Wildcard Weekend is officially in the books, and some of the quarterbacks who competed in Wildcard Weekend played their hearts out, hoping to fight another day in the Divisional Round. A couple of quarterbacks had a rough time on the field as opposing defenses took advantage of their struggles and headed off to a long NFL offseason while the winners continued their quest for a chance to win Super Bowl LIX.
Here are the grades for all 12 NFL teams’ quarterbacks after Wildcard Weekend.
Who were the top NFL quarterbacks after Wildcard Weekend?
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson: A-
Jackson played very well for the Ravens, helping the team win 28-14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard round. Jackson completed 16 passes for 175 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, and rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries but was only sacked once.
Jackson’s performance was outstanding, even without his top target, Zay Flowers, who was out due to a knee injury. Jackson played great, but he needs to continue performing at an elite level in the Divisional Round and possibly beyond.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen: A-
Allen played a great game for the Bills and helped the team dismantle the Denver Broncos 31-7. The star NFL quarterback completed 20 passes for 272 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for 42 yards on eight carries but was sacked twice.
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Allen and the Bills kept their composure and handled business against the Broncos very well and won out. Allen and the Bills will host the Baltimore Ravens, coming to town in the AFC Divisional Round.
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix: B-
Nix didn’t play a bad game, but he could’ve accomplished more in the Broncos’ 7-31 playoff meltdown against the Buffalo Bills. Nix completed 13 passes for 144 yards, threw a touchdown to Troy Franklin against no interceptions, and rushed for 43 yards on four carries but was sacked twice.
Nix said he has a lot to learn after suffering his first loss in the NFL playoffs, but the future is bright in the Mile High City thanks to his tenacity and skills as a quarterback. Nix and the Broncos have work to do in 2025 if they want to secure the AFC West crown for the first time since the 2015 season.
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love: F
Jordan Love played a rough game in the Packers’ 10-22 playoff loss on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles. Love completed 20 passes for 212 yards, threw three interceptions with no touchdowns and rushed for 10 yards on two carries but was sacked twice.
Love struggled in the Packers’ passing attack, and injuries to Christian Watson and Jaire Alexander negatively affected the Packers. Love and the Packers have some serious work to do in the 2025 offseason.
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud: C+
Stroud played an okay game for the Texans as he and the team stunned the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in the Wildcard round at home. Stroud completed 22 passes for 282 yards, threw a touchdown to Nico Collins against an interception, and rushed for 42 yards on six carries but was sacked three times.
Stroud became the fifth quarterback to win an NFL playoff game in his first two seasons in the league, joining the likes of Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Sanchez, and Brock Purdy. Stroud and the Texans have a tough test ahead of them in the Divisional Round when the team travels to Arrowhead Stadium for a matchup against the one-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.
Also Read: Final Grades For All 32 NFL Teams’ Starting Quarterbacks After The Final Week Of The 2024 Season
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert: D-
Herbert and the Chargers lost their effective spark in their 12-32 loss on the road against the Houston Texans in Wildcard Weekend. Herbert completed 14 passes for 242 yards and threw a touchdown to Ladd McConkey against four costly interceptions but was sacked four times. Herbert said he let the team down after the game.
His teammates, like center Bradley Bozeman, safety Alohi Gilman, and guard Zion Johnson, came out to defend him. Despite the love from his teammates, Herbert’s playoff woes continued, as he is currently 0-2 in the postseason.
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford: A-
Stafford and the Rams dominated the Minnesota Vikings, winning 27-9, and will move on to the Divisional round. The veteran NFL quarterback completed 19 passes for 209 yards, threw two touchdowns against no interceptions and rushed for negative one yards on two carries but was sacked twice.
Stafford and the Rams kept their foot on the gas for most of the night and cruised to an easy victory over the Vikings. Stafford and the Rams travel to the City of Brotherly Love for their Divisional round matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold: D
Darnold had a rough night on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, as he and the Vikings lost a tough 9-27 battle to conclude Wildcard weekend. Darnold completed 25 passes for 245 yards, threw a touchdown to T.J. Hockenson against an interception, and rushed for 19 yards on four carries, but was sacked a whopping nine times and lost a fumble, which was recovered by Rams’ linebacker Jared Verse, and was returned for a 57-yard touchdown.
Darnold may have had a great 2024 regular season, but that success didn’t translate in the playoffs, as the Vikings cannot bring this version of their quarterback back in the 2025 NFL season. Other teams will likely sign him in the 2025 offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts: B
Hurts played decently well for the Eagles, as the team won 22-10 against the Green Bay Packers. Hurts completed 13 passes for 131 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, and rushed for 36 yards on six carries.
Hurts may not have played up to par, but he managed the game very well and kept his team in it all game long without throwing a turnover. Hurts and the Eagles will remain home for the NFC Divisional round and will welcome the Los Angeles Rams to town.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Russell Wilson: B
Wilson played a good game for the Steelers but wasn’t able to help the team get over the finish line in their 14-28 Wildcard loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Wilson completed 20 passes for 270 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, and rushed for six yards on three carries but was sacked four times.
Wilson may have played well, but his future with the Steelers is unknown. Wilson said the city of Pittsburgh is a special place, and head coach Mike Tomlin is a special guy. The veteran quarterback is scheduled to be a free agent in the 2025 NFL offseason. We’ll just have to wait and see if the Steelers potentially bring him back or if Wilson signs elsewhere.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield: B
Mayfield played a good game for the Bucs, but his efforts weren’t enough in the team’s 20-23 loss at home against the Washington Commanders. Mayfield completed 15 passes for 185 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, and rushed for 23 yards on seven carries but was sacked once and lost a fumble.
Mayfield made some good plays, but there weren’t that many explosive plays on offense, and the lost fumble hurt Mayfield and the Bucs for the remainder of the night as the Commanders took advantage of it, scored a touchdown, and won in the final seconds with kicker Zane Gonzelez kicking the game-winning field goal.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels: A-
Daniels played a great game for the Commanders, as he helped the team earn a 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels completed 24 passes for 268 yards, threw two touchdowns with no interceptions, and rushed for 36 yards on 13 carries but was sacked once.
The rookie quarterback played a phenomenal game for the Commanders, helping the team earn their first playoff win since the 2005 NFL season (where they, oddly enough, defeated the Bucs 17-10). Daniels and the Commanders have a tough road test in the Divisional Round when the team squares off against the one-seeded Detroit Lions.
Also Read: 10 Star NFL Quarterbacks That Will NEVER Win The Big One
