RADIO
Heading into Week 18, the playoff landscape is beginning to shake out and in large part, the health of a team's franchise quarterback correlates with their playoff status. The Ravens, 49ers, Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Lions, Browns, Eagles, and Rams are all locked into the playoffs. Only one outlier on this list - the Browns - have lost their franchise quarterback for the season.
Eliminated from contention? The Patriots, Panthers, Chargers, Cardinals, Titans, Commanders, Jets, Giants, Raiders, Bears, Bengals, and Broncos. All of these teams have either lost their franchise signal caller for the season or have question marks regarding who their franchise quarterback is.
With the injury bug striking the quarterback position so hard this season, teams who have stayed healthy are fortunate as the playoffs rapidly approach. Let's dive into RotoBaller's quarterback power rankings as we enter Week 18.
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1. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens
If he didn’t already have it solidified with last week’s win over San Francisco, Lamar Jackson locked up his second MVP award with a beatdown of the Miami Dolphins en route to securing the AFC’s top seed. In the 56-19 victory, Jackson went 18-for-21 for 321 yards and five touchdowns while also scrambling for 35 yards. Baltimore looks like the unquestioned top team in the league right now and as seen in previous seasons is not the same team without Jackson under center. It’s time to put respect on him as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks that the NFL has ever seen.
How Lamar Jackson treat elite level teams every time a sports analyst disrespects him…..#QUARTERBACKY #Ravens #MVP pic.twitter.com/dR2sfKdVbk
— Mr. Ridiculous (@PBJordan87) December 31, 2023
2. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys finally beat a team with a winning record and although there may have been a bit of help from the referees, a win is a win. Dak Prescott performed on Saturday night, completing 26-of-38 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. With a win over Washington this coming week, the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback would successfully wrap up the 2-seed in the NFC along with an NFC East title.
3. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are now 6-1 in their last seven games, with the lone loss coming in overtime on the road against the NFL’s best team. The common denominator? Matthew Stafford was under center. While Stafford did not play a perfect game in the near-loss to the New York Giants, he guided the Rams to another win and officially locked up a playoff berth. The Rams will take on the 49ers in Week 18, but it is unclear if Stafford will be under center given that they have already clinched a playoff berth and cannot move any higher in seeding.
4. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa struggled in the Dolphins’ blowout 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. A week after a season-defining win over Dallas, Miami slumped and now faces the Buffalo Bills with the AFC East title and a 2-seed on the line. Against a stifling Baltimore defense, Tagovailoa completed 22-of-38 passes for 237 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The gunslinger will hope to land on top in the regular season’s Sunday night finale.
5. Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy was back to his normal self a week after hitting a low point against Baltimore. In the 27-10 win over the Washington Commanders, Purdy completed 22-of-28 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He regained his efficiency in a much-needed bounce-back game against the NFL’s worst secondary. It is unclear if Purdy will play in Week 18 against the Rams given that San Francisco has clinched the 1-seed, as he may get an extended rest with a week off plus a playoff bye.
6. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen extended the Bills’ win streak to four, creating an exciting season finale in Miami where the winner locks up the 2-seed in the AFC. Allen again did not play his best game, completing 15-of-30 passes for 169 yards and an interception, but Buffalo was able to overpower New England nonetheless.
7. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs finally got back on track with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals after losing three of their four previous games. Mahomes looked more like himself, completing 21-of-29 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown while clinching the AFC West. It remains unclear if Mahomes will suit up in Week 18 as the Chiefs close the season out with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Chiefs may want to keep momentum rolling into the playoffs. Despite facing what was a down year, no team wants to match up with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs.
Assuming Patrick Mahomes sits this week vs the Chargers, his 2023 regular season will end with the following:
4,183 Passing Yards*
27 TDs*
14 Ints*
206 Passing First Downs*
48.2% Success Rate*
7.0 Y/A*
6.9 AY/A*
6.26 ANY/A*
10.4 Y/C*
261.4 Y/G*
92.6 Passer Rating*
62.5 QBR… pic.twitter.com/ZEDSPjwY5k— Chris (@chiefs_outsider) January 2, 2024
8. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud returned from a two-game absence to lead Houston to a dominant win over the Tennessee Titans in which he completed 24-of-32 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Texans’ rookie quarterback is now in a win-and-in position as Houston gears up to play the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night in what is essentially a playoff game given that the winner makes the postseason and the loser’s season is over. The leading candidate for the Offensive Rookie of the Year will be looking to lead Houston to the postseason for the first time since 2019.
CJ Stroud, as a rookie, has a chance to take his team to the playoffs on Saturday night on primetime football.
We believe in you 7 🐐 pic.twitter.com/vuKRgWpMCy
— ً (@StroudEnjoyer) January 1, 2024
9. Justin Fields - Chicago Bears
There are few quarterbacks in the NFL playing better than Justin Fields right now. Since returning from injury, Fields is 4-2 and has been stuffing stat sheets. The latest win on his resume was Sunday’s 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in which he completed 20-of-32 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown and added 45 rushing yards with a touchdown on the ground. Chicago will have a big decision to make with the first overall pick officially locked up by the way of Carolina and with Fields entering the final year of his rookie deal, but the 24-year-old quarterback has proven that he belongs in this league.
"We Want Fields" 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/m01uWUZ0T4
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) January 1, 2024
10. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions
Jared Goff and the Lions nearly beat the Cowboys on Saturday night, but their game-winning two point conversion was called back due to confusion as to who reported as an eligible receiver. Goff completed 19-of-34 passes for 271 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss as the Lions’ shot at the NFC’s 2-seed significantly dropped.
BREAKING: In new footage referee Brad Allen is seen is seen clearly acknowledging Taylor Decker telling him that he is reporting.
🤯🤯🤯
Allen lied in the postgame saying this never happened.
pic.twitter.com/YMa1zX1Ad1— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 31, 2023
11. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have now dropped four of their last five games following a home upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Hurts completed 18-of-23 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns with an interception while also scrambling for 25 yards. The late season woes for Philadelphia have caused them to fall out of favor in the NFC East, as they now need to beat the Giants and hope that the Cowboys fall to the Commanders in order to win the division. If that does not happen, Hurts and the Eagles will make the playoffs as a wild card team and will face the NFC South champion on the road.
12. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love showed out on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings in a 33-10 win. Love completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns, eliminating the Vikings from playoff contention. Green Bay is now in a win-and-in scenario, as Love looks to take the team to the postseason in his first season under center. The Packers will play the Chicago Bears at 4:25 on Sunday with a playoff berth on the line.
13. Joe Flacco - Cleveland Browns
The Joe Flacco magic continued on Thursday night as the veteran quarterback completed 19-of-29 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, clinching Cleveland a playoff berth. Week 18’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals is irrelevant given that the Browns are now locked into the AFC’s fifth-seed, so Flacco may not get the start as Cleveland looks ahead to the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Flacco’s reemergence has been one of the NFL’s greatest stories this season, and he will look to continue writing it in the playoffs.
FLACCO 🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/VWKKJwxYMM
— Barstool Cleveland (@BS_Cleveland) January 1, 2024
14. Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals pulled off the most improbable upset of the season as they knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles on the road 35-31 as James Conner rumbled into the endzone with 32 seconds left in the game. Murray was lights-out in the game, completing 25-of-31 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. With more help likely on the way in 2024, Murray will look to lead the Cardinals back to relevancy.
15. Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence missed Sunday’s 26-0 win over the Carolina Panthers with a shoulder injury, but C.J. Beathard filled in nicely in the shutout win. Lawrence is day-to-day with his injury but will try his best to suit up for Week 18’s win-and-in matchup with the Tennessee Titans. If he can’t go, Beathard will look to lock up the AFC South.
16. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faltered against the New Orleans Saints in a 23-13 loss, but still control their own destiny. With an NFC South title and a playoff berth on the line, Mayfield will look to rebound from his 22-for-33, 309-yard, two-touchdown, two-interception performance against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
17. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith and the Seahawks fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-23, falling to the outside of the playoff picture. To get in, the Seahawks would need to beat the Cardinals this week and also need a Green Bay loss to Chicago. Smith played well against Pittsburgh, completing 23-of-33 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown, but his efforts were not enough to score a win. Seattle found themselves in a similar Week 18 situation last season in which they did make the playoffs, so even though they need help to get in the season is not over for Smith and company.
18. Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr delivered a strong game-management performance in a must-win road game against Tampa Bay to keep the Saints’ season alive, completing 24-of-32 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns. New Orleans is now 8-8 and would win the NFC South with a win over the Falcons and a Tampa Bay loss to Carolina. If the Saints win but Tampa defeats Carolina, they still would have an outside shot in qualifying as a Wild Card team. In order to get in as the 7-seed, they would need Seattle and Green Bay both to lose. While the playoff chances are looking somewhat unlikely, Carr and the Saints will be full-go against Atlanta with hopes of finishing the season with a winning record.
19. Mason Rudolph - Pittsburgh Steelers
Mason Rudolph extended his record to 2-0 on the season after pulling off a 30-23 road win over the Seattle Seahawks. Rudolph completed 18-of-24 passes for 274 yards in the win as the Steelers scored their second-highest point total of the season. Their highest (34) came the previous week in Rudolph’s other start. The 28-year-old is locked in as QB1 in Pittsburgh heading into Week 18. The win kept the Steelers alive in the Wild Card chase, with a number of scenarios allowing Pittsburgh to get into the playoffs.
Highest Pass Rating this season
(min. 50 attempts)Mason Rudolph 115.3
Brock Purdy 113.0
Dak Prescott 104.2 pic.twitter.com/zc1DhQR3nr— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 2, 2024
First things first they would need to beat the Ravens, who could be resting players with the top seed locked up. In the event of a win, Pittsburgh would clinch the playoffs with a Buffalo loss, a Jacksonville loss, or Indianapolis-Houston ending in a tie. Even with a loss, Pittsburgh could still clinch a playoff berth if Indianapolis-Houston does not end in a tie, Jacksonville loses, and Denver wins. Per usual, Week 18 is bound to be full of excitement for Steelers fans.
20. Gardner Minshew - Indianapolis Colts
It’s been a long and winding road for the Colts this season, but Gardner Minshew has the team in position to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Minshew completed 15-of-23 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown in the 23-20 win over the Raiders and now takes the team into a win-and-in game against divisional rival Houston on Saturday night. Minshew has never started a playoff game but has a chance to do so pending a victory over the Texans on Saturday.
21. Jake Browning - Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning and the Bengals fell out of the playoff picture with a 25-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Browning completed 19-of-33 passes for 197 yards and a score, unable to do enough to upset Kansas City on the road. The 27-year-old quarterback has filled in nicely for Joe Burrow since his season ended in Week 11, but will revert back to his backup role following Week 18’s finale against the Cleveland Browns.
22. Sam Howell - Washington Commanders
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for Sam Howell, who was benched in back-to-back games in favor of Jacoby Brissett and then was formally benched for Brissett heading into Week 17, but was thrust back into the starting role when Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice. Howell did not play well against the San Francisco defense, completing 17-of-28 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. With Washington in prime position to select a new quarterback in the 2024 draft and likely to clean house, Howell’s time as the starter in Washington is coming to a close.
23. Jarrett Stidham - Denver Broncos
Jarrett Stidham is now 1-0 this season after beating the Chargers 16-9 in his first game under center in Denver. Stidham completed 20-of-32 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown dart to Lil’Jordan Humphrey in the win. With Denver expected to move on from Russell Wilson in the offseason Stidham will look to carry the momentum with him in a season finale against his previous employer, the Las Vegas Raiders.
24. Aidan O'Connell - Las Vegas Raiders
A week after winning a game with zeroes in the box score for the entire second half, Aidan O’Connell lit up the box score in a loss as the Raiders fell 23-20 to the Indianapolis Colts. O’Connell completed 30-of-47 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. He has proven to be a capable backup throughout the 2023 season, but it is unlikely that the Raiders stick with O’Connell as their starting quarterback in 2024. He will look to close the season out with a bang against the Denver Broncos.
25. Tyrod Taylor - New York Giants
Tyrod Taylor has breathed new life into a previously lifeless New York Giants team, nearly knocking off the Eagles and Rams in back-to-back weeks. Taylor completed 27-of-41 passes for 319 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also ran for 40 yards in the 26-25 loss after Mason Crosby missed a potential game-winning 54-yard field goal. Taylor will start the season finale as the Giants take on the Eagles on Sunday.
TYROD TAYLOR LETS IT FLY FOR THE 80-YARD TOUCHDOWN 💸 (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/eHCyah2kpS
— Overtime (@overtime) December 31, 2023
26. Taylor Heinicke - Atlanta Falcons
Taylor Heinicke and the Atlanta Falcons were dismantled by the Chicago Bears on Sunday, falling 37-17. Heinicke played poorly, completing 10-of-29 passes for 163 yards for a touchdown and three interceptions. Following poor quarterback play from Heinicke and Desmond Ridder this season, it is very likely that Atlanta moves in a different direction at the position in 2024. Heinicke will likely start the season finale against the Saints as the Falcons look to end their season.
27. Nick Mullens - Minnesota Vikings
Nick Mullens was benched prior to Sunday night’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers, but quickly found himself back under center after rookie Jaren Hall was not impressing with his play. Mullens took over in the second half with a 23-3 deficit and only managed to add seven more points to the board but did not turn the ball over on a 13-of-22 passing night for 113 yards and a touchdown. It remains to be seen if Mullens will be back under center in the Vikings’ season finale against the Lions.
28. Will Levis - Tennessee Titans
Will Levis exited Tennessee’s 26-3 loss early with a foot injury after returning from a one-game absence. Prior to exiting, the rookie had completed 2-of-6 passes for 16 yards. Ryan Tannehill took over but struggled in the loss. There has been no update on the status of Levis, so it could be either the rookie or the veteran under center in Week 18 as Tennessee looks to play spoiler to Jacksonville.
29. Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young struggled in Carolina’s shutout loss to Jacksonville. Young completed 19-of-32 passes for 112 yards with an interception in the 26-0 defeat. The number one pick’s rookie season has been disastrous but the blame cannot be placed all on him as he has been surrounded by a lack of high-profile players and coaching. Carolina’s management will look to provide the rookie with a better situation heading into the second season of his career. Young will close out the 2023 season with an opportunity to play spoiler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
30. Bailey Zappe - New England Patriots
Bailey Zappe struggled in the 27-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Zappe completed 16-of-26 passes for 209 yards but threw three interceptions in the defeat. The second-year quarterback will look to close out his season with a matchup against the New York Jets before the Patriots likely turn elsewhere at the position in 2024.
31. Trevor Siemian - New York Jets
Trevor Siemian completed 32-of-45 passes for 261 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 37-20 Thursday night loss to the Cleveland Browns. Siemian may revert to the bench for the season finale against New England if Zach Wilson (concussion) is back in action, but neither quarterback will be under center for the Jets next season as Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) returns.
32. Easton Stick - Los Angeles Chargers
Easton Stick failed to put a touchdown on the board against the Denver Broncos in a 16-9 loss. Stick completed 24-of-38 passes for 220 yards and ran for an additional 31, leading three field goal drives in the defeat. With the Chargers at 5-11, they will be in prime position to select a talented player to add to next season’s iteration of the team. Stick has done his job stringing together four straight losses. Stick’s tenure as the starting quarterback closes out on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs before Justin Herbert returns in 2024.
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