Ranking quarterbacks ahead of the 2025-26 NFL playoffs is tricky.
What do you value most? Is it strictly based on how those quarterbacks performed in the regular season? If so, then the youngest quarterback in the field – New England's Drake Maye – would have a compelling case to be No. 1.
Is it based on Super Bowl experience? If that's the case, then Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts would have an argument knowing he's the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of three QBs in this year's field to win the Super Bowl along with Los Angeles' Matthew Stafford and Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers.
How much does experience matter? Five quarterbacks are 25 years old or younger, including first-time playoff QBs in Chicago's Caleb Williams and Carolina's Bryce Young – both former No. 1 NFL Draft picks. Speaking of No. 1 NFL Draft picks, Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence also is in the field. How do you make a playoff ranking without Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson – who aren't in this year's field?
We took a crack at it by trying to balance this year's success with playoff history and where each team stands in the playoff pecking order. That is the almost-scientific criteria we use every year. Here is our list.
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:
- SN's expert predictions for NFL playoffs, Super Bowl 60
- Full NFL playoff schedule
- Updated NFL playoff bracket
NFL playoff QB power rankings 2025
1. Matthew Stafford, Rams
2025 stats: 4,707 yards, 46 TDs, 8 INTs
Career playoff record: 5-5
Career playoff stats: 2,996 yards, 19 TDs, 5 INTs
Who knew Stafford – the front-runner for the NFL MVP award – would be the quarterback to beat in the postseason at 37 years old? He's 5-2 in the playoffs with the Rams, and Los Angeles is built to make another postseason run. Stafford enjoyed a season with career highs in passing yards and TDs, and there is a chance to join the fraternity of QBs with multiple Super Bowl victories. That could be a guaranteed ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Josh Allen, Bills
2025 stats: 3,668 yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs
Career playoff record: 7-6
Career playoff stats: 3,359 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs
The Bills have been in the AFC championship game twice in the last five years, and four of Allen's playoff losses are against the Chiefs. He's still the most-dynamic quarterback in this playoff – and he had 579 rushing yards and 14 TDs this season. It's going to be a tough lift with the likelihood of going through three road games, but Allen is good enough to carry a team that far. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are not in the AFC playoffs either.
3. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
2025 stats: 3,224 yards, 25 TDs, 6 INTs
Career playoff record: 6-3
Career playoff stats: 1,813 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs
Hurts is the only quarterback in these players who has started in multiple Super Bowls. He had 421 rushing yards and eight TDs, and he's been a consistent performer in the postseason. He's also 5-0 at home – which means the Eagles have a good chance to make at least the NFC divisional round. The regular-season hasn't been pretty at times – and the Eagles are one of two teams in the playoffs who averaged less than 200 passing yards per game.
4. Drake Maye, Patriots
2025 stats: 4,394 yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-0
Career playoff stats: N/A
This is trying to find the sweet spot knowing Maye is in the running for the NFL MVP right now against never having a playoff start. He led the NFL in completion percentage at 72%, and he's been the key to the turn-around under first-year coach Mike Vrabel. Will home-field advantage help? Tom Brady was 19-4 at home in playoff games with the Patriots. This will be an exciting debut for Maye – but it comes with that kind of scrutiny.
MORE: Key stats you need to know in Matthew Stafford vs. Drake Maye MVP debate
- 5. Brock Purdy, 49ers
2025 stats: 2,167 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs
Career playoff record: 4-2
Career playoff stats: 1,343 yards, 6 TDs, INT
Purdy has an outstanding playoff record, and he has started in a Super Bowl. He ranked eighth in the NFL in passer rating this season, and he had a 73.4% completion percentage in San Francisco's last four games. Purdy had a 111 passer rating on the road this season. That should give San Francisco confidence heading into Philadelphia.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
2025 stats: 4,007 yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs
Career playoff record: 1-1
Career playoff stats: 505 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs
Lawrence – the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – has a similar resume to Love. Lawrence has been a hit with first-year coach Liam Coen. Lawrence had a career-high 29 TD passes, and his accuracy remained about the same at 60.9%. He has a 60.5% completion percentage in those two playoff starters, and he has to avoid turnovers against Buffalo in the AFC Wild Card matchup. Lawrence averaged 282.5 passing yards with 11 TDs and one interception in her last four games.
7. Sam Darnold, Seahawks
2025 stats: 4,048 yards, 25 TDs, 14 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-1
Career playoff stats: 245 yards, TD, INT
Darnold might be the most-polarizing QB on this list. He was ranked No. 10 last year before the Vikings flopped in the NFC Wild Card. Now, Seattle has home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, and they are on a seven-game winning streak healing into the postseason. Will interceptions be an issue in the postseason? This is a huge postseason for the former No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
8. Jordan Love, Packers
2025 stats: 3,381 yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs
Career playoff record: 1-2
Career playoff stats: 678 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs
Love hasn't played since Week 16 because of a concussion – and now he returns to a matchup against the Bears. Love has made three road playoff starts at Dallas, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Will it be the three-TD debut he made against the Cowboys or the three-interception struggle against the Eagles last season? It's a tough call, which puts Love at this point in our rankings.
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:
9. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
2025 stats: 3,322 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs
Career playoff record: 12-10
Career playoff stats: 5,894 yards, 45 TDs, 13 INTs
This is not an all-time list or Rodgers would be No. 1 among these QBs. Rodgers has the most playoff history of any QB on the list. He's won a Super Bowl and played in the NFC championship game five times. Pittsburgh won the AFC North and has a home game – and DK Metcalf will return. Does Rodgers, 42, have another run left in him? Rodgers was 4-2 in the wild-card round with the Packers. Will the Acrisure Stadium advantage help against the Texans? Rodgers averaged 247.2 yards with six TDs and no interceptions in Pittsburgh's last five games. How will his first playoff appearance in five years turn out against a nasty Houston defense?
10. Caleb Williams, Bears
2025 stats: 3,942 yards, 27 TDs, 7 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-0
Career playoff stats: N/A
Williams is the ultimate boom-or-bust this year. The game-changing talent is undeniable, and a series of fourth-quarter comebacks this season make him the most compelling QB in these playoffs. Williams had 15 TDs, two interceptions and a 97.6 QB rating at home this season. That could be bad news for Green Bay – and whoever a potential divisional round opponent can be.
11. C.J. Stroud, Texans
2025 stats: 3,041 yards, 19 TDs, 8 INTs
Career playoff record: 2-2
Career playoff stats: 976 yards, 4 TDs, INT
The gap with Stroud and the other three QBs ranked ahead of him is not wide. Stroud has one more victory than both QBs and Houston is a trendy playoff sleeper. He's also played well in the postseason and is three years younger. Stroud averages 210 yards with no TDs and no interceptions in two road playoff games. That will need to change at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
12. Justin Herbert, Chargers
2025 stats: 3,727 yards, 26 TDs, 13 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-2
Career playoff stats: 515 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs
Herbert will get his third chance to win a playoff game – and the second under Jim Harbaugh. He's taken a career-high 54 sacks this season, and that's forced Herbert to take more chances in the passing game. He's still a dangerous quarterback capable of leading a deep playoff run, but we need to see him win that first playoff game.
13. Bo Nix, Broncos
2025 stats: 3,931 yards, 25 TDs, 11 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-1
Career playoff stats: 144 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
Nix is 24-10 as a starter in two seasons with the Broncos, and this is where the ranking can go up. Denver has home-field advantage, and Nix was 8-1 with 15 TDs, seven interceptions and a 88.8 passer rating at home this season. He will be asked to do more in this postseason at some point if Denver wants to return to the Super Bowl. This is the ninth time the Broncos have had home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. They reached the Super Bowl in six of those other seasons.
14. Bryce Young, Panthers
2025 stats: 3,011 passing yards, 23 TDs, 11 INTs
Career playoff record: 0-0
Career playoff stats: N/A
Young led the Panthers to the NFC playoffs – and despite a losing record this season that has to be seen as progress for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young was 5-2 with a 91.7 passer rating this season, but Carolina averaged 188.2 yards per game. The Panthers are double-digit underdogs against the Rams. Young can silence a lot of doubters here.