s game plan didn’t give Mayfield many opportunities to make big plays or mistakes.

24. Daniel Jones 21/28 244 yards, 64 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 31

Despite not throwing a touchdown against the Eagles, Jones had the best performance of his second season. He posted a passer rating over 100.0 (100.9) for the first time this year and had just his second game in 2020 without a turnover. Jones’ 75.0 completion percentage also set a new mark for the season. If Jones played at this level more often, the Giants might have four or five wins.

25. Carson Wentz 21/37 208 yards

Last week’s ranking: 23

The Philadelphia Eagles hit a new low on Sunday, losing 17-27 to the New York Giants. Wentz only completed 56.76% of his passes and finished the day with a 72.8 passer rating during the loss. Injuries could explain Philadelphia’s early-season struggles offensively, but things have gotten out of hand now.

26. Cam Newton 13/17 118 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown

Last week’s ranking: 29

Newton didn’t have an extremely active night as a passer, but he played efficient football. In rainy conditions, the Patriots ran 39 times while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Their dedication to the ground game paid off with a 23-17 victory over the six-win Ravens. Newton’s 114.3 passer rating marked his first rating over 100.0 since Week 1.

27. Joe Flacco BYE WEEK

Last week’s ranking: 24

Sam Darnold is still dealing with an AC joint injury, and he won’t play in Week 11. Some fans might question whether the New York Jets should stick with Flacco going forward after the veteran posted a 128.7 passer rating against the New England Patriots. However, it benefits New York more to continue testing its young quarterback.

28. Nick Mullens 24/38 247 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions

Last week’s ranking: 25

The 49ers only trailed the Saints 17-14 at halftime, but two interceptions helped New Orleans build an insurmountable lead in the second half. Mullens is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s not good enough to completely cover for a starter. He wasn’t helped by the running game on Sunday, which only produced 49 yards.

29. Jake Luton 18/35 169 yards, one touchdown, one interception

Last week’s ranking: 21

A week after making his impressive NFL debut in a near upset against the Texans, Luton showed all of his flaws against Green Bay. While the Jaguars still nearly put together an upset bid, Luton only completed 51.43% of his passes and finished the game with a 62.7 passer rating. If Gardner Minshew had played, Jacksonville might’ve won.

30. Nick Foles 15/26 106 yards, one interception

Last week’s ranking: 26

Foles’ never-ending cold streak continued against the Vikings. The former Super Bowl MVP faced constant pressure throughout the game and finished with a 51.1 passer rating. With less than a minute left in the game, a Vikings defender slammed Foles into the ground. He was carted off the field, and Tyler Bray took Chicago’s final snaps.

31. Garrett Gilbert BYE WEEK

Last week’s ranking: 30

Between suffering a concussion in Week 7 and landing on the COVID-19 list less than a week later, Andy Dalton isn’t having a fun time in Dallas. The Red Rifle returned to practice for Dallas on Monday, and he’ll probably start this weekend. Against the Steelers Gilbert threw for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

32. Drew Lock 23/47 257 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions

Last week’s ranking: 28

In the worst game of his career, Lock turned the ball over four times. His 37.3 passer rating encapsulates the embarrassing performance. There’s not much more to say about Lock. It looks like John Elway has missed on another quarterback.