NFL Playoffs QB Rankings: Why Every Starter Will — Or Will not — Win Tremendous Bowl LX

[ad_1] The ultimate 4 playoff quarterbacks are as eclectic as they arrive. They’re all in several phases of their careers, together with one being a backup. And that really makes these QBs straightforward to rank.

Regardless of that ease, it’s anybody’s guess as to who wins the Tremendous Bowl. There’s a straightforward case for every crew and every QB to win all of it — identical to there’s a straightforward case for them to lose this weekend.

So let’s get into simply that. For every QB, let’s give attention to why the signal-caller can win Tremendous Bowl LX — and why they will’t.

Why he’ll win the Tremendous Bowl: The NFL is filled with surprises, and Stidham has quietly developed beneath two of the brightest offensive minds and finest quarterback builders within the NFL: Sean Payton and Josh McDaniels. (I do know McDaniels will get quite a lot of crap as a HC, however have a look at how he maximized guys not named Tom Brady — equivalent to Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac Jones and now Drake Maye.) There’s an outdoor likelihood that Stidham appears competent and assured in Payton’s system. That’s the unlikely final result.

The clearer path for Stidham to win a Tremendous Bowl is by being principally invisible. Denver’s protection confirmed the flexibility to generate takeaways final week. The Broncos have a stable group of pass-catchers, led by one of many league’s finest possession receivers in Courtland Sutton. Operating again J.Ok. Dobbins might be again to assist the bottom sport. Perhaps Stidham can keep away from errors and let the opposite guys win the sport for him.

Jarrett Stidham has but to aim a single move over the previous two seasons with the Broncos. (Picture by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)

Why he gained’t: His first sport will come in opposition to the Patriots and McDaniels within the AFC title sport. It was McDaniels who liked Stidham popping out of the 2019 draft. However McDaniels will even know all of Stidham's strengths and weaknesses, which the offensive coordinator will relay to their defensive teaching workers. And that’s a protection that didn’t want any extra assist, on condition that they only compelled 4 interceptions out of C.J. Stroud.

On prime of that matchup problem for Stidham, there's the matter of inexperience. He has simply 4 profession begins and none within the playoffs. To begin a sport of this magnitude? It’ll be one other world. And the stage solely will get greater, clearly, if Denver wins on Sunday.

Why he’ll win the Tremendous Bowl: There’s an opportunity that Darnold is not going to play from behind at any level in these playoffs. When he’s main this 12 months, his landing proportion is 5.3, his interception proportion is 2.4 and his yards per try is 9.0. When he’s trailing, that landing proportion falls to five, his interception proportion jumps to three.1 and his yards per try is 8.5. In brief, he’s higher with the lead.

The Seahawks are designed to get him a lead. Seattle has a superb run sport. It has a fair higher protection. The crew’s id is designed to focus on everybody else, which frequently means Darnold can merely journey the wave to victory.

When Sam Darnold performs mistake-free soccer, the Seahawks have confirmed to be particularly robust to beat. (Picture by Brooke Sutton/Getty Pictures)

Why he gained’t: We’ve all seen the way in which Darnold can battle in massive moments. He has a startling propensity for four-interception video games, even in his post-Jets tenure. He threw 4 interceptions as just lately as November in opposition to — who else — the Rams.

Darnold is a supremely proficient quarterback, however he appears to battle with compounding errors. One results in one other results in one other. And the Rams protection, particularly, is aware of easy methods to make him make errors. And the 2 defenses he might face within the Tremendous Bowl are, on paper, even higher.

Why he’ll win the Tremendous Bowl: Even with Maye’s play slipping barely in opposition to the Texans (finest protection within the NFL) and the Chargers (a top-10 protection), he stays one of the crucial gifted passers within the league and is harmful as each a runner and passer. His propensity for large performs have to be a headache for opposing coaches.

It’s not a matter of if he’s going to finish a bomb for a landing. It’s when. His data of the sport has additionally improved drastically, even since Week 1 of this season.

Drake Maye has been a bit turnover-prone within the first postseason video games of his profession. (Picture by Michael Owens/Getty Pictures)

Why he gained’t: He has had an interception in each his postseason video games to date, which wouldn’t be so unhealthy if he hadn’t mixed these turnovers with 5 sacks per sport and three whole fumbles misplaced. Maye has a propensity to wish to play hero ball on third down, and that opens the door for sack-fumbles. Which opens the door for factors off turnovers.

The Broncos and/or the NFC champs might capitalize upon this weak spot in a means that we haven’t seen opposing defenses do exactly but.

Why he’ll win the Tremendous Bowl: Among the many closing 4, he’s the one QB who has performed it earlier than. We noticed in opposition to the Bears that Stafford doesn’t thoughts ready out youthful and extra impetuous QBs (like Caleb Williams). We additionally noticed in opposition to the Panthers that Stafford can step into gear and outduel a lesser QB (like Bryce Younger).

Each these qualities might show essential in beating Darnold and/or an inexperienced AFC champion QB.

Matthew Stafford is the favourite to win MVP, however he hasn't performed prefer it within the playoffs to date. (Picture by Kara Durrette/Getty Pictures)

Why he gained’t: We definitely have not seen Stafford’s finest this postseason. He has not been dominant for 60 minutes in both sport. And he’s truly appeared downright sloppy for prolonged durations. You may chalk these slumps as much as underestimating the Panthers — and unhealthy climate in Chicago.

However it's also possible to weigh the significance of the truth that, possibly, a 37-year-old Stafford (who turns 38 the day earlier than the Tremendous Bowl) isn’t as sharp as he must be to win 4 consecutive video games. The defenses he'll should undergo to safe a second ring are additionally in one other class in comparison with those he simply narrowly vanquished.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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