Ranking the 12 NFL Playoff Quarterbacks

It’s playoff time again and you hear defense wins championships, but as always you need a quarterback to seal the deal. This year you have a lot of questions at the quarterback position. Can Nick Foles take the Eagles to the promised land? Is Jared Goff ready for playoff football? Can Case Keenum continue his remarkable run? These rankings will be based on how the player has performed so far this year with a little bit of what they did in previous years mixed in. With that being said, let’s see how these quarterbacks stack up?

1) Tom Brady, New England Patriots – Brady has not played his best football over the past five weeks but he is Tom Brady and who would you rather have in a big situation? Now this Patriots team, because of injuries, isn’t as good as some of the Patriots teams that Brady has played on in the past, but with Brady at the helm the Patriots have to be the favorite, at least in the AFC.

2) Ben Roethlesberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – Big Ben was not very good in the first half of the season but he has played some of the best football of his career over the second half of this season. Take away a questionable call in the Patriots game and the Steelers would be the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

3) Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – The Saints now have a defense and a running game which makes Brees that much more dangerous heading into these playoffs. In the past, if the Saints were playing on the road you would hear how they were in trouble. But with the ability to play defense and run the ball that is no longer the case.

4) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons – Ryan has not had one of his better seasons but he is an experienced quarterback who has played in multiple playoff games and last year’s Super Bowl. Those things give him an advantage over most of the guys on this list.

5) Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings – Keenum came out of nowhere this year and has exceeded expectations. If he can just take care of the ball, he could very well find himself in the Super Bowl when all is said and done.

6) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers – Newton has led the Panthers to a Super Bowl but I do not think he is anywhere near an elite quarterback, and I expect the Panthers will be one and done in the playoffs unless Newton has an outstanding game.

7) Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams – Goff has played well this year and as long as he has Todd Gurley to hand the ball off to he should be fine. The question will be at some time during these playoffs Goff is going to have to make plays to advance, is he good enough to do that?

8) Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs – Smith is a solid player but it seems he is good for one win in the playoffs at best. Can he shed that this year? I doubt it but in the end Smith has become a much better quarterback than anyone ever thought he would be.

9) Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans – Mariota can be a dangerous quarterback and if the Titans are to make a run at this then he needs to be able to throw the ball well and use his feet at the appropriate times. If he does the Titans could win a game in these playoffs.

10) Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills – I think Taylor is an underrated quarterback but I don’t think he is good enough to lead this team on much of a run in these playoffs.

11) Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles – Foles has experience but his level of play the last few weeks would indicate that the Eagles could be in trouble come playoff time.

12) Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags have a Super Bowl defense but can Bortles just not turn the ball over? The answer to that question the last few weeks has been no, and that’s why he is last on this list.

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