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| Wait, really? The 24-year-old with just two playoff starts? Yes really. The 49ers have won 19 of the 23 starts he has completed since the start of 2022, and while they say a lot about his setup, it says a lot about his ability to take advantage of it. The kid does everything well from inside the pocket, but he also has the slippery legs and high-level confidence to escape traffic and get going down the field. It’s no wonder his team is favored to go the distance. |
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| There is no QB who better embodies the term “roller coaster.” And yes, sometimes that works against him. Ball security is an inherent problem, the way he rumbles and throws and the ball. But you just can’t bet against that kind of superhero talent when it matters most, which is why he might be the most dangerous gunslinger to come into the mix. |
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| That’s the playoff effect here; Although his 2023 campaign has been unusually interrupted, there is no denying his penchant for crunch-time magic as an acrobatic passer and timely scrambler. Much like Tom Brady in his prime with the Patriots and Buccaneers, Mahomes’ mere presence instills fear on the other side on the big stage. |
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| Jackson deserves all the MVP buzz for the way he finally balanced his effortless arm talent with his electric running abilities. Few QBs can change a game so quickly. But like other big names on this list, he has some hurdles to clear in January, entering as the AFC’s top seed despite going 1-3 as a starter in the playoffs. |
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| Like his fellow Super Bowl LVII QB in Mahomes, Hurts enjoys a slight boost from his postseason record, as he proved in 2022 that he has the grit to take on the best, be it on the ground or in the air. . But he’ll need to control the ball better and quickly reestablish chemistry on the floor with his weapons if he wants to revive the deflated Eagles. |
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| Like Lamar Jackson, he had an MVP-caliber season for a well-rounded contender, but the story of his 2023 campaign will hinge on whether those prolific numbers translate to results on the big stage. Prescott has always been strong at doing the little things well, distributing the ball like a savvy point guard. Can he stay disciplined against an elite defense? |
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| When was the last time a rookie flagger seemed so composed and so quickly? Justin Herbert, maybe? And yet Stroud has already performed other heroic acts in critical moments. Asking him to make a deep run in the playoffs might be a bit much at this point, but ignoring his ability to climb into the pocket and close the tight window would be foolish. |
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| For half of his first season replacing Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay’s full-time QB, Love looked gifted but undisciplined. Now it looks like a complete package. He throws some of the NFL’s finest passes, either balls off the kickoff or lofts down the sideline, and now he’ll have the opportunity to prove he also has what it takes to win when that matters the most. |
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| In 2021, Stafford finally put his big arm to good use, fueling the Rams’ all-star lineup en route to a title. A year later, everything fell apart. And now he’s back, with newfound confidence as a gunslinger. He’ll surely be motivated to retire the “W” at his old stomping grounds in Detroit, and the Lions’ shaky pass defense could help him celebrate. |
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| Once a detrimental conservative passer, Tua has completely shed that label to give Miami top-10 production in back-to-back seasons. His downline chemistry with Tyreek Hill and Co. is wicked. But the Dolphins are hurting badly, and he doesn’t always fare well when forced to play off-script. If he can upset the Chiefs, he will see his stock rise significantly. |
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| Widely considered a throwaway piece of the trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams, Goff was actually the more stable of the two QBs since their trade, excelling as an accurate passer when well protected. But can he stay upright, confident and sharp in the playoffs? That’s the key question as Detroit attempts to realize its playoff potential. |
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| Regardless of how this season ends for the Bucs, Mayfield could get a nice pay raise after exceeding expectations as a tryout starter. He’s better suited to taking what’s given rather than overextending himself into the air, but don’t think of him as a jammer either. Some of his best work involved making difficult first downs in short-distance areas. |
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| The magical mystery of this playoff run, Flacco has already been condemned for his conservative checks, but, at age 38, he has embraced endless attacks on the court coming off the bench for Cleveland. Is it sustainable? It’s debatable. But at least he brings some unexpected motivation to a contender who also has a stingy defense to back him up. |
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| After weeks of slow play from Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky, the Steelers finally have a game-changing QB in longtime third-stringer Rudolph. But is he destined to fall back to Earth if/when he is cornered? |
