While it may not be where legacies are made, Wild Card Weekend is where many begin—or are broken—as the NFL’s top quarterbacks have a chance to make a statement about who they are under pressure.
Once the NFL postseason rolls around, the lights get a little brighter, the margin for error disappears, and quarterbacks either rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure. It’s a great test, and this year’s crop of playoff quarterbacks gave us plenty to talk about.
Let’s take a look back and rank all 14 playoff team’s starting quarterbacks after the weekend’s games.
Who are the best-ranking NFL quarterbacks after Wildcard Weekend?
14. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert’s first playoff game under Jim Harbaugh was supposed to be a turning point for the Chargers—a chance to shake off years of postseason heartbreak and finally deliver on the hype. Instead, it was a nightmare. Herbert’s four-interception performance in Saturday’s 32-12 loss to the Texans wasn’t just a bad game—it was a complete unraveling on the biggest stage.
13. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love
Jordan Love walked into Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday with the weight of Green Bay’s season—and future—squarely on his shoulders. By the time the clock hit zero, it was clear those shoulders weren’t ready for the moment.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Love’s struggles were glaring from the jump. Philly’s defense, as advertised, was relentless, smothering the run game and forcing Love to win through the air. He opened the game by watching his offense turn the ball over on the kickoff and followed it with a shaky performance that featured poor decision-making and a visible discomfort in the pocket. The Eagles baited him into bad throws—three of them ending up in the hands of Philadelphia defenders, the last one slamming the door on any comeback hopes.
Three interceptions, constant pressure, and a 22-10 loss to the Eagles made for a brutal ending to his second NFL season as the Packers’ full-time starting quarterback.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold
For much of the 2024 season, Sam Darnold silenced his critics. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, earned his first playoff appearance, and played some of the best football of his career. But in the two biggest moments of the season—the regular-season finale and Monday night’s Wild Card loss to the Rams—Darnold fell short, and it’s the sour ending that will dominate the conversation.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Russell Wilson
It was a bit of a mixed bag for Russell Wilson on Sunday during his postseason debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore racked up 21 points in the first half, blanking his Steelers. A good chunk of his 20 completions for 270 yards and, of course, the two scores all came after the intermission.
10. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix
Based on how he started on Sunday, it looked like Bo Nix was going to rewrite the story on rookie quarterbacks in the NFL postseason, but his early touchdown was all he could muster, and it got ugly very shortly after. 13 for 22 passing, one touchdown, and 144 yards isn’t typically going to get the job done.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield was supposed to be the veteran presence to guide the Buccaneers through the ups and downs of playoff football. Instead, his performance against the Commanders on Sunday night was ridden with missed opportunities, as Tampa Bay fell 23-20 in the Wild Card round.
8. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud just keeps proving he’s built for the big moments after a challenging season. On Saturday, the Texans quarterback added another playoff win to his NFL résumé with a gritty performance in Houston’s 32-12 victory over the Chargers.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts returned to action on Sunday night and wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s the heartbeat of the Eagles. Coming off a three-week absence due to concussion protocol, Hurts showed no rust, leading Philadelphia to a commanding 22-10 win over Green Bay in the Wild Card round.
6. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels might be a rookie, but on Sunday night, he played like a seasoned vet who’s been there before. With the game—and the hopes of a starved fanbase—on the line, Daniels calmly led the Commanders to their first playoff victory in nearly two decades, knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in dramatic fashion.
5. Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford
When the stakes are at their highest, some NFL quarterbacks shrink, and others rise to the occasion. Matthew Stafford has proven time and time again that he’s built for the pressure, and Monday night was no different. Stafford didn’t just manage the game; he led with poise and precision, delivering a 27-9 win over the Vikings in the Wild Card round.
4. Detroit Lions: Jared Goff
For Goff, this season wasn’t just about proving he could still play at a high level—it was about showing he could be the face of a winning team. And in a city that’s been starving for football success, Goff has helped bring hope back to Detroit.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
If Patrick Mahomes wasn’t already leading the GOAT conversation, he’s forcing his way into the front of it now. It might not have been another MVP-caliber season from a statistical standpoint, but he carried his team to the number 1 seed in the AFC again and gave his squad a chance to regroup while the rest of the league, including Baltimore and Buffalo, who will now have to square off, fights for survival.
2. Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
Josh Allen’s torrid quarterbacking stretch continued this week as he shredded a much-improved Broncos defense with little resistance. This NFL team is clearly here to compete for a Super Bowl, and their quarterback, with his current level of play, is at the center of that.
1. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Ravens fans everywhere let out a big exhale on Saturday about how the Ravens, and specifically Lamar Jackson, played against the Steelers in Wild Card Weekend. Their dual-threat quarterback continues to tear it up in unprecedented fashion, and continuing that effort against a rival in the NFL playoffs, both of which have traditionally been their uber-talented signal caller’s boogeyman, was a major step in the right direction.
Also Read: 10 Star NFL Quarterbacks That Will NEVER Win The Big One
