Week 16 further flushed out the playoff seedings and how the quarterback hierarchy will look at the end of the season. In the last week of the season, some backups will take over for star quarterbacks, so this is the final power rankings after a week where all the top quarterbacks will play.
On the AFC side of the playoff bracket, the Baltimore Ravens clinched the first seed behind another strong performance by Lamar Jackson. The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South, and the Tennessee Titans took the sixth seed from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The New England Patriots also claimed another AFC East title with a win over the Buffalo Bills.
In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks lost the first seed and swapped places with the San Francisco 49ers again. The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North with a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles took control of the NFC East by defeating the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, let’s roll into Week’s 16 quarterback power rankings.
1. Lamar Jackson 20/31 238 yards, three touchdowns, 103 rushing yards, one fumble lost
Last week’s ranking: 1
The future MVP started slowly against the Cleveland Browns before catching fire. He posted his fifth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and his ninth game with a passer rating over 100.0. With the top seed in the AFC clinched, Baltimore will likely rest Jackson in Week 17.
2. Drew Brees 27/38 279 yards, three touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 3
Brees is putting up MVP-caliber performances late in the regular season. Since Week 11, the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns has 19 touchdowns and just one interception. He is on pace to break his own single-season completion percentage record.
3. Patrick Mahomes 23/33 251 yards, two touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 5
The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs are on a five-game winning streak and close out their season against the Los Angeles Chargers. So far, less than one percent of Mahomes’ pass attempts resulted in interceptions this season.
4. Russell Wilson 16/31 169 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 2
Just like the rest of Seattle’s team, Wilson failed to show up against the Arizona Cardinals. Sure, he put up decent numbers, but they were far below the standard Wilson is held to. He underperformed, and now the Seahawks are back in the fifth seed.
5. Ryan Tannehill 17/27 272 yards, three touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 4
In his nine starts, Tannehill is 6-3 with 2,400 yards, 20 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 118.7 passer rating. The Tennessee Titans control their playoff destiny against Houston in Week 17.
6. Carson Wentz 31/40 319 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 10
This was the performance every Wentz supporter was waiting for. With backup offensive players all over the lineup, Wentz completed 77.50 of his pass attempts and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 17-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles now control their destiny.
7. Deshaun Watson 19/32 184 yards, one interception, 37 rushing yards
Last week’s ranking: 6
The Houston Texans escaped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a sloppy Saturday game. If not for Tampa Bay’s incompetency, the Texans would have lost. It was Watson’s fourth game this season with a sub-65.0 passer rating.
8. Jimmy Garoppolo 16/27 248 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 9
Despite his two turnovers, Garoppolo came through in the clutch for the San Francisco 49ers. He marched San Francisco down the field for a game-winning field goal that ended Los Angeles’ playoff hopes. With a 12-3 record and a 101.0 passer rating, 2019 is the best season of Garoppolo’s career.
9. Tom Brady 26/33, 271 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 12
Against the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots and Brady secured their eleventh consecutive AFC East title. Brady posted a 111.0 passer rating, his first passer rating over 100 since Week 5. Even during a difficult season, Brady came through when it mattered most.
10. Kirk Cousins 16/31 122 yards, one touchdown, one interception
Last week’s ranking: 7
Without Dalvin Cook, Minnesota’s running game collapsed. The one-dimensional offense failed to capitalize on the many mistakes made by the Green Bay Packers in the first half. As a result, the Packers won the division, and Cousins is 0-9 on Monday Night Football.
11. Aaron Rodgers 26/40 216 yards, one interception
Last week’s ranking: 13
In a poor showing from Green Bay and their future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Packers prevailed over the Vikings and clinched the NFC North. Rodgers threw just his third interception of the season and posted his lowest passer rating (68.3) this season.
12. Derek Carr 26/30 291 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 15
In some long-winded scenario, the Oakland Raiders can still get the sixth seed in the AFC. All they can do is beat Denver next week and hope things fall in their favor. In the last three weeks, Carr has four touchdowns and a 110.4 passer rating.
13. Josh Allen 13/26 208 yards, two touchdowns, 43 rushing yards
Last week’s ranking: 16
All things considered, Allen posted impressive numbers against the Patriots. He put up a 102.7 passer rating after back-to-back sub-70.0 games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Buffalo will wait another year for a shot at the AFC East title.
14. Dak Prescott 25/44 265 yards
Last week’s ranking: 8
With Dallas’ season potentially on the line, Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott, and Prescott all had poor performances. Prescott completed fewer than 60% of his pass attempts and failed to score a touchdown. Now, Dallas needs help to make the playoffs.
15. Matt Ryan 32/45 384 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 14
The Atlanta Falcons earned a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, but that won’t stave off the changes coming in Atlanta this offseason. Since losing the Super Bowl, the Falcons are trending in the wrong direction.
16. Kyler Murray 11/18 118 yards, one touchdown, 40 rushing yards
Last week’s ranking: 17
The Cardinals picked up an impressive win over the Seahawks on Sunday. However, Murray exited the contest in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. At this point, Arizona should play it safe and keep Murray on the sideline in Week 17.
17. Andy Dalton 33/56 396 yards, four touchdowns, one fumble lost
Last week’s ranking: 22
This time next year, Bengals fans will be basking in the glory of Joe Burrow. With Cincinnati’s loss on Sunday, the Bengals clinched the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Now, where will Dalton play next season?
18. Ryan Fitzpatrick 31/52 419 yards, four touchdowns, one interception
Last week’s ranking: 18
The 37-year-old journeyman must be living the life in Miami. Imagine getting to start for a team with no expectations and little chance of being benched. The Dolphins defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in a 38-35 overtime thriller no one thought they wanted.
19. Jameis Winston 25/48 335 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 11
Classic Winston. In a sloppy Saturday opener, the Buccaneers failed to take advantage of Houston’s mistakes and turned the ball over five times. Crazily, Tampa Bay only lost the game by three points. Winston’s 4,908 passing yards and 28 interceptions lead the NFL this season.
20. Jared Goff 27/46 323 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Last week’s ranking: 19
Los Angeles’ playoff hopes ended perfectly, with Goff throwing a pick-six and the defense allowing a drive that led to a game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter. In his 15 starts this season, Goff threw 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. His passer rating this season is 84.8.
21. Daniel Jones 28/42 352 yards, five touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: Unranked (DNP)
If the New York Giants played pushover secondaries every week, Jones would be a Pro Bowler. This season, Jones threw for four or more touchdowns against Detroit, the Jets, and now the Washington Redskins. New York outgunned Washington in a 41-35 overtime win.
22. Sam Darnold 16/26 183 yards, one touchdown, one fumble lost
Last week’s ranking: 24
Plenty of issues plagued the New York Jets and Darnold this season. However, Darnold shows flashes of potential. At the very least, he is outperforming Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen this season. Darnold is set up for a solid third season, if New York fixes its running game.
23. Gardner Minshew II 18/31 181 yards, one touchdown, 36 rushing yards
Last week’s ranking: 20
The mustached sixth-round pick doesn’t boast the same magic he did earlier this season. Since returning to the starting role in Week 13, Minshew has five touchdowns and one interception, but the Jaguars are just 1-3.
24. Dwayne Haskins 12/15 133 yards, two touchdowns
Last week’s ranking: 28
Looking past his early-season struggles, Haskins kept Washington in games the previous three weeks. During that time, he threw five touchdowns, one interception, and posted a 109.5 passer rating. Haskins left Washington’s game on Sunday with a minor ankle injury. He’ll probably sit out the season finale.
25. Drew Lock 25/33 192 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 31
The rookie second-round pick’s first four starts are like a rollercoaster with very high peaks and very low drops. Sunday was a peak as Lock guided the Denver Broncos to a comfortable win against the Detroit Lions, completing 75.76% of his pass attempts and posting a 99.6 passer rating.
26. Jacoby Brissett 14/27 119 yards, 37 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 25
The Indianapolis Colts pulled off an easy 38-6 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, but that doesn’t excuse Brissett’s recent struggles. After starting the year hot, Brissett completed less than 60.0% of his pass attempts for four touchdowns and three interceptions since Week 11.
27. Philip Rivers 27/39 279 yards
Last week’s ranking: 23
Will retirement take Rivers from the NFL this offseason? Well, he shouldn’t be in Los Angeles’ future plans. The Chargers need an heir and they need one quick. Rivers threw 21 touchdowns and 18 interceptions through the first 16 weeks of this season.
28. Case Keenum 16/22 158 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown
Last week’s ranking: Unranked (DNP)
When Haskins exited Sunday’s matchup against the Giants, Keenum took over. The veteran started seven games earlier this season, going 1-6 before being benched for the rookie from Ohio St.
29. Baker Mayfield 20/33 192 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Last week’s ranking: 27
The Browns challenged the Ravens early before falling into their old habits in Week 16. Mayfield can only hope the season ends soon. In 15 starts, the second-year quarterback threw 19 touchdowns and 18 interceptions with a 79.1 passer rating. Cleveland is 6-9.
30. Mitchell Trubisky 18/34 157 yards
Last week’s ranking: 26
From Week 12 to Week 15, the Bears and Trubisky strung together some decent games. That stretch ended against the Chiefs on Sunday night. With 17 touchdowns and ten interceptions this season, Trubisky looks like a bust in the making.
31. Mason Rudolph 14/20 129 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: Unranked (DNP)
In the reverse of what happened in Week 12, Rudolph came off the bench for the Steelers and provided a spark for the offense. He gave Pittsburgh its only touchdown of the game. Unfortunately, Rudolph suffered a shoulder injury and left the game early.
32. David Blough 12/24 117 yards, one touchdown
Last week’s ranking: 32
Sunday was Blough’s first game without an interception thrown. Unfortunately, he only completed 50.0% of his pass attempts, and the Lions never got off of the ground against Denver. Blough is an undrafted rookie from Purdue.
33. Will Grier 27/44 224 yards, three interceptions
Last week’s ranking: Unranked (DNP)
The rookie from West Virginia did his best Kyle Allen impression in Carolina’s loss to Indianapolis. Grier completed 61.36% of his pass attempts and posted a 46.0 passer rating in his first career game.
34. Devlin Hodges 11/17 84 yards, two interceptions
Last week’s ranking: 30
Mike Tomlin started Hodges in Week 17, but he pulled the rookie in favor of Rudolph less than halfway through the game. He returned to action when Rudolph suffered an injury. In the last two weeks, Hodges has one touchdown and six interceptions thrown.
Played sparingly
Brett Hundley 4/9 49 yards, 35 rushing yards
Last week’s ranking: Unranked (DNP)
The former Packer took the field when Murray left Sunday’s game in the third quarter. Considering Arizona’s current standing, the team might rest Murray in Week 17 and give Hundley the tenth start of his career.
