Going into Week 17, there are 18 teams still alive in the NFL playoff picture, with nine in the AFC and nine in the NFC. Those are the only teams that can still win Super Bowl 60.
When it comes to the playoffs, one active quarterback has owned them since 2018: Patrick Mahomes. In the transition from Tom Brady, he was the default QB to trust most to lead his team to a conference championship. However, the Kansas City Chiefs failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in the Mahomes era.
Although there are still three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks trending to be in the postseason field, the rest in the hunt have real uncertainty about how well their QBs will play and how deep they can take their teams into the playoffs.
From the most recent Super Bowl MVP to one who came back after 17 seasons of no Super Bowls, here's a ranking of all the QBs who have chances for either adding to their success or breaking through for their first ring:
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NFL playoff QB confidence rankings
The top five
1. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
The Eagles' fans have been ridiculous to be fickle with Hurts this season, fresh off him leading them to two NFC championships in three years and a Super Bowl 59 MVP to show for avenging the first defeat to Mahomes' Chiefs. Starting with the passer (and runner) who enjoyed the most recent time on top makes sense, know that the Eagles have gotten through some offensive snags and are rounding back into their balanced, explosive form from 2024. It's easiest of all the QBs to see Hurts lifting a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
2. Brock Purdy, 49ers
Between Hurts' Eagles Super Bowl runs, Purdy got the job done before losing to Mahomes and Chiefs in overtime in Super Bowl 58. With Purdy, you are also investing in the 49ers' superior offensive system under Kyle Shanahan, where the QB is well supported by running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and left tackle Trent Williams.
Purdy is back fully healthy from his bothersome turf toe and is locked into the passing game, even with Ricky Pearsall getting hurt often and Brandon Aiyuk not returning. McCaffrey, Kittle and Jauan Jennings have all raised their games as receivers to match Purdy's great downfield passing. After some early injury-related concerns, no one can question Purdy getting his lucrative contract extension with his high level of play down the stretch.
3. Matthew Stafford, Rams
Stafford is on the verge of winning his first NFL MVP ahead of turning 38 on Feb. 7, a day before Super Bowl 60. He could match his celebration from four years ago against the Bengals in Super Bowl 56. He already made his first Pro Bowl, headed to his first All-Pro honors and first significant finish as the league's most valuable passer. A second ring can be envisioned and would likely cement Stafford as a future Hall of Famer.
MORE: Complete Pro Bowl rosters for AFC, NFC in 2026
4. Josh Allen, Bills
With no Mahomes, no Joe Burrow and likely no Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP has his AFC nemeses out of the way and figures to have a clear shot at advancing to his first Super Bowl. Allen is a total freight train, producing with his relentless passing and running as the league's most physically talented and intimidating QB presence. Allen has been great at home, however, and the road has been rocky against tougher defense, which drops him behind the trio of NFC passers above.
5. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Burrow, the first overall pick in 2020, already made his Super Bowl run. Lawrence is finally living up to the lofty, can't-miss status of being the top overall pick in 2021. Like Burrow, he also went into the NFL with a national championship in college and is putting together his Allen-like arm and athletic tools in Liam Coen's ideal offense. He's been a solid leader since his rookie but now he's healthy and on point with a passing scheme that suits him.
The young guns
6. Drake Maye, Patriots
Maye is having an awesome second season as a void was created for the best QB in the 2024 first-round draft class with Jayden Daniels being injury-riddled in Year 2. Daniels' dazzling rookie season ended just short of the Super Bowl. Maye, a wire-to-wire strong MVP candidate under new coach Mike Vrabel and new OC Josh McDaniels, has proved he can be one of the next great ones, too.
7. Caleb Williams, Bears
Williams, like Lawrence, had a can't-miss label as the No. 1 overall pick from USC in 2024. Williams, like Lawrence, just needed the right offensive-minded coach to bring the best out of his play. Chicago not only got Ben Johnson to overhaul the scheme, but loaded Williams with extra weapons such as Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland and Kyle Monangai. The upgraded offensive line is also supporting Williams with a better running game. Williams is starting to show the competitive improv needed to make a deep run with his consistent fourth-quarter comeback mentality.
MORE: AFC, NFC playoff picture heading into Week 17
8. Bo Nix, Broncos
Speaking of the fourth-quarter, Nix has been the ultimate captain comeback and with Daniels down, will be the only second-year QB to go 2-for-2 in leading his team to the playoffs. Nix is a wild ride, often struggling in the first half before turning it on in the second half. He also tends to be a different, worse QB on the road than at home. He can either look unbeatable or make some head-scratching passes and plays. The inconsistency puts him right in the middle of trust.
9. Jordan Love, Packers
Love should get his third shot of leading the Packers in the playoffs in as many seasons as their starter. He's 1-2 so far, going good (vs. Cowboys), bad (vs. 49ers) and ugly (vs. Eagles). Green Bay has lost to the eventual NFC champions twice in a row and has yet to host a playoff game at Lambeau Field with Love. Love, like Nix, is rather streaky, capable of taking his team all the way or going one and done.
The wily veterans
10. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Jackson hasn't been right this season and his lingering injury issues have been a big reason for Baltimore's fading out of the playoff picture. The Ravens also haven't been as prolific in the running game with either Derrick Henry or Jackson. If the Ravens make it, figure it would need to be with Jackson, not shelved with his latest injury to his back. The two-time MVP has met playoff disappointment with a 3-5 record and only one conference championship appearance.
11. Jared Goff, Lions
Goff also has been burned by a big change of offensive coordinator, losing Johnson, who's been busy turning around Williams and the Bears. The scheme hasn't been the same with a combination of Dan Campbell and John Morton calling plays. That said, Goff is playing at close to the same level with some key metrics matching what he did in his MVP-caliber 2024 season. He just doesn't have the same consistent support from the running game and misses tight end Sam LaPorta.
MORE: Which NFL teams have already clinched a spot in the playoffs?
12. C.J. Stroud, Texans
Stroud's start to his NFL career has included a pair of AFC South division titles. He's followed up those 10-7 runs with two home playoff wins before respective road losses to the Ravens and Chiefs. The draw is lining up to be tougher as a wild card behind Lawrence's Jaguars and Stroud has shown additional regression in a season with a midseason injury hiccup.
13. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Mayfield has gone 2-3 in the playoffs, going back to his time with the Browns. He's 1-2 with the Buccaneers, playing well in all three contests against the Eagles, Lions and Commanders. But those were in better passing seasons overall under different offensive coordinators. The gunslinging has been less efficient and more compressed through all the receiver injuries. It's still a stark dropoff from his 41-TD campaign of 2024.
14. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
Rodgers is the oldest QB in the field at 42. He's getting the playoff shot with the Steelers that he missed out on with the Jets. He doesn't have a lot of receiving support, but he is there to complement and facilitate a late-emerging running game and defense that's finally finding some groove. He just needs to navigate a tough AFC field to outduel everyone.
The fickle four
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
15. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Herbert is 0-2 in the playoffs and lost in two bad ways. Three seasons ago, he didn't play all that well as the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead and lost to Lawrence's Jaguars, 31-30. Last year, he had a four-interception meltdown in a 32-12 blowout loss to Stroud's Texans. Herbert has a lot to prove in the playoffs with no Mahomes.
16. Sam Darnold, Seahawks
Darnold is enjoying another strong season as a starter after putting together a solid year for the Vikings in 2024. But he also had a major clunker against the Rams in last year's playoffs with a horribly inefficient nine-sack game. He is too volatile with his turnovers to feel good about the Seahawks playing for the NFC title.
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17. Bryce Young, Panthers
Young has improved into an average starter in the NFL under Dave Canales, with even more room to develop and grow in Year 4 in 2026. He also leads the league with 6 game-winning drives. The inexperienced resume and limited efficiency, however, make him an unknown quantity in what would be his first playoff appearance.
18. Philip Rivers, Colts
Whether it's him or Riley Leonard playing out the string for Daniel Jones, the Colts' QB went from finding a needed answer to not even having Anthony Richardson as a fallback. Rivers can still sling it, but the layoff from the speed of the game is evident.