Aloha! With Wild Card Weekend here, the playoff intensity is building. Some teams, like the Chiefs and Lions, are enjoying a well-deserved bye week, while others are gearing up for battle. Today, let’s dive into the playoff quarterback rankings, with a special focus on how Matt Stafford’s rise and Lamar Jackson’s fall affect the standings on the Mahomes Mountain Playoff Edition.
First, we’ll start with the bottom row of the Mountain. This group consists of quarterbacks who have little to no playoff experience. We have names like Jaden Daniels, who’s expected to dominate the offensive rookie race but hasn’t yet had a playoff start, and Brock Powers, who, despite breaking records as a rookie tight end, is also in the same boat. B. Nicks and Sam Darnold are both veteran quarterbacks without any postseason starts. Russell Wilson, while a Super Bowl champion, falls here due to his recent struggles in the playoffs, notably his 2020 performance that saw him throw a pick-six and a 72 rating.
Moving on to the fourth row, we have quarterbacks with mixed postseason resumes. Lamar Jackson, for instance, has a lot of playoff experience, but his performances have been inconsistent. Some playoff games were stellar, while others were disappointing, with a recent game against the Chiefs standing out as an example where Lamar struggled. Justin Herbert’s lone playoff game was a tale of two halves, while Jalen Hurts, though promising, hasn’t yet had a signature playoff moment. CJ Stroud, still in the early stages of his career, has played some solid games but still needs more postseason experience.
Now, let’s turn to the third row. Here, quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, with four playoff games, have shown they can step up in big moments, averaging nearly 300 yards per game with a solid passer rating. Jared Goff, with nine career playoff games, has been impressive but hasn’t quite elevated his play to the next level just yet. Jordan Love has been improving, with a fantastic playoff game that helped him secure a win, though his journey is still in progress.
In the top two rows, the real heavyweights come into play. Josh Allen, with an incredible statistical resume in the postseason, is often knocked for falling short when facing Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, but his individual performance is undeniable. Matt Stafford, whose postseason career was once marred by years of disappointment in Detroit, has redeemed himself by leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win. His playoff stats are strong, and he continues to perform at a high level, even in the loss to the 49ers last year.
And of course, the King of the Mountain—Patrick Mahomes—remains untouchable. With records across every major playoff category, Mahomes continues to prove that he is the best quarterback in postseason history. But what about Matt Stafford’s climb and Lamar Jackson’s slide?
Coach has made a compelling case for Stafford’s rise on the Mountain, pointing out that his ability to perform in big moments—such as winning the Super Bowl—deserves more credit. Stafford has a 102 playoff passer rating and averages over 300 yards per game in the postseason. He’s been consistent and clutch, and his strong playoff performances since joining the Rams have solidified his place at the top.
On the other hand, Lamar Jackson’s spot on the Mountain is now more contentious. While he was once considered a top-tier playoff quarterback, his recent struggles, including a lackluster performance against the Chiefs and another playoff exit, have led some to slide him down the Mountain. Lamar’s inconsistent performances over the last few seasons raise questions about his ability to deliver in high-stakes games.
In summary, the playoff race is about more than just regular-season stats—it’s about playoff experience, consistency, and clutch performances. Matt Stafford’s rise is well-earned, especially considering his career turnaround with the Rams, while Lamar Jackson has faced more questions about his postseason success. The Mahomes Mountain is a dynamic landscape, with players constantly climbing and sliding based on their playoff performances.
As we head into this postseason, all eyes will be on these quarterbacks. Can Stafford continue his rise? Will Lamar Jackson answer his critics? And, of course, can anyone stop Patrick Mahomes from maintaining his top spot? Time will tell!
