We are nearing the Super Bowl for the 2025 season, and now it’s on to the divisional round. Wildcard weekend showcased maybe the best playoff football in NFL history with many close games, and the divisional round is expected to be no different. With that being said, it comes down to the players who shine when the lights are the brightest, so here are the top 10 best QBs left in the playoffs. Keep in mind there are only eight teams left, so there are two backups added to the list.
10. Mitchell Trubisky – Yes, Trubisky is a backup, but with Josh Allen suffering a few different injuries, there may be a case where Trubisky has to step up if needed. However, Allen seems to be okay and ready to go take on the Broncos in Denver.
9. Jauan Jennings – Although Jennings is not listed as a QB, he threw a passing touchdown in the 49ers wild card game vs the Eagles. Maybe San Francisco can dial up another play that showcases why Jennings was ranked above guys like Joe Burrow as a QB coming out of high school before switching to a WR in college.
8. C.J. Stroud – The Texans have been winning game purely based off of the play of their defense. This is why C.J. Stroud is ranked the worst out of the starters left. If he plays well then the Texans could win the Super Bowl, but in recent games he hasn’t shown that he is ready to fully compete yet.
7. Sam Darnold – Darnold hasn’t played the best this year, but the Seahawks are the most complete team left in the playoffs. If he is just serviceable and does not turn the ball over, the Seahawks will be a hard team to stop going forward.
6. Bo Nix – Another QB who’s play can be backed up by his defense. Nix has put together a solid second year, and he already has a playoff game under his belt. If Nix can get hot against Buffalo, then they should be able to pull away with the win.
5. Drake Maye – Following up one 2024 1st round QB to the next is Drake Maye. Maye is one of the final two MVP candidates and played well all year. However, his statistics against above .500 teams are not good, and in the playoffs every team you play is above .500. His wildcard game he played decent and most importantly got the win, but the big question is can he perform against good teams. We’ll see Sunday.
4. Caleb Williams – Three in a row. Another 2024 1st round pick who is moving onto the divisional round is Caleb Williams. Williams may not be the most accurate out of the 3, but when the lights are bright, he performs his best which coined him the nickname “Iceman.” If the Bears want to win against a strong Rams team, then they will need a good performance from Williams.
3. Brock Purdy – The 49ers have been banged up all season, and losing Kittle was the cherry on top, but their team is resilient. They managed to pull through against Philadelphia and Purdy didn’t have the best game. To beat the Super Bowl favorites, Purdy will need to shine.
2. Matthew Stafford – Stafford has played his best season this year. He is likely going to win the MVP. However, he is a little banged up after last game, and now has to play in Chicago in very cold weather. Will he step up to the occasion and take down his former division rival, or will he fold in the weather? We’ll see on Sunday night.
1. Josh Allen – This is Allen’s year to win it all. He doesn’t have to get through Burrow, Jackson, or Mahomes, which leaves the AFC wide open. He is determined to win and will be hard to stop even though the weapons around him aren’t great.
